Patriotic Day, Gumeracha, 1918
Isn’t it funny how you learn history through ‘things’?
My history lesson this week has been about Patriotic Day. I admit that I hadn’t heard of such a day, but thanks to a purchase of the badge (as shown above) on ebay, I was inspired to find out more.
But what’s interesting is that I found very little on it. Wikipedia and Google both let me down, so I headed to Trove, but even they didn’t have much.
It doesn’t seem to have been an Australia-wide thing, or even a South Australia-wide thing, but rather something the townsfolk have decided to do for themselves. Held in 1917 and in 1918 (at least that’s all I could find), it seems that in 1917 it was used to raise fund for the war effort, and in 1918, was used to support the returned soldiers and the families of those who didn’t.
Daily Herald, 17 October 1917 p. 8 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105435537
The Advertiser, 4 October 1918, p. 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5595919
The Advertiser, 9 October 1918, p. 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5597340
If anyone has further information about Gumeracha’s Patriotic Day, please leave a comment below, as I’d love to know more about it.
And don’t you just love the image of the Gum weir on the badge … how cool is that? And for those that are unfamiliar with the region, here is a actual pic of the weir (below).
Gumeracha weir
2 Responses to “Patriotic Day, Gumeracha, 1918”
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Not heard anything of it before, but what a lovely find. I hope you can find more about it. I love these local events.
Thank you, Alona.
I am interested in all things Gumeracha.
I am especially interested in the Race Meetings held on our property’s “racecourse paddock” on the “The Willows” in the 1900s. Any information or photos would be appreciated. (There is still an old dead tree with horse tethering rings on the property)
I may even have some photos of my own to share.
Please put me on your mailing list.