FHACT members receive Honours

Family History ACT (FHACT) recently honoured three members with awards for sustained contribution to the Society and the wider genealogical community. 

Richard (Nick) Reddan was awarded the honour of Fellow of the Society in recognition of his distinguished service to FHACT and his outstanding contribution to the achievements of the Society, demonstrating extensive dedication and contributions across many facets of the Society.  Serving on the Council from 2009 to 2021 and as President from 2014 to 2020, Nick significantly improved the society's online presence as its Webmaster and played a crucial role in implementing a combined website and member management system.  Nick’s extensive sharing of resources and knowledge through talks, publications and his own website, coupled with his focus on Irish genealogy, showcases his significant impact and dedication to family history research. His involvement extends beyond FHACT, spearheading the Registry of Deeds Index Project Ireland, managing over 525,000 primary database records and coordinating numerous volunteers.  Nick represented FHACT on the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations from 2015 until 2021 and represents the ACT at the NSW and ACT Association of Family History Societies, serving on their management committee since September 2013.

Tina Davey was awarded the honour of Life Member of the Society.  Since joining FHACT in 1984, Tina has rendered outstanding and distinguished service in support of the Society and its many activities as an ever-willing helper with a keen sense of responsibility and reliability.  Tina has been a committed library duty officer in the society’s library for many years, and additionally offered her services for the library Shelf Checking program that commenced in 2003.  She has also involved herself in many FHACT projects and working groups including conservation and transcription work for the National Archives of Australia, transcription of admission registers for Telopea Park School, and indexing and transcribing the Society’s project to digitise the Father Brian Maher Collection.  Tina often represents the Society at open days and outreach events, including as a host for the NSW & ACT Annual Conference in Canberra in 2013 and one of the ‘Purple People’ helpers for the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations Congress hosted by Family History ACT in 2015.

Peter Mayberry was awarded the honour of Life Member of the Society in recognition of his long history of continuous service as a member and of having rendered outstanding and distinguished service to the Society.  Peter has actively promoted FHACT and fostered society membership as well as making a significant contribution to scholarship in the field of family history through his specialised interest in Ireland and Irish convicts.  Peter is a passionate speaker on Irish research and has given numerous talks to diverse audiences within and outside FHACT.  He has been a very supportive member of the Irish and Convict Special Interest Groups. Peter’s convict studies began with researching every convict on the convict ship Tellicherry which arrived in Sydney in 1806. He went on to index Irish Convicts to NSW (Port Jackson) from 1788 to 1849, which further developed into an online Convict website that contains details of over 30,000 individuals. This website was used by the National Museum of Australia in its 2011 Canberra Exhibition Not Just Ned.

These dedicated members stand out for their commitment and sustained contributions that have significantly enriched Family History ACT.  Congratulations Nick, Tina and Peter.

         Peter Mayberry, Tina Davey and Nick Reddan