THE Myrtleford and District Historical Society (MDHS) is in the final stages of creating a new display titled 'Women of Myrtleford and District', which will showcase the lives of local women from 1860 to 1960.
And there is an open invitation for the community to attend.
This International Women’s Day weekend, the exhibition will highlight the lives of 12 impressive women and what they have contributed to the town over the years.
The dozen chosen subjects lived across a number of different eras; from the goldmining and goldrush period to the Depression and post-war years.
The showcase even includes two living legends.
"Two of the ladies who are showcased as part of our display, still live here in town and are life members of the MDHS,” president, Kerry Murtagh said.
"Doreen McElroy and Georgina Nolan have been with us for over 25 years and this year, both of them are celebrating their 90th birthday.
"They have contributed a lot to the town just through their community work; the CFA, Red Cross and so on.
“Georgie was a great dancer, she won a lot of competitions.
“We have one of her ballgowns here, which we’re going to put in the display, from when she won the 'Belle of Belles' Wangaratta RSL Ball in September 1955."
Looking back, the MDHS discovered nothing much has been done to honour the achievements of the women in Myrtleford.
The display reveals pioneers in local business and community services, rumoured espionage agents in WWII, one of the first female medical students to attend Melbourne University and much more.
"It's a lot of fun," MDHS member, Dorothy Veldman said.
“Personally, I'm extremely excited about this because this display is a great opportunity for us as women, to research women of history in the local area.”
If this exhibition is a success, MDHS member Trish Bardoe said she hoped this could be displayed every International Women's Day.
"We had over 100 women on the list initially, but we've started with 12 this year,” she said.
"We've arranged a number of artifacts to be displayed among the showcase along with the information on each woman.
"Hopefully this display will help to up the profile of the history of women in Myrtleford."
The display will be held at the Uniting Church Hall, in Albert Street, open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and 11am to 4pm on Sunday, March 8 and 9.
Entry is $5, which includes admission into the museum, if attendees wish to continue their day viewing other displays by the MDHS.
A Dozen District Dames:
Jessie Robinson was the founding owner of 'J. Robinson's General Store'.
Agnes Glass, with her husband, owned the 'A & J  Glass General Store'.
Marianne Cundy was one of the first teachers at the First Myrtleford State School, now the Old School Museum.
Laura Moore and her husband owned a bakery before his death; she then worked as a seamstress to support her four children.
Margaret Carthew, was a mother of three ANZAC sons, one in the 8th Lighthorse Regiment, 3rd Brigade, another at Gallipoli and another in the Western Front.
Agatha Sciuto was among the first of the Italian Migrants who settled in Myrtleford in the 1920s.
Alison Barton was a WWII telephonist in Sydney and became a Corporal.
Doctor Ivy Camille Beaumont was among the first rural women accepted into Melbourne University medical school and became Albury Base Hospital's first female registered medical officer.
Iris Schlapp (ne' Crossley) was a Princess Mary’s Royal Airforce Nursing Service nurse and the Matron at the Myrtleford Bush Nursing Hospital.
Margaret Sharp ran a pharmacy in Clyde Street, 'Miss Sharp's Chemist' and would drive out in her black Chevrolet to deliver prescriptions throughout the area.
Georgina Nolan (ne' Mitchell) was the Wangaratta RSL Ball's 'Belle of Belles' in September 1955.
Doreen McIlroy was very active in community service in town through the CFA and Red Cross.