A MISSING piece in the mayoral puzzle has been fitted in place thanks to a local retired teacher.
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A photograph of James Beddie, who was mayor of Bathurst from 1922 to 1925, was recently added to the display of 47 other mayoral photographs in the Bathurst Regional Council Chambers.
The photograph was provided by Mr Beddie's granddaughter Francesca Beddie of Bundanoon.
"I was recently made aware by John Payne that the council did not have a photograph of my grandfather and I was delighted to be able to provide the portrait that is now hanging in its rightful place," Ms Beddie said.
She visited Bathurst recently and was able to see the portrait on the chambers wall.
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Mr Payne - a former Bathurst High School deputy principal - said James Beddie, who died in 1951, was an alderman from 1916 to 1925, and mayor of Bathurst from 1922 to 1925.
"He was one of the 12 children of Carcoar district pioneer William Beddie, who retired to Bathurst. James was educated at Bathurst Public School and Technical College, before working in the Resident Engineer's Department of the railway," he said.
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Ms Beddie said the newspapers of the time reported that James Beddie had been an extremely community-minded citizen.
"As well as being an alderman and mayor, he was at different times treasurer of the Bathurst Rugby Union, president of the Advance Bathurst League, vice president of the Music and Dramatic Society, president of the Eisteddfod Association, treasurer of the School of Arts Committee, president of the Poor Relief Society, patron of the Football League and Cricket Association, and vice president of the Lawn Tennis Club," she said.
Mr Payne said that like her grandfather, Francesca Beddie had had a distinguished career in government and public service.
"I know that early in her career Francesca was private secretary to both Bill Hayden and Gareth Evans when they were Minister for Foreign Affairs, and that she worked in Australian embassies in Jakarta, Moscow and Berlin," he said.
"Later, her roles included executive director of Adult Learning Australia, and general manager of research at the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.
"I came to know Francesca through her role in the Professional Historians Association, where she is responsible for policy and advocacy on the NSW and national committees."
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With James Beddie in place, there are 14 photos to track down to make the collection complete.
The mayors that are still missing are CW Croaker 1865, J DeClouett 1869, AB Rae 1870, W Ross 1871, W Butler 1879, TA Machattie 1887, J Walker 1894, WJ Scotford 1903, FB Kenny 1908-1909, HCD Beavis 1914-1915, F Havenhand 1920, CA Hansard 1929, JW Tremain 1942-1943 and RB Golsby 1947.
Francesca Beddie is the daughter of James Beddie's son, Brian Dugan Beddie. After selling their property, "Dockairne", at Raglan, in 1941, James and his wife Minnie moved to Sydney to be close to their daughter, Jean Cooper.
