The Port Phillip District Branch of the Manchester Unity I.O.O.F. in Victoria was registered on 5 September 1857.A framed commemorative certificate presented to Mary L. Cranston in recognition of her services to the Port Phillip District Branch of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF). In addition to the photograph of the recipient, six other photographs of officers of the lodge are included. The imagery of the certificate references western art and Christian symbolism, as well as obligatory references to labour and learning. Mary Cranston is pictured centre front."Royal Industry Lodge No.4831, Port Phillip District M.U.I.O.O.F., Presented to Sister Mary L. Cranston for services rendered.m.u.i.o.o.f, muioof, lodge, oddfellows,, royal industry lodge, mary cranston, mary l. cranston, a.h. nitz, e. bloxham, a. newbegin, f.p. brown, e. jones, j.n. trawin, howard brown, eden studios, friendly society, port phillip, dove, loyal industry lodge no.4831, calligraphy, illumination

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