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Recollections of War > Records

Australian Red Cross Society fabric collection bag

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Australian Red Cross Society

c. 1949

Overview

Australian Red Cross Society collection bag made from natural cotton fabric. It is rectangular in shape and crudely made with a square of fabric folded in half and overlocked at the bottom and one side to create a bag.
The stitching is on the outside so that the excess cotton is visible at the inside lower edge and the opposite upper corner.
The logo 'RED CROSS CALLING' is printed in red in the centre of the front and the underlined number '56' is written in pen on the diagonal underneath.
There are creases in the fabric due to storage and some transfer of the red ink below the logo. The reverse is plain.

Historical information

In the peacetime following World War Two, Australian Red Cross Society turned its attention to expanding social welfare and disaster relief services, and supporting new migrant families settling in Australia.
The first national 'Red Cross Calling' fundraising appeal raised vital funds in the community for the organisation's everyday work.
These fabric bags were historically left at residential doorsteps or distributed by volunteers to collect physical donations (knitted goods, textiles and clothing comforts) or financial donations directly from local communities.
The number '56' on this individual bag may represent the house number on a particular street.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00971

Item type

Artefacts

Collectibles

Ephemera

Household Items

Textiles

Themes

Material

Cotton

Ink

Threads

Width

256 mm

Height or length

458 mm

Inscriptions and markings

On front of bag:

"RED CROSS
CALLING"

"56"

Keywords

Australian Red Cross Society

Place made

Australia

Year

Primary significance criteria

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Last modified

Tuesday, 21 July, 2026

Completeness

100

Recollections of War

Recollections of War

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Front of Australian Red Cross Society fabric collection bag

Front of Australian Red Cross Society fabric collection bag

Close up of front of Australian Red Cross Society fabric collection bag

Close up of front of Australian Red Cross Society fabric collection bag

Reverse of Australian Red Cross Society fabric collection bag

Reverse of Australian Red Cross Society fabric collection bag

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