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Prior to the election of female Councillors and Mayors, the Mayoress role was one of the few ways women could officially undertake civic duties and Mayoress's played an important role in civic life through charity work, even stepping in on occasions to undertake Mayoral duties. Anne Galvin O.B.E. was born Anne Edith Ruby in 1903 and was one of Bendigo's best known charity workers. She used her first speech as Mayoress to indicate her intentions to do something for mothers and children and it was mainly through her efforts as president of the National Council of Women that Bendigo received the appointment of the two first women police officers in 1956 (1). Anne Galvin was the second woman in Bendigo to be elected to the Bendigo City Council in the 1960's, retiring after six years on Council in 1973. Anne was awarded an O.B.E in 1967 for community service and the Anne Galvin Early Learning Centre is named after her. (1) p 193 Jackman, Mayors of Bendigo 1856 - 2001.Large timber sign. Hand painted gold and black shadowed text. The sign commemorates the opening of a pre-school by Lady Herring and is dedicated to Anne Edith Galvin who when Mayoress of the City from 1944 - 1945 pioneered the pre-school service and established the first creche and day nursery in Bendigo. mayoress galvin, mayor galvin, cr anne galvin