ET Penny was a Chairman of the Moorabbin Board of Advice for State School in Cheltenham, Moorabbin, Mentone, Heatherton and Mordialloc amongst others after being duly elected by the ratepayers residing in the school district for a period of 3 years from 1899 to 1901. The Board of Advice was a forerunner to today's School Councils. School Advice Boards were abolished in 1910 and replaced by School Committees that became School Councils. On 9 May 1901 Penny, together with the Reverend Alfred Caffin, attended the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament at the Melbourne Exhibition Buildings, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York and their son Edward presided over the opening. Councillor Penny attended the event and took a "Prominent Part" in the welcome to the Duke and Duchess. As part of his position as Chairman of the Board of Advice for the district, Penny attended with students from the local schools who took part in tableaus and displays in the forecourts of the Exhibition Buildings. A few days earlier, an afternoon assembly was held at Cheltenham State School hoisting the Union Jack onto a brand new Flagpole (still in place) and "The Grand Old Flag" was sung before Councillor Penny and others made speeches to the assembled students and faculty. On 14 May a coordinated flag raising ceremony was held at each of the district state schools and the flag was saluted. At Cheltenham State School, the Moorabbin Brass Band accompanied the singing of the National Anthem and the Cheltenham Rifle club provided a 21 gun salute followed by Councillor Penny who addressed the children on their duties to the flag and Empire then distributed to the teachers and scholars the Commonwealth medals struck by the Government for the Occasion that were handed out to all students. "(Brighton Southern Cross (Vic. : 1896 – 1918), Saturday 4 May 1901, page 2) (Graham Whitehead – Reference 100 City of Kingston Historical Website) (Brighton Southern Cross (Vic. : 1896 – 1918), Saturday 18 May 1901, page 2) (Education Act 1872 Act number 447) (Author Deborah Tout-Smith – https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/articles/1933) (Graham Whitehead – Ref 100 City of Kingston Historical Website) (Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader February 11, 1899 page 2)"