Queensland's Patriotic Day, 28 August 1915

Guest blogger: Mark Clayton, Senior Curator, Social History, Queensland Museum Network

It was on this day, ninety-nine years ago, that Brisbane City Council held its inaugural Queensland Patriotic Day fundraiser for the “succour, relief, or assistance of the officers and soldiers of His Majesty the King , or of any of His Majesty’s Allies, engaged in the present War”. Utilising the powers conferred on it via The Local Authorities Patriotic Contributions Act of 1914, Council formally launched the fund with a £1,000 donation of its own. Whilst undertaking Great War centenary research at the Brisbane City Archives in Moorooka, I came across the Council's minutes from August 1915:

From a Committee of the Whole Council, 23rd August 1915, - 

Your Committee has the honour to recommend that the Council shall co-operate in the special effort that is being made by every District in the State, and every section of the community, to raise a fund which shall mark the 28th August as Queensland's Patriotic Day, by contributing under the special powers conferred by "The Local Authorities Patriotic Contributions Act of 1914" a further sum of  £1000 for the  succour, relief, or assistance of the officers and soldiers of His Majesty the King , or of any of His Majesty’s Allies, engaged in the present War, or the dependents of any such officers or soldiers.

Report adopted, on the motion of Alderman Diddums, seconded by Alderman Doggett.

Patriotic Day was advertised in The Brisbane Courier of Wednesday 25th August as an event on a 'lavish' scale:

After the event, The Brisbane Courier reported that Patriotic Day fundraising efforts had already realised £88,835, the latest proceeds (5 shillings) having come from the sale of a pair of ducks donated by a woman from Laidley.