Prior to the election of female Councillors and Mayors in the 1960’s, the Lady Mayoress role was one of the few ways women could officially undertake civic duties. Mayoresses made important contributions to their local communities through their charity work and as ambassadors for their region on a state and federal level. They also undertook some Mayoral duties on occasions when their husband was unavailable. Greta Balsillie served as Mayoress from 1993 - 94 and was the last official Mayoress as the role disappeared after amalgamation due to the election of female Mayors.Colour photographic portrait sitting behind oval mount.Front cover; Photograph by: / Richard Gibbs / Tel: (054)413411city of bendigo mayoress, city of greater bendigo portraits, city of bendigo mayor, lansell pendant, mayor balsillie, mayoress balsillie

Andrew John BALSILLIE MBE, JP. Jack as he was known enlisted in the Australian Army near the end of WWII No 31224 age 16 years. He then served in Malaya 1959 - 1961then Vietnam with the rank of Captain with 1st Aust Task Force HQ Light Aid Detachment (LAD) 7.5.1969 - 7.11.1969, HQ Aust Force Vietnam Army component 8.11.1969 - 7.5.1970. He retired with the rank of Major in 1985 after 40 years plus. He was awarded an MBE in 1969 for his services to the Australian War Memorial. Elected to Committee Bendigo RSL 1988 - 1993 with Snr Vice President 1989 - 1993, re-elected 1999 - 2000. Re-elected again in 2002 as Snr Vice President. He was elected to Bendigo City Council 1990 - 1993 serving as Mayor in 1993. .1) Bush hat, floppy, khaki canvas, belonged to Major J BALSILLIE. .2) - .4) Gauze wound dressing in brown cotton pack, 2 rolls per pack. .5) Neck cloth, green cotton..1) Inside hat: Maj J Balsillie. .2) - .4) Labelled: First Field Dressings.headwear, medical dressings

Item issued to “Maj Andrew John BALSILLIE MBE” Refer Cat No 118.5 for his service details, RSL and Council history.Green Army issue singlet 1968 jungle green colour cotton fabric.material "44" “1968, J Balsillie”uniforms - army, costume - male underwear, singlet

Andrew Balsillie (30/8/1874-28/7/1949. For 50 years he was associated with the Bendigo Mutual Permenant Land and Building Society and was its secretary from 1916 to 1945. He was the son of Andrew and Maria (nee Laing), who operated Edinburgh House selling ladies and gentlemen's clothing. Andrew Jnr. married Helen (Nellie) Calder in 1903.Black and white photographs (2) mounted on rectangular brown board. House, stained weatherboard board to sill height, rough cast above, bow lead- light window on right, leadlight windows on left, louvred vents to both front gables, tiled roof, roughcast verandah surround and pillars, 3 steps to veranda level, one chimney visible, small white veranda lamp, woven wire fence. Gate wooden gateway with lintel. On back of photo 18a: 'Sold Balsillie £875 sewered, or £825 plus sewerage. Stamp with T.C. Watts & Son, 253 Mitchell St., Bendigo., 12 April, 1929' On back of 18b. A. Balsillie, Marks St., £950 (crossed out ) £875, sewered or £825 plus sewerage.' May 1929.Frank A. Jeffree Bendigobuilding, residential, t.c. watts and son, balsillie, marks street bendigo

Donated by A.J BALSILLIE MBE. Refer Cat No 118.5 for his service details, RSL, Council history.Red hard cover with lithograph of infantry men marching though street centred on cover Author K. S Inglis 176PPDonated by Major J Balsillie MBE JP 2.1.200 ink and name stampbooks, military history

19th Century Consignment label from Balsillie, Goodison & Ramage, Excelsior Tailoring Co, between Beehive Café and Ezywalkin Boot Co Pall Mall Sandhurst. Attached to brown paper. Addressed to G Matchett Esq View Street. Tailors and Men's Mercers stated along with Balsillie & Goodisson's Drapery Warehouse still two doors from Cash Store.Brockley Printerbendigo, industry, traders, balsillie, goodisson, & ramage. g matchett esq view street.

Donated by Andrew John BALSILLIE MBE. Refer 118.5 for his service details, RSL, Council history.Hard cover, black colour buckram. Silver colour print on front and spine. Dust cover white print title over black background. red and blue accents. Black print on spine. Black and white photograph design on silver background. Pages 467 cut plain. Illustrated black and white photographs. Colour photographs of paintings.Black and white stamp on front fly lead "Major A. J. BALSILLIE MBE JP" Hand written black ink on second fly lead "Donated by (stamp) 2 -1- 2000"books, history

a.Typewritten note from Andrew Balsillie to G Mackay. b Handwritten notes about the Bendigo Philosophical Societydocument, memo

Shows date of death. Who delivered eulogy for Dennis O'Hoy. Obituary Advertiser Thursday 6th September 2001. Names Greta Balsillie, James Lerk, June Killian.person, individual, basil miller

Document. Letter to Greta Balsillie from Peter Frost CoGB Re Proposed Monument at White Hills Cemetery recognizing the Old Bendigo Cemetery. Letter dated 22nd October 1993.document, memo, letter to greta balsille

Item in the collection of “MAJ J. Balsillie MBE, refer Cat No 118.5 for his service details, RSL and Council history.Crewman's suit - Silk, Khaki, Long sleeved, Metal Zips.uniform, crewman's suit

Item in the collection re “MAJ. JOHN BALSILLIE MBE” Refer to Cat No 118.5 for his service details, RSL and Council history.Brown leather Sam Browne Belt fitted with double clawed brass buckle. A brass stud and leather loop secured the free end of the belt tongue. The shoulder strap, 32 mm wide, is connected by a similar loop and brass stud arrangement. A pair of "D" shaped rings are mounted at the bottom of the belt (for the sword). The belt also has a flat brass hook mounted against the belt, between the “D” rings. The belt is double layered on the back and left side section.Stamped inside the shoulder strap are the letters "HQEC"uniform, ceremonial, maj john balsillie

Item issued to “Maj Andrew John Balsillie MBE” Refer Cat No 118.5 for his service details and RSL, Council history.Leather chinstrap for a slouch hat with bronze adjuster.uniforms - army, costume - male headwear, chin strap

Uniform issued to “Maj Andrew John BALSILLIE MBE”. Refer Cat No 118.5 for his service details and RSL, Council history..1) Tropical green jacket, cotton drill with shoulder rank epaulettes with “Major” insignia, Unit arm patches on both upper arms, left sleeve has embroidered Rising Sun with lettering under, right sleeve has a blue patch with red crown and lettering, a waist let and metal buckle. .2) Tropical green shorts, cotton drillUnit Arm Patches, “Royal Australian Electrical and mechanical Engineers” Left sleeve, “Australian Military Forces” Right sleeve, “Commonwealth”uniforms, tropical

"The Battle of Coral" is the exciting and dramatic story of the biggest unit level battle involving Australian soldiers in the Vietnam War. Donated by Andrew John BALSILLIE MBE. Refer Cat No 118.5 for his service details, RSL, Council history.Hard cover, red colour buckram. white colour print on spine. Dust cover with plastic cover, black and red colour print on front, back and spine. Illustrated yellow colour background, silhouette of helicopter/jungle on front. 361 pages cut plain. Illustrated black and white photographs and maps. End paper - illustrated maps.Title page - hand written in black ink "Donated by / 2-1-2000" - owners stamp in black ink "Major A.J. BALSILLE, .M.B.E.,J.P.books, military

The photographs were taken at a Bendigo RSL Sub Branch Annual Dinner held in the Soldiers Memorial Institute Building Main Hall. The Bendigo Womens RSL Auxiliary catered for their Annual Dinners. .1) Photo left - right. Norm Smart thanking the Ladies for their efforts and Propose a Toast to the Ladies. Peter Dodd, Greta Balsillie, Jaqui Stevens, Christine Bates, Margaret Dodd, Margaret Andrea, Lyn Boulton, Dorothy Osgood. .2) Greta Balsillie, Lyn Boulton, Margaret Andrea. .3) Dorothy Osgood, Margaret Dodd. The date is possibly 1998. Norm Smart refer Cat No 8131.2P, Ladies Auxiliary Refer Cat No 8021, 8107.Three colour photographs relating to Bendigo RSL Sub Branch Annual Dinners. .1) Shows a man in shirt and tie with microphone with another man and 7 Ladies outside a doorway. .2) Shows 3 of the ladies in the kitchen at SMI. .3) Shows 2 of the Ladies in the same place. Text in red pen on rear of .1)On rear of .1) is a list of the people in the photo.brsl, smirsl, anuual, dinner, auxiliary, wabrsl

Document. Letter and brochure attached to a sheet of lined paper. Letter addressed to Greta Balsillie from Leigh Guiney informing her of a Grave Tending business he was setting up. The attached brochure includes details of the Grave Tending service and phone contact. Letter dated 12th October 1993.document, memo, letter and brochure

Letter, dated 3 April 1996, from The Bendigo Irish Association Inc. thanking The Colonial Bush Band for their participation in their Annual St Patrick's Day Charity Concert. Signed by Greta Balsillie, Secretary. The letterhead across the top of the page has 6 shamrocks with 1 large and 3 small kangaroos in front of the shamrocks.person, individual, peter ellis oam, peter ellis collection, the bendigo irish association inc, robert rossiter, the colonial bush band, family care sisters, greta balsillie

The Thomas James Connelly collection. T. J. Connelly - Brassfounder, Coppersmith, Plumber and Gasfitter. Located in High St. Bendigo. Items of correspondence. Memo headed Bendigo Gaol, Sandhurst 20 Dec 70, to Mr Connelly. Regarding pipes to be installed at Mr Macartney, McLaren St, late Balsillie. Signature is illegible. One side of notepaper.trades, plumbing, thomas james connelly, connelly, thomas james. plumbers.

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from Monday, January 13, 2003. Swinging forties: Mrs. Tracy's orchestra at the unity Hall, View Street, in the 1940s. Pictured is Geoff Tresize (cornet), Reece Ellston (alto saxophone), Col Balsillie (drums), Charlie Neville (fiddle), Bill Brandy (MC), Paddy Meaghr (vocals) and Blanche Tracy (piano). The names of the other two women in the photo are unknown. Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2003. Swinging forties: this photo appeared in the Way We Were section on January 13. It is of Mrs. Tracey's orchestra at the Unity Hall, View Street in the 1940s. Pictured is Geoff Tresize (cornet), Reece Ellston (alto saxophone), Col Balsillie (drums), Charlie Neville (fiddle), Bill Bradley (MC), Paddy Meagher (vocals) and Blanche Tracey (piano). The other woman pictured is Lily Peake. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

The program relates to the dedication ceremony of a monument in front of the Soldiers Memorial Institute 39 Pall Mall Bendigo on 15 November 1992. The memorial is dedicated to the Ex Servicemen and Women who served in WW2, Korea, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam and Kuwait. Introduction by Major A.J. Balsillie MBE. Address given by H.M. O'Halloran MBE President Bendigo RSL. Unveiling by E.A. Jackman RSL Memorial Committee. Wreaths were laid by The Mayor A.J. Douglas JP and President of the RSL. Refer Cat No 8245.2Program, folded in half, front is a sepia style red tone with blue surround and text, inside and rear page is all blue print.Front page in blue print, "Dedication ceremony Pall Mall Bendigo 15 November 1992"brsl, smirsl, moument, dedication,

RSL Funeral services conducted by the Bendigo RSL Sub Branch and Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch for their departed members. .1) The first entry in the book is 27.10.1965 and the last on 27.12.2008. A large amount of the entries were written by Jack Barnes OAM during his 43 years as Secretary of the Sub Branch. (Refer Cat No 8040). The vast majority of the funerals were conducted by the President at the time, Committee members or members who were heavily involved with the Sub Branch. It's virtual who's who of Presidents, Life members and notables. 1988 saw the most funerals conducted during that year being 60, other figures varied from mid 20's to mid 50's per year. One notable funeral Volunteer was John Balsillie MBE. (Refer Cat No 118.5) Between 2.1.2007 - 27.12.2008 there was 80 funerals with John conducting 78 of them. There is an interesting addition of one funeral by Jack Barnes on 31.1.1968 was that it was (111 degrees). .2) The list on the sheet with a note, "For Cindy" who was the BDRSL Office Person at the time. these were for 2007, there was 19 on the sheet with only 9 in the book, 7 of the names have a red tick beside. The sheet was written by John Balsillie. John had conducted funerals for many years pre 2007 and for more years after. .1) Exercise book, cover red & white with green text central of front, section of front page missing, pages are blue ruled lines, columns added in red or blue pen, 3 columns per page with year at the top, columns have the deceased persons name, funeral date, person who conducted the RSL funeral, some pages the persons unit served with has been added. all entries are hand written on red or blue pen. .2) Sheet of paper with hand written names in blue pen with month and date, some have a red tick beside.On front on a white sticker "Funerals" in black texta pen. Hand written in blue pen, "27.10.1965 to 27.12.2008". Inside front cover in blue pen by Jack Barnes, "Bugler as from Sept 84 - Les Warren 40 Story St Bgo phone 43007". In red pen, "Took Bugle to polish etc 5 ? 84"brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, funerals