The committee hopes that all our members and their families are well and coping as we are still living with Covid restrictions. We have recently reviewed our Covid 19 safety plan and reduced some of the restrictions as per NSW Department of Health guidelines as well as ensuring we meet the Covid safety plan for the Seniors Centre.
EVENTS:
Since our February issue, we have held our first 2021 outing for members with thirty attending a trip to Carcoar where we visited the old Carcoar Hospital, Stokes Stables, Court House and the historic main street. (See the separate story.) Our next outing is to Mudgee and Gulgong on 19th June then to Lithgow on 25th September. Don’t forget, we are holding a Christmas in July on Thursday 22 July from 6 pm onwards at historic Abercrombie House ballroom with a three course roast meal and good company. Bookings for this event will start on 1st May and is $40 a head. If you would like more information, or to book (special dietary options available), please contact myself or the committee. On 14th August we are holding a fun trivia afternoon in the Seniors Hall. Come and test your general knowledge. Later in the year we will have a morning tea and talk at Abercrombie House and a Christmas afternoon get together in November.
SKILLING UP SESSIONS:
We have also commenced small group training sessions on Ancestry, Trove, DNA and Family Tree Maker as well as sessions on getting to know the group’s resources. We will continue with these sessions along with general computer training and using online resources that help with our research. If any member is not able to attend our sessions but would like to, please let me know as we will try and run more sessions on different times or do them via ZOOM so that all members can access assistance.
MEETING and ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:
Our next meeting is 22nd May with guest speaker Kieran Hannon who will talk about his research into the Cato Street Conspiracy and its relationship to the Bathurst region. It is on at Seniors Hall from 2pm to 4pm. Our AGM is being held on 24th July for our annual committee elections. We hope as many members will be able to attend and consider being part of the committee.
OPENING OUR CENTRE:
I would like to thank the volunteers who open our centre which allows members to meet, research and socialise. The more volunteers we have, means we can open the centre on more days. At present we are open on Mondays 10am to 1pm; Tuesdays 2pm to 4pm; Tuesdays 7pm 9pm and Thursdays 10am to 1pm. We are hoping to open up another night each week if we have coverage. Training sessions are on at different times.
PIONEER REGISTER 2:
Many thanks, goes to Graeme Hill for his hard work in getting a program set up that will allow us to compile a second Pioneer Register incorporating our original Pioneer register. The new Register will contain information up to 1920 and add and refine information on some of the thousands of pioneers already recorded. If you have new information on a relative who is in the original register or would like to add more pioneers please check out our website for information.
AUTUMN COLOURS:
Thanks to our members who organised tours for Autumn Colours. These are always successful and much appreciated by the public and our members. Well done everyone!
FINAL
On a personal note, I have enjoyed my last five years as President and thank members for the opportunity to serve. I would also like to thank the different members of the committee over that time, for their support. I am sure the future will be bright for our Group and hope that members continue to support their committee in taking the group into the future.
Dianne Barnes
