Summary

Menu printed in English and French for a state dinner given by the Victorian Government for attendees of the Sixth Plenary Meeting of the World Energy Council (WEC) on Monday 22 October 1962. The location of the dinner is not clear, though as other conference events were held at the (Royal) Exhibition Building, it was likely held there. Affixed to the inside cover of the menu is a letter from the chairman of the Australian National Committee of the World Power Conference WH Connolly addressed to Mr A. Giles of the Premiers Department, thanking him for his work in making the conference a success.

The WEC was created in the aftermath of World War I by British energy expert Daniel Dunlop. In 1923 Dunlop brought 40 nations together to discuss the global energy industry. Always non-governmental and non-commercial, the WEC grew throughout the 20th century, infrequently holding world congresses where member committees met to discuss changing global energy needs. The sixth congress was held in Melbourne in October 1962. At this dinner, hosted by the Australian committee of the WEC, toasts were made to the Queen, the Heads of State present, and founder of the WEC Daniel Dunlop.

Physical Description

Program and menu in a blue cardboard cover with a white border. Inside are four pages stapled twice to the spine. The cover depicts a gold crest u.c. An outline of Victoria appears in white in the centre. The rest of the cover is printed text. The inside cover is handwritten with various signatures. The first page of the program is an order of proceedings for the night. The following pages contain a colour illustration of Australian flora and fauna on the right side. The left page contains a printed key of the illustration. The next two pages have a red/pink scalloped interior border and list the toasts (left page) and the menu (right menu). The last two pages are printed in black ink. The back cover features an illustration of a sprig of pink heath (the state flower) in metallic red.

More Information