News
50 Years of Caring and Fundraising
July 16, 2010
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Lady Mayoress Committee
Today the Lady Mayoress’ Committee celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special morning tea in the Portico Room of the Melbourne Town Hall.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Lady Mayoress Emma Page Campbell welcomed three former Lady Mayoresses to the anniversary celebrations: Mrs Jan Huggard (1986/87), Mrs Margaret Bergin (1989/90) and Mrs Judy Watson (1993). A special presentation was made by the Lord Mayor to Lady Patricia Connolly one of the committee’s founding members.
History was made in 1959 when the Lady Mayoress of the day Mrs Bernard (Dorothy) Evans decided her fundraising activities would be more effective if she was assisted by a permanent committee of ladies. This committee would then continue to “guide and help” the Lady Mayoress of the day, regardless of who held the position. In November 1959 the first Lady Mayoress Committee was held and the first official fundraising event was a “monster card party” in June 1960 raising one thousand eight hundred pounds.
Many millions of dollars have been raised over the last fifty years for health and welfare charities. Lady Mayoress Committee fundraising events have included luncheons, fashion parades, dinners, gala balls, cultural events, clothing jumble sales, a yo-yo contest and even an ironing competition!
A special highlight was the 1985 Royal Gala Dinner to celebrate Victoria’s 150th anniversary which was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Charles and Her Royal Highness Princess Diana.
The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation CEO Andrew Chappell said, “The event honours and acknowledges a wonderful group of women who have been caring for Melbourne’s disadvantaged for five decades. The committee has fundraised not only for Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation but other charitable agencies and public hospitals.
“On behalf of the Board and staff at the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation I would like to congratulation all members of the Lady Mayoress Committee for their dedicated commitment to making Melbourne a better city for all her residents.”
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