PORT Macquarie and Districts Family History Society is celebrating its 40th birthday with a luncheon for current and former members.
It will be held at the racecourse on Saturday 28 June.
President Diane Gillespie said, “It is a year of celebrations. We’re not just having afternoon tea and a birthday cake.
“As a history group we have recorded the history of people/families/events and now it is time to work on our own history.
“Our magazine is celebrating a decade each quarter [of] this year, using meeting minutes (which are kept at the museum), scrapbooks and publications.”
Secretary Jennifer Mullin said they have been celebrating at each meeting with a gift for members, homemade biscuits, bookmarks and flowers, and this month, a birthday cake.
“We also had a guest speaker, Martyn Killion (Director of Collections, Executive Director State Records NSW) talking about family history – past, present and future.”
Publicity Officer Karen Quinn said the society is embracing the digital world, given 90 percent of family history information is online.
“We are starting an AI group and our research coordinator Peter Day is encouraging the use of ChatGPT to transcribe stories in his ‘something new and different’ sessions.”
PMDFHS members meet at the CC MacAdams Music Centre in Gordon Street and also have a research home at the Port Macquarie Hastings Library where there is a display that follows the society’s footsteps.
They have a strong membership of 176, with some from Sydney, Victoria, the ACT and New Zealand, who zoom into meetings.
There are a number of specialty groups based on personal interests, and “beginners” and “next steps” courses.
By Pauline CAIN
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