'Hospital Day' fundraising button 1917

The Commonwealth Button Fund was established in mid-1915, with the first Button Day being held in November of that year, supporting the people of Belgium. Over the course of the next 6 years, 33 Button Days were held raising money for a variety of patriotic and charitable causes including the Australian, British and French Red Cross, Hospitals, allied countries, current serving men and women, discharged, wounded and disabled servicemen and women, and their families. The buttons were sold in trams, buses, at railways stations and at rallies to raise money for the stated cause.

'Hospital Day' button day was held on 26 October 1917 with proceeds supporting metropolitan hospitals across a range of services. These included general hospitals, children's hospitals, Homeopathic, Eye and Ear and Dental hospitals, mental asylums, convalescent homes for men and women and for the aged and infirm, among others.