For the records: Geelong Family History Group’s Shirley Costello, at front, with Pam Jennings and John Stewart.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
IN THIS goal-oriented world, knowing where you’ve come from is just as important to many people.
The growing interest in family histories and genealogies has wider implications than just an individual desire to understand your roots.
And anyone seeking information about current or former residents of the region might find that Geelong Family History Group can help.
The group maintains a huge database of almost one million names.
“We can find nearly everyone who ever walked through Geelong from our records,” vice-president Pam Jennings revealed.
The group is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1981 to promote and encourage the study of family histories and to preserve Geelong’s records.
Pam combines her interest in family histories with her working at Geelong Heritage Centre.
She said the group was delighted to assist anyone develop their own family history and to see how it formed part of the region’s rich tapestry of the past.
“We’re a dynamic group able to offer members the use of an ever-increasing collection of source material, much accumulated skill and a selection of interesting activities,” Pam declared.
“Experienced researchers are happy to pass on their tips, hints and advice to help new members along.”
The group created a library comprising its collected indexes, books, papers, manuscripts, periodicals and journals but cost and space restrictions forced a hand-over to the heritage centre and Bellarine Historical Society.
Pam said the group was developing its own history after recently turning 30 years old.
“We started soon after the Geelong heritage centre opened. The TV series Roots stimulated a lot of interest,” Pam recalled.
The group has embarked on a project to collect and archive church and cemetery records from around the region.
“People are looking for births, marriages and deaths information and these primary records become a valuable source,” Pam explained.
“We started photographing them as a record because it also helps preserve them against vandalism.”
Pam said the group discovered that no one had approached churches for baptism records, so they were also included in the project.
“We cooperate with the heritage centre and Geelong Historical Society and other similar organisations to share information and records.
“These days, people want instant results and want to do it conveniently but not all records are on the web and the little state school register, for instance, doesn’t appear.
Pam said the group would host UK genealogist Lady Mary Teviot on August 13.
The club’s annual Unlock the Past expo would be at Geelong Arena on September 2 and 3.
Pam said Geelong Family History Group could be contacted by emailing stetjr@internode.on.net or visiting vicnet.net.au/~gfamhist.
