Formal invitation issued by the City of Preston for a civic ball in 1964, inviting the Mayor and Mayoress of Broadmeadows. Demonstrates inter‑municipal ceremonial relationships and formal civic culture in metropolitan Melbourne during the mid‑twentieth century.Of local historical significance for documenting civic ceremony and inter‑council relationships involving Broadmeadows in the 1960s.Rectangular printed invitation card with rounded corners. Recto printed in gold and blue inks with City of Preston crest and event details. Verso blank with blue stamped number and adhesive label 'WI-4295'.Recto: 'The Mayor and Mayoress of Preston Councillor B. T. Connor, J.P. and Mrs Connor request the pleasure of the company of the Mayor & Mayoress of Broadmeadows at a Ball to be held in the City Hall, Preston on Wednesday, 20th May, 1964, at 8.30 p.m.' / Verso: 'No 3' in blue ink; adhesive label 'WI-4295'.local government, civic ceremonies, municipal balls, preston, broadmeadows, city of preston, city of broadmeadows

Invitation to the 1982 Mayoral Charity Ball held at City Hall, Broadmeadows, under the patronage of Mayor Cr. P. T. Bryant J.P. and Mrs B. Bryant. Represents civic ceremonial and fundraising activities of the City of Broadmeadows during the early 1980s.Locally significant as evidence of municipal social and charitable practices and official event protocols in Broadmeadows during the 1980s.Folded paper invitation card printed in blue ink. Outer panel features City of Broadmeadows crest and event details; inner panel lists reception arrangements.Outer: 'Official Entree Card / Mayoral Charity Ball / Under the patronage of CR. P. T. BRYANT J.P. and Mrs B. Bryant / City Hall, Broadmeadows / Saturday 27th November, 1982'. Inner: 'Reception Arrangements/Please enter at the main entrance of the/City Hall and proceed to the Main Hall by/means of the staircase./Official guests will be received by the/Mayor and Mayoress upon entering the/Main Hall./It is to be noted that robes will not be/worn but Mayors may wear their badge of/office if desired./The Mayor and Mayoress take this oppor-/tunity of wishing their guests an enjoyable/evening./Official cars may be parked in the area/reserved immediately in front of City Hall./Bruce D. McGregor, Town Clerk'. Small adhesive label 'WI-4282' upper left interior.local government, civic events, charity balls, broadmeadows, entrée card, 1982

James Robbie Mathers was born in Pleasant Creek [Stawell] in 1867 to James Allen Mathers, a storekeeper and former councillor. He was later to become a storekeeper in Gippsland and then at Heywood, near Portland. Following a move to Melbourne, he established a real estate business. He initially lived in Hawthorn, before moving his business to Kew where he traded as Mathers & McMillan, 136 Cotham Road, and later at 283 Burke Road. For a short time, the family resided at Landene, in Cotham Road. They were to finally move to Rosalea, in Dale Street, Deepdene. Following the death of Cr Henry Kellett in 1924, Mathers was elected unopposed as representative of College Ward. Elected Mayor in September 1930, he convened a meeting of citizens in the Town Hall in Walpole Street to form a local unemployment relief committee. His social initiatives included handing over council-owned premises in Brougham Street, the building re-purposed as a workshop for the unemployed, who were also granted free use of the Kew Municipal Baths. The Mayoress, Jean Mathers, set to work raising funds through charity balls, and also raised funds for St Anthony’s Orphanage in Wellington Street. James Robbie Mathers died on 8 April 1945. He was buried at Box Hill Cemetery. This rare civic testimonial is historically significant, especially locally, as it contains the signatures of all present councillors and parliamentarians representing the City of Kew as well as the names and signatures of leaders of local churches, schools, public officials and leaders of community groups.Boxed presentation folder and correspondence presented to the retiring Mayor of Kew, James Robbie Mather, in 1931. The book is leather bound with gilt lettering on the front. The 4 page testimonial includes and hand written statements about his contribution to Kew and its civic life. Other pages are signed by councillors, parliamentarians and community leaders.james robbie mathers, mayors of kew, civic testimonials