Commonwealth Button Fund Receipt - Italian Red Cross Day 1

A book has been written by Nick Pezikian and David Anderson entitled 'Commonwealth Button Fund, WWI patriotic and fundraising badges'. There is a copy in our library and some of the buttons featured in our collection were kindly donated by the authors.
They document the history of the button fund and create a timeline of the buttons and badges produced each month to raise money for different charitable organisations. Between May 24 1915, when the first Button Day (supporting Belgium) was held and October 24 1919, when the last Button Day was held (Hospital Day), there were 33 different Button Days which raised £265,000,

The article below from the 'Evelyn Observer and Bourke East Record', 25 June 1915 explains further:

COMMONWEALTH BUTTON FUND.
The Button Fund, which was born in the mind of one of Colac's citizens (Mr. H. C. Tucker) promises to become so universal in Australia that it will soon be the exception to find one loyal man, woman or child notwearing the button as an evidence of their sympathy with the great national movements it appeals for.
The button is a small ornamental token the size of a shilling, and is worn in the coat or dress continuously,and is to be issued monthly for any of the deserving or most pressing war funds, and is sold at the minimum price of 1s. per month. A smaller button is to be issued and sold to children at 3d per month. The buttons will be issued by the Central Executives, Commonwealth Button Fund, Melbourne, to any Mayor, President of a Shire, Secretary or Treasurer of a Patriotic or Red Cross Society, etc., upon application. Unsold buttons can be returned, and payment should be made by cheque (no exchange charged) not later than the end of the month in which the button is issued. Buttons are carried free by the Railway Department.
The result of the first month's appeal in Victoria will result in nearly £10,000 being distributed between the Belgian, Red Cross and Serbian Relief Funds. It is anticipated that the July appeal, which is being made throughout Australia for the Red Cross and our sick and wounded Australian soldiers, should easily reach £100,000. The possibilities of this scheme are such that if the adult population of Australia will buy only one button each month it will raise no less than £135,000; and if to this is added those under 20 years of age who could buy a button at 3d per mouth, a total of £150,000 would result.
All profits, which are estimated at 90 per cent. of the contributions, will be devoted to the various objects for which the button is issued, and will be made through and subject to the approval of His Excellency the Governor, Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, the chief patron of the fund. Distribution of the button is best accomplished by means of committees of ladies, who can individually, or with the assistance of helpers, regularly canvas the various towns, as well as setting aside one day in each month as Button Day.
Leading shopkeepers are selling buttons without profit. No commissions are paid to any person or persons, and as far as possible all work in connection with the fund is of an honorary character.
Application for July buttons, which take the form of a Red Cross, with the words "For Kith and Kin" printed thereon, should be sent as early as possible. The buttons are made in Australia by the Victorian Christian Endeavour Union, and the output is likely to be taxed to its utmost capacity.
This offers an easy and effective method of raising large sums of money and means no sewing, cooking or rental charge.
H. C. TUCKER,
Hon. Secretary

As described, the buttons were issued upon application to Mayors and other civic leaders. This receipt has been issued to Councillor William Beebe, the Mayor of Bendigo from 1915-1917, for funds raised on Italian Red Cross Button Day held 9 July 1917.