Summary

Medal, along with lapel pin in a cardboard box, presented to Setsutaro Hasegawa, by the Japanese Red Cross in recognition of Setsutaro becoming a full time staff member of the Red Cross on 15th December, 1926.

Setsutaro migrated to Australia from Japan in 1897 at the age of 26, just four years before the introduction of the Immigration Restriction Act which severely limited migration to Australia from countries in Asia. He established a laundry business in Geelong and by 1911 he had married an Australian-born woman and had three children.

In 1941 Setsutaro was arrested as an enemy alien and sent to Tatura internment camp in northern Victoria. Released early in 1943 due to his age and poor health, unlike most Japanese interns he was not deported to Japan after the War. Setsutaro remained in Geelong for the rest of his life and died in 1952.

Physical Description

Medal with decorative inscriptions and a ribbon with pin at reverse, red with blue stripes and a pale blue rosette. The lapel pin is a circular mount with a fabric covered cross with red cross at centre. The box is blue cardboard

Significance

The Hasegawa collection enables the exploration of a number of important historical themes relating to migration, working life, and wartime internment in Victoria. Late nineteenth century and early to mid twentieth century Japanese migration and settlement experiences are little represented in the museum's collections and this collection of clothing, documents, personal items and photographs helps to redress this absence.

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