Women's rights and votingPurple and green book titled "The right to vote: the right to stand". The involvement of women in local government in Victoria. In centre of book map of Australia with ALGWA in centre. Circle around has "Australian Local Government Women's Association Inc" book by Helen D. Harris OAM. Book has 93 pages.As abovevoting, helen harris, women's rights

Always immaculately groomed councillor Kaele Way was a keen advocate for woman in local government. in 2005 she was elected to the Springfield ward. In 2007 she was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll for Women. She was one of only 20 at the time. In 2008 she co-authored a handbook for women for wishing to run for office. In2008 she became chair of the Australian Local Government Womens Association. In 2009 she became deputy chair of the Victorian Regional Development Association. She was also deputy chair man of the Victorian Regional Development for the Eastern Metropolitan area. In 2009 she was presented with an AM for her work for women in local government. Kaele Way died in July 2011Coloured photo of Whitehorse councillor Kaele Way planting a tree on a Whitehorse nature strip. A man is assistingway kaele, councillors

Victorian Local Government Association (VLGA) Bulletins (1994-2004) not complete years Newsletters on Gambling Research not complete years (2000-2002) Mailouts (1997 to 2002) not complete years - containing agendas, minutes General correspondence, planning days, notifications of events and the Mission Statement PUBLICATIONS: Newspaper - ' Local Government Focus' special feature (Oct 1986) VLGA review 2000 and 2003 VLGA - Resource Book ' - What Price Citizenship' (Feb 2002) Local Government of Engineers Association of Victoria - Symposium re 'The Minicipal Administration of Town Planning Schemes (1972) 'The Restructure of Local Government in Victoria - Northern and Western Melbourne Segment -Options Paper' - (1986) by the Local Government Commission Brimbank Council - 2003/04 Community Grants Program, Guidelines and Information VLGA/Stegley Foundation 'Building Partnerships between Councils and their Communities' (2000) VLGA - Resource Book - 'It takes a Village to Raise a Child' (2003) Department of Local Government and Administration Services - 'Developments in Local Government - Community Development, Human Services and Local Government' (1986) Women's Participation in Local Government |Local Government Conference ' 21st Annual Conference' programme - October 1986, by the Australian Local Government Women's Association, Victorian Branch Victorian Local Government Women's Charter ' Call for Submissions' - Women's Planning Network (Melbourne) - October 1997 |Women's Participation in Local Government Coalition - Candidates Information Pack, Council Elections, March 2003|Bulletin - Strengthening Communities through Women's Participation Project, Update December 2003 by the Women's Participation in Local Government Coalition RE: the Women's Charter|'Moving On' Women and Retiremnt from Victorian Local Government - Women's Participation in Local Government Coalition (203)|VLGA Bulletin - February 2004, 'Women's Charter Launched'women

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

The Country Women’s Association of Victoria was formed 12 March 1928 and today has over 5,600 members. Its original aim was to improve conditions by community service, more especially as they affect the welfare of women and children. The Wodonga CWA branch was formed in 1934 and has been an active group in the community until the present day. The CWA provided gathering opportunities for rural women and quickly became renowned for their street stalls, catering at Agricultural Shows and social events including debutante balls, handicraft classes and cooking demonstrations. Today they have become even more than that, participating in and organising a wide range of activities and initiatives in the community, always with the focus of service to others. The CWA is of significance on a local, state and national level as a critical service group. They conduct a range of social, educational and services throughout Australia with an initial focus on the support of rural women and children. This role has evolved over time to incorporate a wide range of initiatives, government advisory bodies and organisations.A wine glass decorated with a gold rim and gold logo of the CWA Victoria produced to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Wodonga BranchAbove the CWA logo "GOLDEN JUBILEE" Beneath the logo "WODONGA/1934 - 1984"country women's association, wodonga cwa, service groups, community organisations