A local heredity group is celebrating family history month by inviting locals to visit their library in the Proserpine Community Centre.
The Whitsunday Family History Group will be displaying its local family trees over the month of August and the public are invited to come along and view their extensive family history library on Thursdays and Saturdays between 10am and 2pm.
The library has over a thousand family history books collated over the group’s own extensive history.
Established over 30 years ago, the Whitsunday Family History Group was started by four historically inclined locals who grew its collection of information considerably in the three decades.
Group librarian Linda Thorogood is one of a few of the groups founding members who still play an active role.
“It’s an addictive hobby, and over 30 years later there’s still so many of us going. There’s always more and more coming up online – you’re never finished with knowing your family’s legacy,” Ms Thorogood said.
“You can trace your family worldwide, but we try to focus locally. You’re finding out something new all the time, which is so interesting.
“I myself don’t have any convicts [in my family tree] but we have one member who has five, and you never know what you’ll find! It’s very exciting.”
Ms Thorogood said that family history tracing brings back to life the stories of the past, as well as giving you a greater sense of personal identity.
The Whitsunday Family History Group also offers membership, which includes access to its extensive records and the guidance from its expert Librarian and other members.
