Once a long-haired activist refused a bank loan because of his wild mane - now a thinly- thatched , greying member of the Adelaide establishment with connections in Ethiopa , Japan,the US , Russia and Colombia - a visitor limped into Darwin’s Roma Bar this week and had what could be described as a collector’s orgasm .
In the postcards for good causes on display there was one from the National Library of Australia asking people to donate political buttons. The postcard has a montage of political buttons and badges , which he (typical southerner )promptly pocketed.
It just so happens this fellow, a dealer in and collector of arcane objects ranging from Edison gramophones , wall mounted telephones, Morse keys , ham radio call cards and militaria , also has a large and impressive array of Australian, New Zealand and American political tin buttons. A quick glance at the postcard and he was able to say it is obvious the National Library’s collection is slight. The only tin button of interest he found in Darwin was at the Nightcliff Uniting Church Op Shop.
