Schools Patriotic Fund Badges

2 blue and gold badges "S.P.F. Service"(3cm); 1 "S.A.Children's Patriotic Fund War Service" badge with bar(5cm); 1 heart-shaped badge "S.A. Children's Patriotic Fund War Work"(4cm).
Part of the Children's Literature Research Collection. 

The South Australian Children's Patriotic Fund was created during World War I in response to the individual efforts of teachers across the state, who from the outbreak of the war had begun gathering donations for the benefit of Australian soldiers and various relief organisations.  The Director of Education, MM Maughan, suggested that by combining the efforts of individual schools and teachers, a greater result without duplication of effort could be achieved. 

Children engaged in fundraising activities such as jumble sales, parades, knitting socks and collecting refuse for recycling. The fund were passed on to agencies directly involved with service personnel in need, the Red Cross and hospitals being two examples.

Children received badges for their committment to the activities and the fund. The shape and colour of the badges changed from time to time which is how the dates of the badges are identified.

Read the more history of the South Australian Children's Patriotic Fund go to the State Library's guide to Children and World War I.

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

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