Summary

Rectangular shaped metal badge, with an enamelled design on the front and a metal pin and hook on the back.

It was made by K.G. Luke of Melbourne in the early 1960s to commemorate the Melbourne Moomba Festival. Such badges were given away to dignitaries and others involved in the festival. It features the Moomba Clown logo, designed by Ronald Kirk for the first Moomba Festival in 1955.

Physical Description

A rectangular shaped metal badge, with rounded corners and a metal pin and hook on the back. On the front is a raised enamelled image of the Moomba clown logo. The makers name is printed on the back.

Significance

Statement of Significance:

This badge is significant due to its links to the Melbourne Moomba Festival, one of Melbourne's longest running festivals, is run under the auspices of the City of Melbourne. Moomba is celebrated during the Labour Day long weekend in March, and has been held annually since 1955. In 2003, the event was renamed Melbourne Moomba Waterfest, with most activities centred around the Yarra River.

Its origins date back to 1951, when Melbourne celebrated fifty years of Federation with a parade and the staging of the theatre production "An Aboriginal Moomba: Out of the Dark". The following year, the final Labour Day procession was held in Melbourne after running for almost a century. In 1954, Queen Elizabeth II visited the city in her first appearance as reigning monarch, bringing thousands of people to the CBD. The City Development Association and the Melbourne City Council saw the potential in an annual celebration which could do the same, and proposed the Moomba Festival. The first festival was officially opened in 1955.

A parade through the streets of central Melbourne has been a key part of the Moomba festival since its beginning. The Moomba Parade has proven to be one of the most enduring cultural activities in Melbourne, equalled only by the Anzac Day Parade and Remembrance Day services in importance to the people of the city. The floats have an annual theme, usually an elaboration on "Let's get together and have fun", the avowed mission and vision statement of Moomba. In the beginning he floats are usually promoting a Commercial or Government organisation, but in later years, as business became more reluctant to spend money on elaborate floats, they tended to represent sporting clubs, ethnic groups and other community organisations.

More Information