Prior to the election of female Councillors and Mayors in the 1960’s, the Lady Mayoress role was one of the few ways women could officially undertake civic duties. Mayoresses made important contributions to their local communities through their charity work and as ambassadors for their region on a state and federal level. They also undertook some Mayoral duties on occasions when their husband was unavailable. Ethel Rose Douglas married George Dawson Garvin in 1906 and was twice Mayoress from 1931 - 32 and 1938 - 39. Mayoress Ethel Garvin died in 1952 aged 74 and had been an esteemed member of the Women's Central Auxiliary of the Bendigo Base Hospital, a member of the Baby Health Centre and Mayoral Ladies Auxiliary. Reproduction of photographic studio portrait sitting behind oval mount.vincent kelly, studio photography, raymond kelly, city of bendigo mayoress, city of greater bendigo portraits, mayoress garvin, mayor garvin, ethel douglas

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Friday, May 7, 2004. Debutantes: Mayoral Ball on June 22, 1939. Left to right (standing): Marjorie Wood, Patricia Whitford, Dorothy Holland, Lady Mayoress Mrs Garvin, Dorothy Kerr, Olwyn Raggat, Dorothy Malone. Seated: Jean Osborne, Betty Anstee, Pauline White, Meryl Streader, Phyllis Raggatt, Emmie Forbes.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were