About the object

This 1960 Gould League of Bird Lovers of New South Wales membership certificate was issued to Louise St Julian when she joined the League in Kindergarten or Transition at Epping West Public School in 1960.

The Gould League of Bird Lovers of New South Wales was introduced into NSW schools in 1910 with the aim of protecting native birds. Upon joining, students pledged not to collect birds' eggs.

Members received a membership certificate and could buy a badge. Schools received copies of  the magazine, Gould League Notes, renamed the Gould Leaguer in 1967.

Members could participate in competitions such as writing essays and poems, submitting drawings and entering into bird call imitation competitions.  

Apart from the 1963 certificate repeating the 1949 design, each certificate produced from 1910 to 2010  was unique.

Significance

The certificate is part of a broad collection of Gould League of NSW membership certificates, badges, magazines and resources held by the NSW Schoolhouse Museum. 

They mark the importance of the Gould League in early environmental education in NSW schools.

Object details

Date – 1960

Creator – The Gould League of Bird Lovers of New South Wales

Place – Sydney, NSW

Materials – thick paper

Dimensions –  9.2cm x 14cm (approximately A6 - postcard-sized)

Wonder

• What do you wonder about these certificates?

• What would you like to know about the Gould League?

Do

Design and create your own Gould League of NSW certificate, by hand or digitally.

1. Select two or three birds from Birdlife Australia's bird gallery to feature on your certificate.

2. Include the common elements of the certificates.

Gould League of Bird Lovers of NSW membership badges, 1933 to 1949

This collection of Gould League of Bird Lovers of NSW membership badges dates from 1933 to 1949. They were collected by Mr FJ Hicks, a NSW public school teacher who taught through the 1930s and 40s.

Gould League of Bird Lovers of NSW membership badges started to be issued in 1927. With the first badge featuring a Willie Wagtail, a different native bird was featured on each year's badge. 

The badges are made of metal and enamel and originally cost one shilling. In the early 1950s they were sold for 1/6 –  one shilling and sixpence. Whilst they were intended for adults, they were extremely popular with children who eagerly awaited their arrival. 

They are a collectors' item today. Some former Gould League members still have their Gould League  badges from their school days .

• Which is your favourite badge in the FJ Hicks' collection? Why?

J Dawson Memorial Shield, 1950s

The highlight of the Gould League year was the annual Bird Day concert held in the Sydney Town Hall.  Country school teams travelled to Sydney for it and were billeted by city students.

This shield was presented to the winning school whose students  won the bird call imitation competition. 

The top banner on the shield reads 'J. Dawson Memorial Shield'. The bottom banner reads 'NSW Gould League of Bird Lovers - Bird Call Competition'.  This is one of several shields presented to winning schools. Another is held at Merimbula Old School Museum.

School names are engraved on the metal strips on the two pillars. Sadly these are difficult to read, however, it looks like Cowan Public School were the winners in 1957 and 1958.

• View students imitating bird calls in the Bird Olympics competition currently run by Bournda Environmental Education Centre.

Gould League Notes, Volume 26, 1960

This 1960 volume of Gould League Notes celebrates 50 years of the Gould League's operation in NSW. 

Gould League Notes was published by the Gould League of Bird Lovers of NSW from 1935. It was mailed to schools. This copy has been bound with a hard cover by a school's librarian so it lasts longer.

The 1960 issue contains a history of the NSW Gould League of Bird Lovers, a recount of its beginnings by NSW co-founder Mr Walter Finigan. It also includes reports on bird watching and the annual camp.

Student work includes stories on 'The Most Useful Bird in my District', 'Life Story of a Bird' and 'Birds in the Playground'. Prizes were issued for the best work submitted.

In 1967 The Gould league of Bird Lovers combined with the Junior Tree Wardens to form the Gould League of NSW. The policy of the league was extended to include a wider selection of themes encompassing the total environment. 

In the same year the magazine became The Gould Leaguer. It informed teachers about environmental practices and ways on how to put them into effect .

• Imagine you are submitting a competition entry for the 'Birds in the Playground'. Compose a prize-winning paragraph on a native bird in your backyard, local park or school playground.