On Monday May 10, Red Cross representatives will be visiting major metropolitan hospitals including the Women's and Children's, Queen Elizabeth and Flinders, presenting mothers of newborns with a commemorative certificate and bib for their children who were born on May 8 - the same day as the Society's founder and the first ever Nobel Prize for Peace winner, Henry Dunant.

"We feel that this is a unique opportunity to highlight the significance of this day and help encourage people to get involved with Red Cross later in their lives.

"It is such a diverse organisation and offers many avenues for people to become involved, from volunteering to working overseas as a delegate," said Dale Cleaver, Executive Director, Australian Red Cross South Australia.

Henry Dunant, a young Swiss businessman witnessed the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino and galvanized local people into tending to the wounded and dying regardless of their nationality.

"It is amazing to think that one act of kindness has turned into the most renowned and largest humanitarian network in the world," concluded Mr Cleaver. 

World Red Cross Day is celebrated by the 181 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world through various activties and events.