Bega Valley Genealogy Society

21/06/2025

We are looking
The Bega Valley Genealogy Society is a non profit organization, and one of our main income streams is doing research, proceeds from this helps us cover some of our day to day costs of maintaining our extensive research resources held at the Old Pambula Courthouse & Police Station.
One vital chog in our operation is missing, a Volunteer Research Officer. If you are interested in Genealogy / Family History / have some Computer Skills or know of a friend who may be tempted, please contact us.
Our Volunteer Researcher can work to their own schedule. Requests we receive are about local families in the Bega Valley Shire and surrounding districts. We have a huge resources of reference books, family histories, archives of rates, maps and Photographs, including the Kameruka & Arydale collections, for you to get lost in and enjoy.
We get requests from people wanting to search their home, farm or local clubs, but we are not permitted to trace details of living people and this could include people born up to 100 years ago.
So, if you are interested and like a challenge of doing something different. Contact us,
Bega Valley Genealogy Society Committee
email: begagenealogy@bigpond.com or email me elizabethmcintyre@bigpond.com

09/06/2025

PAMBULA COURTHOUSE & POLICE STATION

Old Pambula Courthouse & Cell Block viewings
Admission $5 per person children under 12 free.

During opening hours only:
Tues. 1 – 4pm, Thurs. 9.30am – 12.30pm &
Sat. 1 – 4pm - 1st & 3rd SAT. ONLY

ALL Visitors welcome

09/06/2025

CLAIMING THE DATE 29th JUNE 2025 for the Bega Valley Genealogy Society's next meeting.

Sunday 29th June 2025 GENERAL MEETING 2.00pm at the Red Cross Rooms 33 Church St. Bega,
Lyn Darmody will be our guest speaker and will tell the story of her direct line ancestor, William Waterson – silk weaver and convict - who arrived in Australia in 1827 at the age of 17. He came to Bega via Limestone Plains – present day Canberra – then Bibbenluke and onto Bega.

Afternoon tea will be served and there will be a raffle.

😊😊Friends & Visitors are most Welcome.

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22/05/2025

22/05/2025

Things have been happening at the Pambula Courthouse in the last 10 months. These are just a few. Our fantastic courthouse room has been painted, the two large hallways, toilet and Magisate's room. All made possible by donations from anonymous member donor;s. The place is so bright and light it is a pleasure to work there.
This week new blinds have been installed in the courtroom, library and office. Two new computers and others have been upgraded.

As the painting has taken place, there have been many voluntneers working away moving bookcases, sorting books and files into their correct places. A huge job, which will continue for many many months to come..

14/04/2025

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18/02/2025

Greetings members and friends!

You are invited to attend our first general meeting and get-together for 2025 to be held at the Red Cross Rooms, 33 Church Street, Bega commencing at 2pm next Sunday 23rd February 2025.

Our guest speaker will be Ollie Hinde. Born in Bega, Ollie has spent a lifetime living in the Bega Valley and since the 1960’s he and wife Nancy have lived at Mogareeka, Tathra so we can only imagine the view from their house are things maritime. Ollie has amazing recall of events – many of his interests are nautical in nature – as he will enlighten and entertain us with stories from the 1940’s and beyond.

There will be brief updates of business at the BVGS from the president, librarian and treasurer and Ollie’s talk will be followed with afternoon tea and good conversation. We hope you can join us.

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04/02/2025

Death of Ursula Hunt

It is with great sadness that we report on the death of Ursula Hunt on 17 January 2025 in the Bega Hospital following her collapsing on duty at Vinnies, Merimbula on 16 January. Ursula basically died doing what she loved – volunteering! A funeral service was held for her on Thursday 30 January.

Writing on behalf of the Bega Valley Genealogy Society (BVGS), Ursula joined the Society some 33 years ago after moving, with her husband, from Melbourne to the Sapphire Coast firstly becoming our treasurer and later holding the positions of president and secretary and was librarian for 28 years until recently. She remained on committee until August 2024.

In an interview with Ursula some two plus years ago she shared the many, many highlights of her experiences at the BVGS – important quotes: “my pleasure is when people come in and I can help them and they leave with a big smile” and “it was before computers - so much has changed in 32 years – what we take for granted now was quite new then.” She had a love of volunteering work mentioning the names of many organisations she volunteered for over the years. She had a huge sense of commitment to the community.

Ursula was a smiling face of the BVGS over the many years. Farewell Ursula – thank you for the time given to the BVGS. You will be sadly missed.

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27/10/2024

The Bega Valley Genealogy Society's Committee would like to thank all the people who attended our Seminar on Saturday 26th October 2024 at the Old Pambula Courthouse. It was a great success.
The speakers were excellent Mel Hulbert from Vice President of Society of Australian Genealogists (SAG) subjects DNA & AI. Jennifer Sloggert from Museums of History NSW, archivist who specialises in land records and Emmy McNeilly-Hathaway 'living voice' her journey into family history with DNA.
The food was delicous and thank you to all the cooks and helpers. Until next Time.