60th Anniversary Celebrations

Family History ACT has celebrated its 60^th anniversary with two special events.

On Saturday 19 October 2024, Society Patron Professor Peter Stanley joined us at a special event to launch our newest publication Honour Your Ancestors: Sixty years of Family History in the ACT.

Present also were special guests Mr Duncan Marshall, Chair of the ACT Heritage Council, Dr Richard Reid, President of the Canberra and District Historical Society, Mr Gary Kent, President of the National Trust ACT and Mrs Cheryl Mongan, Vice President of the Yass and District Historical Society.  It was a pleasure to welcome representatives of these organisations, with whom we have worked over the past 60 years, to share in this special day.

Honour Your Ancestors invites readers on a journey through six decades of history, recounting the remarkable achievements of Family History ACT. From a modest gathering of Canberra’s heraldry and genealogy enthusiasts in 1964 to the dynamic Society of the 2020s, this book celebrates the tireless voluntary efforts that have shaped one of Australia’s most vibrant family history societies. Copies are available for purchase from the Family History ACT Online Bookshop.

On Sunday 20 October, society members gathered at the Ainslie Football Club in Canberra for a birthday party to celebrate 60 years since fourteen genealogy and heraldry enthusiasts met at the Australian National University to form the Canberra Genealogy and Heraldry Group.  Members came together for a birthday lunch, sharing stories and laughter as they reminisced about old times. The celebration culminated in the cutting of a beautifully decorated birthday cake, made by FHACT Councillor Floss Aitchison. 

Sixty years on and a couple of name changes later, the society is still helping members and the community with their family history research and looking forward to the next 60 years.  New members are most welcome, and we look forward to seeing you at a Society meeting or event soon.

Cutting the Birthday Cake – L-R Former Presidents Pam Ray, Nick Reddan, Jeanette Hahn, June Penny, Grahame Thom and current President Michele Rainger.