Geraldton Family History Society to host beginner workshop for people to learn more about their family history

Geraldton residents looking to learn more about their family history are invited to a workshop this weekend to begin their lineage journey. The Geraldton Family History Society was formed in 1978 as part of the WA Genealogical Society and the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations. President Liz Kelly said the society connected people with their heritage through research. “We get people to look at their family members and the stories that come through the generations as a start,” she said. “We look further as to where people have gone to from the stories so we can try capture where they’ve come from.” Several backgrounds have been found as a result of the organisation’s research. Ms Kelly said her inspiration came through an interest in helping people. “My passion started very young; I was interested in ensuring people were able to communicate with each other when they need some help,” she said. “Sometimes they don’t know what to do; they have a box of goodies and photographs but they don’t know where to start.” This weekend the society will be holding a beginner’s workshop and information session, where members of the public can receive advice on how to start their research journey. The workshop is free and will be held from 9.30am on Saturday, May 18, at the Geraldton Regional Library. Ms Kelly said it was an experience getting people to understand they were not alone in their journey in finding out their ancestry. The workshops aim to show people how to methodically go through their family history to pick up information through schools, localities and jobs, among other records. She said the society had been able to help people with several stories. “We’ve got Edith Cowan stories that go through Geraldton, we’ve got stories with a number of the mayors around,” Ms Kelly said. “We’ve done things with the old Geraldton families but are doing them with the new ones as well. “They’ve brought in a lot more culture and going through and explaining what their culture is as well.” People who want to take part in the workshop can register through the library or online through Humanitix.