Minnie Mary Fimmel (1880-1965) was born at Kewell, near Minyip and married carpenter John Thomas Francis Moroney in 1897. His death left her a widow with two children. Minnie re-invented herself as Marie Minnie Dalley and commenced menial work in Melbourne. Known as ‘Ma’, she became a financially successful businesswoman, eventually owning various properties around Victoria including a ‘machinery factory’. She was much ‘talked about’ in the newspapers for her benevolent actions, particularly towards women. For this community service she received an O.B.E. in 1949. Aged 74, she became the first female mayor of Kew. Ma Dalley refused to accept a formal presentation of the honour at a ‘return ball’, insisting that the money be donated to St George’s Hospital, Kew. She continued to financially donate to various charitable organisations. Her piéce de résistance was a staggering £250,000 personal donation to further the building of St George’s Hospital. She died at Kew and is buried at Miniyip Cemetery. Framed large oil painting on canvas. Cr Marie Dalley in her mayoral robes. Painted inscription on reverse of canvas: ‘Ma Dally [sic]. 1st lady Mayer [sic] of Kew Vic. Pinxit Govett 1951". [Cr Dalley was Mayor of Kew in 1954-55, so the date given by the artist on the reverse is incorrect.]marie (ma) dalley, james william govett, ma dalley, minnie mary fimmel, mayoral portraits

117 pp : illustrated : Appendices Chapters: Preface / Robert Baker p4. The collection / Robert Baker p5. Cartwheel penny / Robert Baker p6. Creek and old watering stage / David White p10. John Carson: Mayor 1863–4 1 / Julie King p4. Wedding dress / Suzanne McWha p18. Back to Kew 1875 / Judith Scurfield p22. Barnard’s clock / Margaret Robinson p26. Denbigh quilt / Suzanne McWha p28. Fragments of art decoration / Robert Baker p32. Mr Richardson’s sock / Felicity Renowden p36. Kew Volunteer Fire Brigade / David White p38. Kew Where We Live / Judith Scurfield p42. [MMBW} Detail Plan No. 1580 / Judith Scurfield p46. Adeney Avenue / Suzanne McWha p50. Young Workers’ Patriotic Guild / Margaret Robinson p54. Roll of Honor [Thomas Rand] / Robert Baker p56. Alice Anderson in her tourer / Felicity Renowden p60. Kew War Memorial / David White p62. Beaded dance dress / Suzanne McWha p 66. The great flood of 1934 / Desley Reid p68. Depression-era toolbox / Robert Baker p72. War Savings Street / Julie King p74. Kew Public L.ibrary / Suzanne McWha p78. Signature supper cloth / Desley Reid p82. View from the garden of Rockingham / Desley Reid p86. Cr Marie Dalley / Felicity Renowden p90. Centenary of Kew / Robert Baker p94. Doris Dickinson’s gown / Julie King p98. [Model Dairy] Milk bottles / Robert Baker p100. Kew Civic Centre / David White p102. Bicentennial tapestries / Margaret Robinson p106. Crest of the City of Kew / Desley Reid p110. Town Crier [outfit] / Desley Reid p112. Acknowledgements p114. List of works p115.non-fiction'Stories They Tell : A history of Kew through objects' explores diverse narratives from European settlement to the first decades of the twenty-first century. These stories use as their starting point artworks, texts and artefacts from the nationally significant collection of the Kew Historical Society. Limited to 100 copies.collection -- kew historical society, museum catalogues, henty family, cartwheel pennies, kew lunatic asylum, patchwork quilts, john carson, george bouchier richardson, gb richardson, coombs family, james dannock, back to kew 1875, francis barnard, denbigh family, cullis hill & co, ordsall, southesk, kew volunteer fire brigade, jfc farquhar, henry kellett, mmbw detail plan 1580, william nicholls anderson, young workers patriotic guild, roll of honor -- town of kew, alice anderson, kew war memorial, flapper dresses, fairfield bridge, chandler highway bridge, warren trestrail, furniture -- 1930s, war savings streets, kew library, children's libraries, voluntary aid detachments - kew (vic.), rockingham, james govett, centenary of kew, mayoresses -- kew (vic.), model dairy -- kew (vic.), doris dickinson, crests -- city of kew (vic.), town criers -- kew (vic.), joy stewart, australian bicentennial -- kew (vic.), kew civic centre, ak lines mcfarlane marshall, adeney avenue -- kew, wwi