The Kew Elder Citizen's Association was formally established in 1952. During its initial years it met at South Esk in Cotham Road. Later the Club moved to its current headquarters in High Street.Framed photograph of a theatrical performance of 'Cinderella' by the Kew Elder Citizens' Club in 1976. Handwritten insert below photograph: "Cinderella - Cast, 1976 / Arthur Sharpe; The Prince - Hec Camm; Fairy Godmother - Bill Humphries; Step-sisters - Wally Tustin, Ralph Preston, George Driver; Compere - Alma Westcott".kew elder citizens' club -- association, community groups -- kew (vic.), kew senior citizens, theatre -- kew (vic.)

The orthodox version of the origins and history of the Kew Elder(ly) Citizens’ Association was established by Cr. W. D. Vaughan in his book Kew’s Civic Century (1960), when he wrote that: "When Mrs. C. H. Simpson was Mayoress in 1952 she set up the Elderly Citizens’ Association to care for the needs of ages persons in Kew. The idea was strongly supported and a start was made by providing social afternoons for elderly folk at Southesk. Visiting sick people in their homes, providing firewood where needed, and other activities were undertaken by the Association. The aid of Council was sought to further the work. It was decided that a social unit for elderly folk be established at Southesk." (p.126-7). In the following pages, he describes in detail Council’s role in formally establishing the Association. This ‘official’ version was reasserted in the later Thematic Environmental History of the City of Boroondara (2012). However the origins and gestation of community of organisations is rarely straightforward. In 1965, five years after Vaughan’s book was published, the author of East Kew Women’s Club : Twenty Years : 20-7-1945-30-7-1965, writing about the period July 1947 to July 1950, described the role the Club played in establishing the Kew Elder Citizens Association. The author wrote: "At a meeting of the Kew Community Aid, the plight of many elderly people in Kew who were dependent on pensions was raised and in order to ascertain their needs the practice was begun of serving morning tea at the Masonic Hall in Walpole Street, where pensions were then paid. From this beginning the Kew Elder Citizens Association was formed in Kew with wide support, and Club members gave willing support on the committee, in helping serve afternoon tea and in entertainment." (p.4) Photographic evidence also leads to questions about Vaughan’s version of events. A framed photograph in the Society’s Collection shows a Public Meeting to form the Kew Elder Citizens Association in a room at Southesk a year earlier in 1951. Whatever version of the origins of the Association is correct, a later framed photograph in the Society’s collection shows the opening of the completed Clubrooms of the Kew Elder Citizens at South Esk by the Hon. E.P. Cameron M.L.C, Minister of Health, on 12 November 1956. The Association is still active in Kew and is currently located at Hamer Court, opposite the Boroondara General (Kew) Cemetery in High Street, Kew.Historic founding photograph of the Kew Senior Citizens AssociationFramed photograph of a meeting at Southesk in Cotham Road to form the Kew Elder Citizens Club. None of the individuals are named. The meeting was not held in the Drawing Room or Ballroom at Southesk as there is an absence of frescoes on the ceiling. The ceiling in the photograph is a cove ceiling however like that in the front two rooms.Handwritten caption: "Public Meeting to Form Kew Elder Citizens, 1951"kew elder citizens club, kew elderly citizens club, kew senior citizens club, southesk

The orthodox version of the origins and history of the Kew Elder(ly) Citizens’ Association was established by Cr. W. D. Vaughan in his book Kew’s Civic Century (1960), when he wrote that: "When Mrs. C. H. Simpson was Mayoress in 1952 she set up the Elderly Citizens’ Association to care for the needs of ages persons in Kew. The idea was strongly supported and a start was made by providing social afternoons for elderly folk at Southesk. Visiting sick people in their homes, providing firewood where needed, and other activities were undertaken by the Association. The aid of Council was sought to further the work. It was decided that a social unit for elderly folk be established at Southesk." (p.126-7). In the following pages, he describes in detail Council’s role in formally establishing the Association. This ‘official’ version was reasserted in the later Thematic Environmental History of the City of Boroondara (2012). However the origins and gestation of community of organisations is rarely straightforward. In 1965, five years after Vaughan’s book was published, the author of East Kew Women’s Club : Twenty Years : 20-7-1945-30-7-1965, writing about the period July 1947 to July 1950, described the role the Club played in establishing the Kew Elder Citizens Association. The author wrote: "At a meeting of the Kew Community Aid, the plight of many elderly people in Kew who were dependent on pensions was raised and in order to ascertain their needs the practice was begun of serving morning tea at the Masonic Hall in Walpole Street, where pensions were then paid. From this beginning the Kew Elder Citizens Association was formed in Kew with wide support, and Club members gave willing support on the committee, in helping serve afternoon tea and in entertainment." (p.4) Photographic evidence also leads to questions about Vaughan’s version of events. A framed photograph in the Society’s Collection shows a Public Meeting to form the Kew Elder Citizens Association in a room at Southesk a year earlier in 1951. Whatever version of the origins of the Association is correct, a later framed photograph in the Society’s collection shows the opening of the completed Clubrooms of the Kew Elder Citizens at South Esk by the Hon. E.P. Cameron M.L.C, Minister of Health, on 12 November 1956. The Association is still active in Kew and is currently located at Hamer Court, opposite the Boroondara General (Kew) Cemetery in High Street, Kew.Framed, inscribed photograph of the opening of the Kew Elder Citizens Club at Southesk in 1954. The ceremony would appear to be conducted on the western side of the house.‘Opening of the Kew Elder Citizens Clubrooms “South Esk” by the Hon. E.P. Cameron M.L.C, Minister of Health, 12.11.1956. Cr. W.A. Comeadow O.B.E., J.P. (Mayor).’southesk, kew elder citizens club, kew elderly citizens club, kew senior citizens club

The Municipality of Kew (1860-1863), the Borough of Kew (1863-1910), the Town of Kew (1910-1921) and the City of Kew (1921-1994) were local government instrumentalities in the State of Victoria. In 1994, the City of Kew was amalgamated, together with the former Cities of Camberwell and Hawthorn, into the new City of Boroondara (1994- ). Like other local government entities of the period, Kew was administered by town clerks. The two notable town clerks in Kew's history were H. H. (Henry Hirst) Harrison (1868-1955) and W. D. (William Dickie) Birrell (1899-1974). Harrison was appointed to the position in 1901 and retired in 1938 after 37 years. Birrell, appointed Acting Town Clerk in 1921, became Town Clerk in 1938, following Harrison's retirement. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1966.This card is part of an historically significant civic collection, containing hundreds of separate invitations, documents, greeting cards, programmes and tickets issued and/or collected by successive town clerks. Items in the collection illuminate the political, social and cultural history of the district. As a continuous record, ranging across most decades of the Twentieth Century, they reveal changing tastes in design, values and relationships in the history of local government in Victoria.CITY OF KEW / THE MAYOR, CR W A COMEADOW OBE JP / IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE KEW ELDER CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION EXTENDS TO YOU A CORDIAL / INVITATION TO BE PRESENT AT THE OPENING OF THE / KEW ELDER CITIZENS' CLUBROOMS / 'SOUTHESK' CR, OF COTHAM ROAD AND CHARLES STREET / BY / THE HON E P CAMERON MLC, MINISTER OF HEALTH / MONDAY, 12TH NOVEMBER, 1956, AT 2.45 P.M.civic invitations -- kew (vic), kew elder citizens' association, southesk

The orthodox version of the origins and history of the Kew Elder(ly) Citizens’ Association was established by Cr. W. D. Vaughan in his book Kew’s Civic Century (1960), when he wrote that: "When Mrs. C. H. Simpson was Mayoress in 1952 she set up the Elderly Citizens’ Association to care for the needs of ages persons in Kew. The idea was strongly supported and a start was made by providing social afternoons for elderly folk at Southesk. Visiting sick people in their homes, providing firewood where needed, and other activities were undertaken by the Association. The aid of Council was sought to further the work. It was decided that a social unit for elderly folk be established at Southesk." (p.126-7). In the following pages, he describes in detail Council’s role in formally establishing the Association. This ‘official’ version was reasserted in the later Thematic Environmental History of the City of Boroondara (2012). However the origins and gestation of community of organisations is rarely straightforward. In 1965, five years after Vaughan’s book was published, the author of East Kew Women’s Club : Twenty Years : 20-7-1945-30-7-1965, writing about the period July 1947 to July 1950, described the role the Club played in establishing the Kew Elder Citizens Association. The author wrote: "At a meeting of the Kew Community Aid, the plight of many elderly people in Kew who were dependent on pensions was raised and in order to ascertain their needs the practice was begun of serving morning tea at the Masonic Hall in Walpole Street, where pensions were then paid. From this beginning the Kew Elder Citizens Association was formed in Kew with wide support, and Club members gave willing support on the committee, in helping serve afternoon tea and in entertainment." (p.4) Photographic evidence also leads to questions about Vaughan’s version of events. A framed photograph in the Society’s Collection shows a Public Meeting to form the Kew Elder Citizens Association in a room at Southesk a year earlier in 1951. Whatever version of the origins of the Association is correct, a later framed photograph in the Society’s collection shows the opening of the completed Clubrooms of the Kew Elder Citizens at South Esk by the Hon. E.P. Cameron M.L.C, Minister of Health, on 12 November 1956. The Association is still active in Kew and is currently located at Hamer Court, opposite the Boroondara General (Kew) Cemetery in High Street, Kew.Historic early photograph from the archives of the Kew Elder Citizen's ClubFramed photograph of six women who it is presumed were the candidates or finalists in a competition to be the Queen of Southesk. At this time, Southesk in Cotham Road was home to the Kew Elder Citizens Club, now known as Kew Senior Citizens Centre Inc.Front mount: "Queen Competition 1967 - South Esk - Won by Mrs Harkansee." Reverse: "L-R: -. Miss Knox, Mrs Emmerson, Mrs Higgins, Mrs Moyle, Mrs Harkansee"kew elder citizens club, kew senior citizens centre inc., southesk, miss knox, mrs emmerson, mrs higgins, mrs moyle, mrs harkensee

The Kew Elderly Citizen's Association was formally established in 1952. During its initial years it met at South Esk in Cotham Road. Later the Club moved to its headquarters in High Street. During the period of its existence, the club changed its name a number of times It finally became known as the Kew Senior Citizens.Handmade and painted canvas banner in shades of blue with a golden cord with tassels. The banner represents the symbol of the Kew Elder Citizens Association: a forget-me-not in the centre with laurel leaves below. "KEW / E.C.A."kew elderly citizens association, kew elder citizens, kew senior citizens, community groups -- kew (vic.), banners

The orthodox version of the origins and history of the Kew Elder(ly) Citizens’ Association was established by Cr. W. D. Vaughan in his book Kew’s Civic Century (1960), when he wrote that: "When Mrs. C. H. Simpson was Mayoress in 1952 she set up the Elderly Citizens’ Association to care for the needs of ages persons in Kew. The idea was strongly supported and a start was made by providing social afternoons for elderly folk at Southesk. Visiting sick people in their homes, providing firewood where needed, and other activities were undertaken by the Association. The aid of Council was sought to further the work. It was decided that a social unit for elderly folk be established at Southesk." (p.126-7). In the following pages, he describes in detail Council’s role in formally establishing the Association. This ‘official’ version was reasserted in the later Thematic Environmental History of the City of Boroondara (2012). However the origins and gestation of community of organisations is rarely straightforward. In 1965, five years after Vaughan’s book was published, the author of East Kew Women’s Club : Twenty Years : 20-7-1945-30-7-1965, writing about the period July 1947 to July 1950, described the role the Club played in establishing the Kew Elder Citizens Association. The author wrote: "At a meeting of the Kew Community Aid, the plight of many elderly people in Kew who were dependent on pensions was raised and in order to ascertain their needs the practice was begun of serving morning tea at the Masonic Hall in Walpole Street, where pensions were then paid. From this beginning the Kew Elder Citizens Association was formed in Kew with wide support, and Club members gave willing support on the committee, in helping serve afternoon tea and in entertainment." (p.4) Photographic evidence also leads to questions about Vaughan’s version of events. A framed photograph in the Society’s Collection shows a Public Meeting to form the Kew Elder Citizens Association in a room at Southesk a year earlier in 1951. Whatever version of the origins of the Association is correct, a later framed photograph in the Society’s collection shows the opening of the completed Clubrooms of the Kew Elder Citizens at South Esk by the Hon. E.P. Cameron M.L.C, Minister of Health, on 12 November 1956. The Association is still active in Kew and is currently located at Hamer Court, opposite the Boroondara General (Kew) Cemetery in High Street, Kew.Framed and titled black and white photograph taken on the occasion of a visit by members of the Kew Elder Citizens Club to Lyons "Mountain Grand" Warburton, in February 1978.community groups -- kew (vic.), senior citizens clubs -- kew (vic), club tours

The Kew Elder Citizens Club Rooms at 'Southesk' were officially opened by the Hon EP Cameron MLC on 12 November 1956. The Club met at the Council-owned 'Southesk' until 1963 when new club rooms were opened at the corner of High and Childers Streets in 1963.One of a seminal group of photographs and documents (invitations) relating to the formation of the Kew Elder Citizens club at Southesk in the 1950s.Annotated black and white photographic positive of eleven women standing in the garden of Southesk on the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street, Kew. Apart from the handwritten annotation on the front there is no other information on the obverse or reverse of the photograph. It is assumed, given the clothing and age of the women that this was a group of members of the Kew Elder Citizens Club. Individuals within the group have not yet been identified.Original Members at Southeskkew elder citizens, kew senior citizens, southesk

The Municipality of Kew (1860-1863), the Borough of Kew (1863-1910), the Town of Kew (1910-1921) and the City of Kew (1921-1994) were local government instrumentalities in the State of Victoria. In 1994, the City of Kew was amalgamated, together with the former Cities of Camberwell and Hawthorn, into the new City of Boroondara (1994- ). Like other local government entities of the period, Kew was administered by town clerks. The two notable town clerks in Kew's history were H. H. (Henry Hirst) Harrison (1868-1955) and W. D. (William Dickie) Birrell (1899-1974). Harrison was appointed to the position in 1901 and retired in 1938 after 37 years. Birrell, appointed Acting Town Clerk in 1921, became Town Clerk in 1938, following Harrison's retirement. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1966.This card is part of an historically significant civic collection, containing hundreds of separate invitations, documents, greeting cards, programmes and tickets issued and/or collected by successive town clerks. Items in the collection illuminate the political, social and cultural history of the district. As a continuous record, ranging across most decades of the Twentieth Century, they reveal changing tastes in design, values and relationships in the history of local government in Victoria.THE MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS OF THE CITY OF KEW / EXTEND TO YOU A CORDIAL INVITATION TO BE PRESENT AT THE / OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW ELDER CITIZENS CLUBROOMS / CORNER HIGH STREET AND CHILDERS STREET / BY THE HON R J HAMER MLC MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT / ON FRIDAY 20TH FEBRUARY 1970 AT 3 P.M./ RSVP TOWN CLERK, KEW, NOT LATER THAN 11TH FEBRUARYcivic invitations -- kew (vic), kew elderly citizens association, cr r d kennedy

The Meals on Wheels Service in Victoria began in 1953 in South Melbourne. The service in Kew began three years after in 1956 and originally operated out of the Council-owned South Esk in Cotham Road. With the building of a new Senior Citizens Centre, the service moved to Childers Street.Leather case containing 12 aluminium containers, stacked in groups of three which was used to deliver meals to elderly residents by the Kew Meals on Wheels group. The program was initiated in 1956. The items were presented to the Society in 2008 by Dorothy Fox, President of the Kew Seniors Association.meals on wheels (kew), south esk - kew elder citizens, dorothy fox

Phyllis Catherine Hore (née Kiss) was born in 1918. A Kew resident from 1949, she was elected to Council in 1972, after several attempts, and served for twenty- three years until her death in 1994. A secondary teacher by profession, Cr Hore represented College and Sackville Wards. While a councillor, she was a resident of High and later Pakington Streets. She served on Council committees and was a delegate to the Kew Elder Citizens Association, the Family and Community Services (FACS) Local Consultative Committee, and the Kew Music Centre Board of Management. During her Mayoral year, she was instrumental in memorialising Vance and Nettie Palmer, significant Kew writers and poets, by unveiling a plaque at the Kew Library in the year of the centenary of their births. In May 1994, the Mayor of Kew, Cr Tom Indovino, named a meeting room at Kew Library, the Phyllis Hore Room in recognition of her service to the City. She is buried in the Heidelberg (Warringal) Cemetery. (Source: Chairmen and Mayors of Kew 1960-1994, p. 88)Two colour 'proofs' of mayoral photos of Cr Phyllis Hore, donated by her daughter in 2019cr phyllis hore, mayors of kew (vic)

WADE, Ivan Mayor 1969-70, 1970-71 Ivan Wade grew up in Bendigo and Brunswick, one of eight children. After his marriage, he moved with his wife and young family to Kew in 1951. In 1959, he took a year’s sabbatical in 1959 to build a new family home for his wife and four children at 222 Cotham Road, Kew. He worked professionally in the Meat Industry, successfully building a small chain of retail butcher shops, and a meat exporting business. He worked for improvements in the Trade through involvement in the Meat and Allied Trades Federation, of which he was the first State, and then Federal President. He was to be awarded an OBE for his services to the Meat Industry in 1979. Having been a long-time member of Melbourne Lions Club, he helped start Chadstone Lions’ Club as an inaugural tenant of the Chadstone Shopping Centre in 1979. He was also a tireless worker for charity, making his home available for functions raising funds for local groups. His passion for the community led him to stand for Kew Council as a representative of College Ward. As a councillor, he was elected mayor for two terms. During his term of office, new Kew Municipal Offices were constructed in Cotham Road. An active worker for the Kew Elder Citizens Association, he was involved in the establishment of an Opportunity Shop in Walpole Street to raise funds for the development of a new Centre in High Street. The Opportunity Shop was used to train locally unemployed youth skills such as furniture repair. (GW)Silver presentation trowel associated with the opening of significant civic projects in the former City of Kew.Commemorative, inscribed silver-plated presentation trowel given by the City of Kew to the Mayor, Cr Ivan Wade, on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the new Kew Civic Centre on the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street, now part of Trinity Grammar School. The silver trowel was presented in a black leather case lined with blue velvet. The trowel was to be used a second time in 1982 when Cr Wade and his wife laid the foundation stone of Hamer Court. The trowel was later donated to Kew Historical Society Inc by Gwlad Wade, the wife of Cr Ivan Wade, on 20 August 2000. Front: "Presented to Cr Wade J.P. / Mayor of / the City of Kew / at the laying of the / foundation stone / of the / Kew Civic Centre /20-8-1971." Reverse: This trowel was also used / by / Cr Ivan Wade OBE JP & Mrs Gwlad Wade / at the laying / of the foundation stone / of / "Hamer Court" / Hostel for the Aged / 22nd August 1982"cr ivan wade, hamer court, commemorative trowels, kew civic offices, city of kew 1860-1993