Unique IDAG-0072DescriptionThe Lady Mayoress' Relief Fund went through a number of name changes. It was formed in 1933 as the Lady Mayoress' Clothing Fund and was registered as a charity under the Charitable Collections Act 1934. The Clothing Fund Committee was set up to provide clothing to those in need as a result of the Depression. The Fund did not give directly to individuals but to registered charities that the Committee decided upon. Under the rules of the Committee the wife of the Chief Commissioner or current Lord Mayor was asked to be the President of the Committee during the term of office of the Chief Commissioner or Lord Mayor.
In 1941 the Committee decided to change the name and the focus of the Committee "to bring it in line with war time activities". The name was changed to the Lady Mayoress' City of Sydney C.A.S. Auxilliary and its energies were devoted to assisting the City of Sydney Civilian Aid Service. The Clothing Fund Committee ceased to exist under that name on the 31 August 1941. The first meeting of the new Committee was held on 30 April 1942.
At a meeting of the Committee on the 15 February 1944 the meeting resolved to change the name to the Lady Mayoress' Relief Fund. The objects of the Committee were now to raise funds and solicit articles and goods for the purposes of relieving distressed citizens through registered charities and philanthropic organisations. The charities assisted by the Fund remained mostly the same from its inception in 1933. They included the Sydney City Mission, The Benevolent Society, The Australian Red Cross Society, The Salvation Army and The St Vincent de Paul Society. Most of the funds were raised through Lady Mayoress' balls, card parties, raffles, and musical events.
In October 1992, the Lady Mayoress Judith Fleming resigned as President of the Fund. The minutes of the meeting of 17 June 1992 show that the Lady Mayoress wanted to change the name of the Fund and to amend the Constitution. She felt that the word "fund" had a condescending tone that was not in keeping with present day attitudes to welfare. She suggested at the meeting that she would have difficulty heading an organisation that did not reflect her philosophy of welfare. She also suggested that the Lady Mayoress become the patron and not the President.
When she resigned she asked that no organisation be permitted to use the name Lady Mayoress in their fundraising activities without her consent or the consent of any future Lady Mayoress. The work of the Committee was taken over by the remaining members. The last meeting of the Fund was held on 21 April 1993 and the Fund was wound up soon after.CreationResolution of Fund Committee 12 April 1933AbolitionResolution of Fund Committee 21 April 1993
Start date12th April 1933End date21st April 1993Relationship legacy dataRELATED TO: Sydney City Council OR-0001 (12/04/1933 to 21/04/1993)
RELATED TO: Ceremonial events and civic occasions FN-0020 (12/04/1933 to 21/04/1993)
RELATED TO: Charitable aid FN-0007 (12/04/1933 to 21/04/1993)
RELATED TO: Mayoralty / Lord Mayoralty FN-0023 (12/04/1933 to 21/04/1993) Source System ID72
