Councillors and the mayor seated at table while attending the first Sandringham Borough Council meeting after severance from the Shire of Moorabbin. Shown L to R: Cr. C.A. Hartsman; Cr. T.G. Farrant; Cr. W.T.C. Kelly; Cr. B. Champion; Cr. B.J. Ferdinando (Mayor) [standing]; Cr. O.R. Snowball Esq. (M.L.A.); Cr. E.L. Belyea; Cr. H. B. Grace; Cr. G.W. Knott; Cr. F.W. Hearnden.councillor, sandringham, local government, municipality, mayor, justice of the peace, cr b.j. ferdinando, borough of sandringham, cr. c.a. hartsman, cr. t.g. farrant, cr. w.t.c. kelly, cr. b. champion, cr. o.r. snowball, cr. e.l. belyea, cr. h. b. grace, cr. g.w. knott, cr. f.w. hearnden, council meeting

Benjamin James Ferdinando (1852-1922) was one of the first nine councillors of the new municipality of Sandringham in 1917. He was the municipality's first Mayor in 1917-18.councillor, sandringham, local government, municipality, mayor, justice of the peace, portrait, cr b.j. ferdinando, benjamin james ferdinando, borough of sandringham, mayor of sandringham

This chain was part of the official regalia worn by the Mayor of the City of Sandringham before the amalgamation into Bayside City Council in 1994. The chain was seen as an outward sign of power, authority, and responsibility and was a formal, full-dress type of regalia that was worn by the mayor over their robes at ceremonial functions. The large central drop medallion features the design of the council sea, and the links of the chains are made of cutwork initials of each Mayor. The Sandringham seal was designed by Sans and McDougal had been selected in 1917, by a special committee and its main features are the Sandringham pier and breakwater, with a yacht in full sail as an inset, supported by two dolphins. The motto reads 'Omni Opere' which translates to ‘With all earnestness.’9 carat yellow gold mayoral chain for the City of Sandringham. Consists of two concentric circles of 57 small oval links, with an Australian Coat of Arms as a centrepiece and a large 'drop' medallion of the City of Sandringham seal below. Each oval link is made up of the cutwork initials of a mayor, the surrounding oval border has an inscription above the initials which gives the mayor's name; an inscription below gives dates of office; the earliest is Cr. B.J. Ferdinando 1917-18, and latest is Cr. S.T. Russell 1993-94. The ovals are surrounded by decorative scrolls and are joined by small curb chains. The outer circle contains 31 links, while the inner contains 26. On both shoulders sit decorative bars, joining the front of the chain to the back. The main medallion has an oval central panel that features the coloured Sandringham seal in enamel depicting two sailboats in the water, a pier protruding from the left, a coastline on the right with two pine trees. Above the scene are decorative triangles in light blue and yellow, above which is another section in dark blue containing a third sailboat. The seal is flanked by two engraved dolphins and above it sits an engraved St Edward's gold crown filled with red enamel. Below the seal, there is a ribbon containing the Latin motto 'OMNI OPERE' which is engraved and filled in dark blue enamel. The pendant is surrounded by cutwork lettering reading 'CITY OF SANDRINGHAM / 1919' and leaf decorations. The medallion is inscribed on the reverse with important dates in Sandringham's history. A fleur-de-lys joins the medallion to the Australian Coat of Arms centrepiece above. The Coat of Arms features a shield, depicting symbols of Australia's six states, in enamel, flanked by an engraved kangaroo on the left and emu on the right. Below it sits a ribbon engraved 'ADVANCE AUSTRALIA'.mayoral chain, ceremonial wear, seal, medallion, mayor, coat of arms, crest, bayside, blashki & sons, city of sandringham, sandringham, omni opere, blashki, mayoral regalia, motto, st edward's crown, sans and mcdougall