Worn by Dame Marie Breen DBE OBE, Federal Senator for Victoria and Brighton resident. A passionate member (and founder) of many community organisations and charities, Marie Freda Breen (nee Chamberlin, 1902-1993) had her first experience of public life when her husband Robert became Mayor of Brighton in 1940. She became involved in the fledgeling Liberal Party, and Robert encouraged her to run for office. Marie because Victoria's first female Federal Senator in 1962. In Parliament, she was a vocal advocate for women and families and supported building a stronger relationship between Australia and Asia. In 1965 she became the first woman to chair a Senate committee. Marie retired from politics in 1968, after Robert was badly injured in a car accident. He died shortly after and she re-dedicated herself to community service, raising funds for UNICEF and serving on the Victorian Consultative Committee on Social Development and the Australian Advisory Council of Elders. In 1959 she was appointed an Officer of the British Empire for her work in the role of State President of the National Council of Women (Victoria) and in 1979 she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Marie and Robert had three daughters, one of whom, Jeannette Patrick, was the Liberal Member for Brighton (1976-1985) and Parliamentary Secretary of the Liberal Party, (1979-82).Sleeveless black cotton voile dress printed with large cream and apricot coloured roses. Dropped waist; bias-cut triangular draping applied to back neck; two horizontal bands of black voile inserted into skirt.dame marie breen, 1920s, liberal party of australia, australian senate, politics, robert breen

Set of 7 Agfa Colour slide, cardboard mount, by Keith Caldwell of 7 or 12 March 1960 - .1 - W2 227 outbound in Royal Park with the Zoo walls in the background. Destination West Coburg, Route 55. Tram has two adverts which are hard to read. .2 - W2 470 inbound, Domain Road, Route 56 with the Upfield (Fawkner) railway line in the background. Tram has a Remy Martin Brandy advert. .3 - W5 786, as for .2, with an Exide battery advert. .4 - W2 456 as for .2, with an Coca Cola Advert .5 - SW6 965 in bound, showing St Kilda, route 55 with the railway line in the background. Tram has adverts for Band-Aids, Porsche motor cars in Richmond and Singletons? .6 - L 106 - in bound, showing destination of Carnegie, route 4. This would most likely be a Glen Huntly depot doing a late afternoon trip via William St. Has the zoo wall in the background. .7 - W3 655 in bound, showing destination of Carnegie, route 4. This would most likely be a Glen Huntly depot doing a late afternoon trip via William St. Tram has a Remy Martin Brandy advert. Tram running down to the Flemington Road intersection. .1 and .7 have political graffiti or slogans painted onto the zoo walls. examples are" Vote Bryant Out, ?? and the Labor Party? Welfare not warfare out Menzies and Drop Bob today Vote ? Out".1 to .4 - hand stamped "12 Mar '60" .5 to .7 - ditto "& Mar '60" .2 - "W2 Royal Park" .5 - "SW Car Royal Park" .6 - "L Royal Park" .7 - "W3 Royal Park"trams, tramways, royal park, west coburg, route 55, graffiti, domain rd, railways, route 56, w2 class, w5 class, w3 class, l class, st kilda beach, tram 470, tram 227, tram 456, tram 965, tram 655, tram 106, sw6 class, tram 786

Henry Beardmore represented the Green Hills Riding on Wodonga Shire Council from 1898 to 1922, including terms as President from 1900-01, 1903-4, 1908-10, 1911-12, 1914-17. He won the seat of Benambra in the Victorian Legislative Assembly at a by-election on 20th April 1917. After a few years serving simultaneously at both local and State government levels, in 1922 Mr Beardmore retired from the Wodonga Council due to his increased workload in State politics. He continuously represented the Benambra electorate as a Nationalist and United Australia Party Member for more than 15 years being returned unopposed on four occasions. Mr Beardmore was a strong advocate for country development and decentralisation. He was an Honorary Minister in 1924 and for a short time in 1929, Minister of Railways, Minister in-charge of Electrical Undertakings and Minister of Labour. He was a leading supporter of Kiewa Hydro-Electric Project and opponent of Yallourn coalfield. He remained as the Member for Benambra until his death in Wodonga on 1st August 1932. At the time this letter was written, William Hughes had been expelled from the ALP over his stance on conscription. He formed the National Labor Party which later merged with the Liberal Party to become the Nationalist Party. Henry Beardmore was a newly-elected Member of the Victorian Parliament and became a member of the Nationalist Party. Two of Henry Beardmore’s sons were on Active Service at the time and were later joined by another of their brothers. The letter aimed to gain support for Hughes at the Federal Election to be held on 5th May 1917 which his new party won with a large majority. However the Second Referendum held on conscription on 20th December 1917 at William Hughes’ instigation was defeated.This letter is significant because it was sent to an important Wodonga politician by the Prime Minister at a critical time in Australia's history.A typed letter sent to Mr Henry Beardmore by W. M. Hughes, Prime Minister 25th April 1917. It is printed on the Commonwealth of Australia letterhead. The letter has been damaged over time and has been repaired. Commonwealth of Australia letterhead Signed W. M. Hughesw. m. hughes, henry beardmore, conscription debate 1917

This manuscript and letter represent the connection between two significant people from the North East of Victoria and their common interest in literature and development of the Upper Murray. Des Martin was raised on the family property Aherlo in the Huon Creek Valley. He joined the 8th Light Horse Regiment and in May 1940 led his Wodonga Troop into the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, serving in Syria, Java, New Guinea and Borneo. After the war, Des returned to Aherlo and his horses. Amongst other pursuits he became the first President of the Victorian Amateur Riders Association and founded the Murray Valley Hunt Club. Des also played a major role in Australia entering an equestrian team in the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 and served as a Steward at that event. As well as “Many a Mile”, Des also wrote “Australia Astride” in 1959, a history of the Albury Racing Club – a Century of Racing and a “Tale of Twin Cities” as well as collaborating with R. M. Williams to develop the “Hoofs and Horns” publication. From 1969 to 1973, Des Martin also wrote a column for the Border Mail newspaper. Des Martin died on 12th April 1995. Thomas Walter Mitchell was born at "Towong Hill" near Corryong, Victoria and was educated at Cranbrook School, Sydney and Cambridge University. A keen skier, Mitchell founded the Australian National Ski Federation, captained the Australian skiing team and won gold medals in competitions against England and New Zealand. He was an Australian champion in the downhill and long-time member of the Ski Club of Australia. In 1937 he published Australia’s first ski handbook "Ski Heil". Mitchell joined the Second Australian Imperial Force in 1940 and was a Captain in the 2/22nd Battalion and Headquarters 8th Division. He was captured and interned in Changi POW camp until 1945. Tom Mitchell served as the Country Party Member for Benambra in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1947 to 1976. He was awarded the C.M.G. “For distinguished services to the Community, particularly in the fields of Politics, Alpine Sports and Safety, and Writing.” He died on 4th February 1984. This volume is significant because it is the manuscript of a book written by a local Wodonga author. The letter written to Tom Mitchell contains anecdotes and details of the writing of the novel, Many a Mile.An original typed manuscript bound in blue coverboard. It is accompanied by a typed letter.des martin, tom mitchell, many a mile