The need to engage the Bega Valley community more in the Pioneers' Museum is one of the aims of George Morrow, the newly elected president of the Bega Valley Historical Society.
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Speaking at the annual general meeting Mr Morrow said a framework of business planning and governance had been built in the last 12 months and the society now had to keep building a sustainable financial scheme and ensure the community was aware that this was “its museum”.
He said this year the society's major task would be developing a Great War Centenary exhibition.
In his outgoing report the former president, Peter Rogers, paid tribute to the support given by the committee, particularly Kaye Jauncey who not only was the secretary but had also taken on the treasurer's role for the year.
He also thanked the volunteers who had been helping with tracing, labelling and cataloguing, and typing up transcripts of old letters and diaries for research.
He made special mention of Wayne Stevens, a handyman who had helped with maintenance and Graham Farram who is working on the significance assessment of the collection.
Mr Rogers said that an Anzac commemorative project initiated by Bega Cheese has been in the forefront of the society's activities for 2013-2014.
In concluding his report Mr Rogers said that Mr Baden Ingram, a past president, had died and “I pay tribute to the time and effort he devoted to the society”.
Sandra Florance, the research officer, said her area was one that was never finished because there was always something that is unknown or hidden in a family or location.
“This year as usual has been constant, with the added responsibility of the Bega Cheese Project of interviewing farmers about the effect of the Great War on the dairy industry - an enjoyable exercise.”
She said more questions were asked about Walter Henry Childs' family, unfortunately with no further information.
It was a large poor family living at north Bega in a cabin with a dirt floor.
“One of the children, Walter Henry, was a bright student at school and became the State Commissioner of Police – of him we have every aspect of his life – but there are gaps in the rest of the family, and to make matters worse, some use the surname of Child, and others Childs.
“The family files at the museum contain wonderful data that can assist so many researchers with family paperwork and photographs.
“Tears are a regular occurrence with families overwhelmed at finding a photo of great grandmother or Auntie Joyce.
“I recently had a thank you card from Queensland from Colleen –'thank you so much for what you have done for our family, it gives us such a better understanding of where we came from and who we are connected with – it’s a small world after all'.
“Research is not just paperwork. At least twice this year I have been asked to take families on a tour of the old family properties, as well as visiting the family cemeteries.
“I have accessed farms hidden away in valleys I never dreamt of and learnt so much.
“I do enjoy these trips, and again they can be very emotional as well as educational.
“I attended the Sapphire Coast Family History Expo recently at Merimbula Bowling Club and was amazed at the number of people perusing the stalls and asking questions.
“Family history, or genealogy, has certainly grown in popularity and importance over the last decade, as we have seen at the Bega Museum, and even though there are many sites on computer networks, it is still very important to access personal information and double check any data,” Ms Florance said.
Kaye Jauncey was elected secretary, with Ian Richardson treasurer, Peter Rogers vice-president and committee members, Cheryl Moon, Claire Lupton, Sandra Florance, Doug Russell and Kay Durrant and patron Mike Kelly.