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This 1942 photograph shows the Ballarat conductresses and traffic clerks working for the State Electricity Commission (SEC) during World War Two (1939-1945). It appeared in the Christmas New Year issue of SEC News, (1942-43) on Page 13. The women are standing in front of SEC Tram 29.

Conductresses and female staff members
Conductresses and female staff members

 

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CURRENTLY VIEWING: Ballarat’s conductresses

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The prize in a raffle.
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The Treasure Tram
A spring loaded holder for coins used by conductors and conductresses in their ticket bags.
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Coin dispenser
Pages 9 and 10 from the event booklet
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Souvenir Program
Sylvia Mitchell and Tom Young, 1944
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Sylvia and Tom
Sylvia Mitchell's prize watch
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Sylvia’s watch
Flyer for the Night Club Ball
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Who is Sylvia
The first three conductresses.
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The first conductresses
DSC 1985 Connie Bag
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Conductresses bag
Women trammies back in Ballarat. Ballarat Tramway Preservation Society has taken another step toward preserving the complete history of Ballarat's famous tram service. It has reintroduced women conductors after an absence of almost 30 years and will soon be teaching women to drive. Women were first introduced onto Ballarat trams during World War II to offset the shortage of men. After the war no more were employed, but those working were allowed to continue until they retired, the last doing so in the early 1950s. But now, as the trams wind their around Lake Wendouree once again people are buying their tickets from a female connie. The society have three women conductresses, but they all live in Melbourne and can get to Ballarat only on weekends or holidays. During the weekend Carolyn Dean, conductress and future driver, was at the helm with her money bag and ticket book, wearing a uniform similar to those worn during the war. Carolyn’s husband Geoff is also a member the society. While Carolyn was at work, he was back in the depot working on one the cars in the sheds. Both Carolyn and Geoff have international experience in tram preservation societies, because during a three year spell in England they were members of the Criche Preservation Society near Nottingham, and so when they returned to Australia, they naturally joined another society straight away. “I guess my whole family, on both sides are trammies from way back," she said. "Geoff has been interested in them as long as he can remember, and my eldest son nearly jumps out of his skin every time he sees a tram in Melbourne." And although her youngest son is only nine weeks old, he is getting off to a good start, while mum was selling tickets and dad was hard at work, he was having a snooze in the depot office. The society will be operating its trams this weekend.
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Women trammies
Ticket wallet from the 1970s.
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1970’s and 1980’s tickets
Construction
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Under construction