Discover Bonegilla program announced

It's here. The Discover Bonegilla reunion program is now available.

From learning tips on researching your family history to a bike ride around the area to experience the countryside as migrants once did, there's plenty to see and do at the November 2 and 3 reunion.

Join us for a free introduction to writing your family history on November 2 with former Wodonga resident Melissa Justice, who has an associate degree in creative writing and is the granddaughter of Belgian immigrants.

The session will include information on how to research and format your family history and how to develop your story into a narrative.

There will also be a free workshop on November 3 for family historians presented by Border historians and authors Bruce Pennay and Howard Jones.

They will facilitate a discussion of how people go about writing or recording their family stories of the migrant experience.

Stick around for Investigating Bonegilla where Dr Pennay, author of the resource kit which accompanies the Investigating Bonegilla virtual tour, will explain how he went about unearthing stories about Bonegilla and about the migrant experience.

Families are encouraged with children to be entertained with a range of activities such as facepainting and colouring-in.

The North East Multicultural Association is privileged to present children's activities in honour of all those children who made Bonegilla their first home in Australia, which will include activities and games our grandparents and great grandparents played when they first arrived.

The program includes bus tours where you can board a bus to the original site of the rail siding, explore the area before getting back on the bus to the Bonegilla Hall.

You can also explore the original site of the Bonegilla Migrant Camp adjacent to Block 19, not generally accessible to the public.

There are several food experiences during the reunion including two long lunches provided by Mozaic Catering, a local company serving traditional food flavours with a twist, as well as afternoon teas and a dinner.

The dinner, complete with a special menu, has been organised at the Blazing Stump Hotel on Sunday from 6pm for people to meet and share memories.

We would love to hear and record memories of former residents, so stop by a pop-up booth where Albury LibraryMuseum staff will be on site to collect stories of Bonegilla.

Bookings for Discover Bonegilla events are now being taken. Download the booking form here.

Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with event details and booking information.

If you just can't wait for November's reunion, we have an event at Bonegilla Migrant Experience on Tuesday, October 8 - Historian Talk with Bruce Pennay.

Listen Dr Pennay talk about developing a virtual tour and his online investigations of Bonegilla.

Following the presentation, participate in a guided tour. Morning tea provided. Cost is $15. Bookings required on (02) 6020 6912.