Three Traditions Banner

This banner was created as part of the Migration Museum’s Community Banners project in 1986, the same year the Museum opened to the public. Made by members of the American Rug Hooking Group in South Australia, the project was instrumental in building some of early networks with South Australia’s culturally diverse communities. As a collection, the banners provide a record of how cultural communities in South Australia chose to represent their own past and their hopes for their future. Three cultural traditions are highlighted: English, Irish and German. Symbols associated with the old country combine with details of the immigrant’s journey and images of life in the new land.
While this banner reflects the individual experiences of the people involved, there is an essential unity in the use of a craft, i.e. an American folk tradition, dating from colonial times.

Ten separate panels each represent a different migrant heritage. Each panel is made by a rug hooking technique brought from America by Mrs. Pam Whitehead in 1969. The banner is divided into ten panels by a green border around each panel.

Panel 1 - Connie Hopewell, depicts Robin Hood. She emigrated from Nottingham - Robin Hood country.
Panel 2 - Mrs. Nellie Grattan who came from Yorkshire symbolized by the white rose of Yorkshire.
Panel 3 - Mrs. Eileen Schultz depicts the family crest of Dahlenburg family who came in 1849 - the grapes, wagon and church are all associated with the German community.
Panel 4 - Mrs. Ruby Stanning who came from Britain. The guardsman represents her English heritage.
Panel 5 - Fay Godfrey, reads Clacton-on-Sea to Adelaide Nov. 1969.
Panel 6 -Mrs. Godfrey features family surnames - Newell, Mrs. Godfrey's mother's family who arrived in 1852 and Kluge, her father who arrived in 1883. Features a Willy Wagtail, which relates to her early memories of farm life.
Panel 7 - Mrs. Joyce Sferco features a map of Ireland with an Irish cottage and shamrock family names of Kelly and Conway.
Panel 8 - Mrs. Joyce Emery which features a ship with names written beneath it and who came to Australia in 1900.
Panel 9 - Mrs. Francis Barton – displays the Sturt Desert Pea for her adopted country.
Panel 10 - Mrs. Jean Wills – displays the Staffordshire knot for her family and Devon stone for her husband.
The Banner is finished with a turquoise gusset and the panels are set against a background of teal green.