HISTORY buffs will be in their element at Port Macquarie this weekend as the Port Macquarie and District Family History Society puts on another family history fair.
In what will be the third fair of its kind in five years, more than 150 people are expected to attend the summit.
The society has managed to attract four expert speakers on genealogy – Brad Argent from ancestry.com.au, Vicki Eldridge from findmypast.com.au, Paul Barton from familysearch.com.au and Eugenia Rauch from Jakerah Publishing.
Hastings resident Viviene Urquhart will be at the family history fair on Saturday.
She took over as “family detective” for her mother’s side of the family tree when her aunty died.
Mrs Uquhart’s mother had “no idea” about her family background as she and her siblings were placed into care back in the 1930s.
Evan Holmes, Mrs Urquhart’s grandfather, also knew nothing about his family background.
With help from a relative, Mrs Urquhart has found the date his family arrived in Australia.
While searching, she met relatives she never know existed, shared information with long lost cousins, and even found her mother’s step-sister.
Mrs Urquhart will share her experiences at the fair, which runs from 9am to 3.30pm on Saturday at the ground floor auditorium of Port Macquarie Panthers.
Entry is $10, with access to all featured speakers.
The Port Macquarie and District Family History Society also hopes to unveil its new book, based on the early history of the Church of St Thomas.
