Special artefact reunited with family

WHEN Betty McGuinness found a military badge in her Eureka Street Garden more than twenty-five years ago, she knew it was something special.

However, it wasn’t until recently her and a team of local experts tracked down a family member of the original owner, and it happened to be Miranda Brockman, someone Ms McGuinness had known for years.

“I thought it was special, because it was a Rising Sun Badge, and I was aware of the significance of that,” said Ms McGuinness.

“I was busy at the time, so I didn’t have the time to do any exploring or research, but I did know it was special. I kept that badge safe thinking in the future I would have time to explore it.”

Ms McGuiness first decided to try and find the badge’s owner in 2015 as part of a U3A project with Jan North.

On this occasion they were unsuccessful, however, in 2022 they resumed the search with the help of Trina Jones who eventually located Ms Brockman.

“Miranda was somebody I’d known from past years, and she was so delighted because she hadn’t known anything about this badge,” said Ms McGuinness.

“She was absolutely delighted for it to find a home.”

The artefact is a remodelled Rising Sun Badge which was issued between 1904 and 1948 and signified the ANZAC spirit.

However, this badge had been altered by its owner John Brockman and transformed into a sweetheart brooch for his wife Jean Brown.

“It makes it even more special,” said Ms McGuinness.

How the badge ended up in the garden of the Cremorne Hotel remains a mystery, although John and Jean, who were musicians, regularly travelled to Ballarat to perform.

In 2023, the badge was reunited with Ms Brockman, who now has an artefact from her father’s time in the armed forces.

The Rising Sun Badge had been altered to become a sweetheart brooch with the name Jean Brown engraved onto it. Photo: SUPPLIED