Fair offers helping hand to family history researchers
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Published: 2nd August 2024
A project which captures the precious memories of some of the City of Logan’s early families will be presented and discussed at a family history event this month.
Logan City Council is hosting a Family History Mini Fair from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, August 17 at the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct.
One of the fair’s information sessions will focus on the City of Logan’s Oral History Project.
The project, run by Logan City Historical Museum Society volunteers and supported by Regional Arts Development grant funding, captures some of the city’s history with interviews of early family representatives.
Project spokesman Geoff Kerkow said the project volunteers were committed to recording the history of representatives from early Logan families.
“We want to portray the history behind Logan,” Mr Kerkow said.
“We need to make more of our history.”
Eight interviews have been completed. Each has been professionally videoed with a transcript prepared and recorded for the Logan Libraries Local Studies Collection and history researchers.
Project co-ordinator Paul Casbolt said digital copies of each interview would also be available via the Logan City Historical Museum and the Beenleigh Historical Village and Museum.
“This will allow these Logan museums to share them with their visitors,” he said.
One project participant is Barry Seeleither who lives in Park Ridge with his wife Barbara.
He is the third generation of the family to live in the area since the arrival of his grandfather Franz Heinrich in Australia from Germany in 1865.
Franz settled on 300 acres in Park Ridge and went on to have 12 children.
The Family History Mini Fair marks National Family History Month which runs throughout August in Australia and New Zealand.
It also includes drop-in sessions on topics including how to further your family history through the use of local records, regardless of where your ancestors are from.
There will also be displays by Logan Libraries and family history organisations.
One-on-one help will be available from experienced genealogists and researchers.
Entry to the fair is free and bookings are not required.
For more information visit lccqld.com/FamilyHistoryFair