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. Framed, oval photographic portraits with convex glass and print, created using a collodion wet plate process. Hand coloured detail.cr: Mrs L W Galvin / Mayoress 1944 - 45annie ruby, mayoress galvin, mayor galvin, councillor annie galvin, city of greater bendigo portraits