Summary

Small green card printed with drawing of shield with bins, bottle and truck within, crossed by a broom and spade. The style of the card suggests it dates from around the 1970s. Its reference to 'FOSTERS CUB' (Carlton and United Breweries) suggests that the Hawthorn Hygiene Squad had an adult membership. Three names are included on the back: Don, Len and Rob.

The term 'hygiene squad' was used in a range of contexts in Australia during the 20th century. For instance, a 'hygiene squad' during the 1952 Pan-Pacific Scout Jamboree in Sydney sprayed a camp with fly spray to reduce the risk of gastroenteritis (23 Dec 1952, Daily Advertiser ). In 1953 the Lismore Council's 'hygiene squad' cleaned up after a flood (4 March 1953, Northern Star), and in 1954 army hygiene squads were offered to Rockhampton after a flood (20 Feb 1954, Morning Bulletin).

Further research is required to establish the provenance of this card.

Physical Description

Small green card printed on both sides. Front has drawing of shield with bins, bottle and truck within, crossed by a broom and spade. Hand-written at top '$2.00 x 3 = 6 dollars'.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Home & Community

  • Acquisition Information

    Donation from Rosalind Wallis, 10 Jan 2013

  • Date Made

    1939-1945

  • Place Named

    Hawthorn, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

  • Inscriptions

    Printed on front: 'HAWTHORN HYGIENE SQUAD / Sordida Fugiunt [quickly dirtied] / FOSTERS CUB / PHEW! / SOCK IT TO EM'. On back: 'Christmas Greetings from / Your Hygiene Squad / (Garbologists to you) / [poem follows] / Wishing you all a Happy Prosperous / New-Year / From your Hygiene Squad / Don, Len, Rod.'

  • Classification

    Societies, Civic, Promotional materials

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    History

  • Type of item

    Document

  • References

    JAMBOREE CAMP WILL BE FLY-PROOF. (1952, December 23). Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved March 3, 2015, from [Link 1] Flood Clean-up Work By Council Staff Praised. (1953, March 4). Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved March 3, 2015, from [Link 2] [No heading]. (1954, February 20). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2015, from [Link 3]

  • Keywords

    Cleaning, Community Groups, Public Health