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. Mayoress Vains was born Maud Anne Norris and she married Ernest Morton Vains in 1903. Ernest Vains entered council in November 1922 and was a member of the City council from 1922 - 1926. Maud Vains died in 1964 at the age of 80 and is buried with her husband in the Bendigo Cemetery.Reproduction of photographic studio portrait sitting behind oval mount.lr, Mrs E.M. Vains/ Mayoress 1924 - 25. lr, Raymond V Kelly / Bendigovincent kelly, studio photography, raymond kelly, city of bendigo mayoress, city of greater bendigo portraits, mayoress vains, mayor vains

Ernest Morton Vains (1881 - 1951) was a local business man and Bendigo councillor who arrived in Bendigo in 1897 aged 16 from Kerang. In 1916 he founded the firm E M Vains and Co with his brother Sidney and they operated from Hargreaves Street in Bendigo with branches in Elmore, Mitiamo, Dingee, Knowsley, Heathcote and Prairie. E. M. Vains was a member of the City Council from 1922 - 1926 and was elected Mayor on August 29th, 1924. He played a prominent role in many of the City's community and industry groups and was a member of the Rotary Club which was founded in 1925 and a member of the Corona Lodge of Freemasons. Single page invoice from E.M. Vains and Co Auctioneers, Stock and Station Agents Bendigo. Letterhead features the unique R M Vains & Co logo with a bulls head, printed in royal blue ink.city of bendigo mayor, mayor vains, city of greater bendigo commerce, making a nation exhibition, mayoress vains, freemason

Hand sewn and printed blue and gold wall hanging inviting Mayor and Mayoress Giudice to the Return Ball. The text is printed on the blue central fabric panel which has a gold fringe and tassels. At the top of the fabric to enable it to hang on wall the fabric is sewn around a wooden rod with attached gold braid.The citizens of Bendigo present their compliments / to / HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR (Cr. M. G. Giudice) / AND MAYORESS, (Mrs Giudice) / and request the pleasure of their company at / THE RETURN BALL / at the / Town Hall, on Tuesday, 17th July, 1923 / E.M. Vains, Chairman J. Denton, Hon, Treasurer / Bendigo, 27th June, 1923giudice, mayoress giudice, city of bendigo town hall, city of greater bendigo ceremonial item, city of bendigo mayoress, city of bendigo mayor, city of greater bendigo events

Town Hall, Return Ball. Tendered by the Citizens of Bendigo to His Worship the Mayor, (Cr. M G Giudice) and The Mayoress, (Mrs. Giudice.) Town Hall, Bendigo. Tuesday, July 17th, 1923. Menu, Dindon Roti. Jambon de York. Canard Roti. Salad a la Francaise. Haricot Verts. Pommes de Terre a L;Anglaise. Trifle a L'Espangnole. Charlotte Russe. Crème aux Fraisee. Salade aux Fruits. Gelee au Madere. Meringues a'la Crème. Patrisserie. Gateau Assorties. Olive Farcies aux Anchois. Pailles au Parmeson. Amande a la Diable. Gingembre. Raisins. Café. The Oyster Soup will be served in Basement after Second Supper. Favaloros, Caterers. Wine List. Irvine's Great Western Champagne (Special Reserve.) Seppelt's. Penfold's. Max Cohn's. Port. Sherry. Claret. Burgundy. Muscat. Hock. Chablis. Planet. Old Scotch Whisky. Ales and Stout-Bendigo United and Cohn Bros. Aerated Waters and Cordials. Cigars Cigarettes. Toasts. His Majesty the King. - By the Chairman, 'Our Guests,' (The Mayor & Mayoress Cr & Mrs. M G Giudice.) by the Chairman. Where're they met a stranger; there they left a friend. Response by The Mayor. 'The Chairman Citizens Return Ball Committee,' (Cr E M Vains) By the Mayor. Response by the Chairman. The Citizen's Return Ball, Executive Committee - Cr E M Vains (Chairman), Mr. J Denton (Treasurer), A M Poole, T Pritchard, A B Wood, W Jeffrey, W H Taylor, F Monaghan, H S Marks, H W Tilley, F Cambridge, H Newman, E A Sayer, H Whitelock, W Currie, W T Patten, J. J. Caldwell, G H Dare, J H Sievers, F Ferguson, G J C Maxwell. F T Amer & T R J Brown; Hon. Secs. City of Bendigo logo is at the top on the front cover and an oval picture of the Mayor and Mayoress below it.Cambridge Press, Bendigoevent, entertainment, return ball, town hall