Summary

Paper badge or tag, otherwise known as a fundraising badge for Flower Day, 1926. Part of the Captain F. S. Laurie Collection.

Flower Day had its origins in the League of Young Gardeners, created in Victoria in 1916 to 'swell the war relief fund, by cultivating garden plots at home'. From this movement sprang several 'Flower Days' which raised £126,354 for war relief. In 1916 the Victorian Education Department instructed teachers to promote gardening initiatives, and announced that there would be a November Flower Day. The main event of the Day was to be a fund-raising flower show from school gardens - 'Let the children feel that the show is to be their show', advised Supervisor of School Gardening, Cyril Isaac. At schools, the day consisted of morning lessons on war-related topics; in the afternoon schools set up street stalls to sell bouquets and button holes. The main show was not held in 1918 due to stringent war economies, but £50,000 was still raised. The event petered out after World War I.

Subsequent flower days were also established for other causes. For instance, Adelaide's annual National Flower Day was inaugurated in 1938. It is not known which 'flower day' this badge relates to.

Physical Description

A cut-out cardboard tag, plastic-coated on both sides, in the shape of a flower and a metal pin. Text and graphics are printed on the obverse in purple ink. There is a hole at the top where a metal pin is threaded through. The badge is discoloured. The two sides of the badge are beginning to split.

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