The Bega Valley Genealogy Society (BVGS) is home to some incredible resources for anyone wanting to discover more about local history and ancestry, even more than can be found online on Trove, because many of the records held haven't been uploaded to Trove, the society members say.
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After its beginnings in August 1987 and five years searching for a home for the library and research centre, the society is now celebrating 30 years in the Old Pambula Courthouse and Police Station.
There had been times when secretarial records and the 'library' had been located either under Joan Brown's bed or in the boot of Noreen Hartfield's car and carried to and from meetings in boxes.
But in April 1992, the Merimbula News Weekly reported the official opening of the BVGS's library and research centre at its new location at the Old Pambula Court House and Police Station, with a ceremony performed by Jim Snow, member for Eden Monaro.
BVGS president Liz McIntyre said they had a lovely historical building to use as their library and research centre.
"It also houses our large local and archive collections, a place where we can welcome locals, tourists and help them with their family history researches," Ms McIntyre said.
The society's members are fastidious in their research, something Deb Dunn knows well.
Deb and husband Mike, bought the historic but very rundown Baddeley Cottage in Pambula. Their renovations were chronicled for ABC's Restoration Australia.
Ms Dunn said they were so grateful for the work the society had done for them.
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![The Bega Valley Genealogy Society celebrates 30 years in the Pambula Courthouse with a lunch at Oaklands with Deb Dunn (front row, second left) owner of Baddeley Cottage. The Bega Valley Genealogy Society celebrates 30 years in the Pambula Courthouse with a lunch at Oaklands with Deb Dunn (front row, second left) owner of Baddeley Cottage.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/HJKdXpzXdCqQNEEJgi9knT/b39f7def-d14b-46a7-b707-d81195c754d0.jpg/r0_0_4032_2643_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"We had a folder one inch thick from Margaret Sly (BVGS member and researcher) who established the history of the house and land and a whole other history which she uncovered," Ms Dunn said.
Melbourne based author Ian Hunter has also used the services of the society. Mr Hunter is writing a fictional novel based around the true life events of Fred Piper's bus journeys between Cooma and Bega after WWI. Piper's Lookout on Brown Mountain was named in Fred Piper's honour.
BVGS member and researcher Pat Raymond said people contacted them from all over the world, the UK, New Zealand and America.