This dress was worn by Brighton's first female mayor, Councillor Di Lopez, to a Mayoral Ball held at Brighton Technical School in 1977. Diane Margaret Lewis completed a law degree at the University of Melbourne, later marrying one of her classmates, criminal lawyer Ramon (Ray) Lopez. When she decided to run for the Brighton City Council in 1975, she was seen as an outside chance. Undeterred, she rallied a small group of friends and supporters and set out on an extensive door-knocking campaign that won voters to her side and successfully unseated former mayor Keith Devenport. She went on to serve two terms on council from 1975 to 1981. Di initiated many local projects, including the creation of a bike path along Nepean Highway and the first Brighton Festival, while balancing family life and a demanding ‘day job’ as personal assistant to Victorian Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation Brian Dixon. She was a member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby and a champion for women’s representation, encouraging both Sally Allmand and Kate Harman to run for council (both were successfully elected). She advocated forcefully for an open, transparent local government in which ratepayers had the chance to participate and be heard. In 1976 Di became the first woman to hold the title of Mayor of Brighton, and she made it clear from the outset that she was going to do it her way. For the annual mayoral ball in 1977, ordinarily a staid traditional function, she chose a discotheque theme based on the Rod Stewart album Night on the Town, with a broad dress code of ‘black tie or jeans’: ‘You’ve got to get with the times,’ she said. ‘We want people to wear whatever they feel comfortable in.’ Di herself chose to attend in this knee-length chamois dress embellished with strings, ribbons, beads and feathers. It was both a fashion statement, exemplifying her colourful, flamboyant and forthright style, and a political one: a declaration of her intention to lead a progressive council, embracing the new and refusing to be hemmed in by dated traditions. In 2020 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her service to local government and to the community of Brighton.This dress has local historical significance for its association with Brighton's first female mayor, Councillor Di Lopez, who wore it to a Mayoral Ball in 1976. The dress exemplifies her flamboyant reputation, modern outlook and willingness to break norms. At the time, the dress was a radical choice for a Mayoral Ball, where women typically wore formal evening gowns. With her choice of dress, Cr Lopez was making a public statement, breaking away from dated traditions and announcing her intention to bring the Mayor's office into the 1970s. In this way, the dress also points to the wider social and political changes taking place both in Brighton and across Australia during the mid-1970s.Three quarter length chamois dress circa 1974. Machine stitched with a v-neck and full length sleeves and an uneven raw hem, the dress is decorated with narrow thongs of chamois embellished with red beads and blue feathers. The open-fronted bodice is laced with red ribbon and the skirt is decorated with a large blue wool cross stitch and a combination of blue wool and purple ribbon cross stitch. Made in the style of an Indian 'Wild West Dress'.di lopez, chamois, brighton, brighton council, brighton technical school, mayoral ball, 1970s, feminism

Slide photographs of two Stanhope residents prepared to go to the ball held in honour of Princess Alexandra's visit to Melbourne in 1959. The ball was held at the Melbourne Town Hall. Elizabeth Brown (on the right) was a resident at Stanhope after her father died in 1953 and she came to Melbourne from Seymour to compete further studies at Toorak Teachers College. She was chosen to present a bouquet to Princess Alexandra at the Royal Ball. Elizabeth wore a pink taffeta gown and was accompanied by a Legacy boy, Julian Hyde. The handwritten note implies it is the visit of the Queen Mother, but it was a ball held to welcome Princess Alexandra in September 1959. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image is the best available.A record of of a Legacy girl being chosen to participate at an important event.Colour slide x 4 of two Stanhope ladies in ballgowns, in a beige Anscochrome mount.Handwritten on reverse 'Stanhope girls. Visit of Queen Mother' in blue pen.junior legatee, royal visit, ballgown, stanhope

Slide photographs of two Stanhope residents prepared to go to the ball held in honour of Princess Alexandra's visit to Melbourne in September 1959. The ball was held at the Melbourne Town Hall. From a book compiled by Matron Dorrie Vines, the girls are Betty Henderson and Helen McBain. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image is the best available.A record of the Stanhope residents participating in an important event.Colour slide x 2 of two Stanhope ladies in evening gowns, in a beige Anscochrome mount.Handwritten on reverse 'Stanhope girls. Visit of Queen Mother' in blue pen.junior legatee, royal visit, ballgown, stanhope

A photo and newspaper clippings from a book compiled about the Legacy children's residence called Stanhope. Elizabeth Brown was a resident at Stanhope after her father died in 1953 and she came to Melbourne from Seymour to compete further studies at Toorak Teachers College. She was chosen to present a bouquet to Princess Alexandra at the Royal Ball. Elizabeth wore a pink taffeta gown and was accompanied by a Legacy boy, Julian Hyde. One colour photo and two black and white photos taken at Stanhope prior to the event. More photos of this event have been found as slides and are catalogued separately. Stanhope was supervised by Matron Dorothy (Dorrie) Vines from the time it opened in 1946 until she retired in December 1966. It is likely she compiled this notebook as she is referred to as 'self' in one photo. Individual pages of photos or newspaper clippings have been added separately. Items 01817 to 01827. Blamey House (purchased 1947) , Stanhope (purchased 1945) and Harelands (purchased 1950) were residences run by Melbourne Legacy to take care of children whose fathers were servicemen, and who may have been left orphans, or whose mother may have been unable to care for them herself, or they needed to stay in Melbourne for further education. Harelands accommodated boys and girls under the age of 14, Blamey House looked after boys over 14, and Stanhope looked after girls over 14. The children were cared for until they were old enough to become independent. A record of a Legacy girl being chosen to participate at an important event. Colour photo of Elizabeth Brown preparing to meet Princess Alexandra, and 2 black and white photos and newspaper clippings about the event.stanhope, residences, royal visit

The motor vessel "Kanimbla" from Mcllwraith, McEacharn Ltd was brand new in 1936 and was used several times for charity balls. "Kanimbla Ball" (Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 28 November 1936, page 12) Over 1,000 people were present at a very successful ball given on board the m.v. Kanimbla this week, to aid the funds of the Limbless Soldiers' Association and the Victorian Mission to Seamen. The ship was gaily decorated with balloons and international code flags, while vases of mixed flowers gave charm to the supper tables in dining saloon. His Excel- lency the Governor and Lady Huntingfield attended by Lieutenant A. W. P. Robert-son, were present, and were received by the chairman of the ball committee (Major-General Brand) and Mrs. Brand, Admiral Sir Francis and Lady Hyde, Com- mander and Mrs. Smith, the chaplain of the mission (the Rev. F. L. Oliver), Mr. and Mrs. James Kelso, the president of the Limbless Soldiers' Association (Mr. T. S. Gray) and Mrs. Gray, and the honorary secretary of the ball committee (Mr. C. R. Laragby) and Mrs. Laraghy. Lady Huntingfield wore a becoming gown of copper-red crepe, with a faint silver stripe. and was presented with a bouquet of deep red gladioli.Padre Oliver had a friendly relationship with the captain of the Kanimbla.Digital copy of a colour poster advertising for a ball on board the MV Kanimbla.m.v. kanimbla, ball, mission to seamen, 1936, mcilwraith mceacharn ltd, frank leslie oliver, lord huntingfield, limbless soldiers association