By Brendan Rees
The Narre Warren and District Family History Group have created their own history by celebrating their first anniversary since moving to Cranbourne Library.
Members of the group and visitors gathered at the Cranbourne Library on Monday 24 September for a celebratory cake.
Visitors were also able to access free expert advice on local history and genealogical research.
President of the Narre Warren anmd District Family History Group Lynne Bradley said: “Our membership and meeting attendance is up, while our members are really enjoying our new research room,” she said.
Casey Cardinia Libraries CEO Chris Buckingham said it had been a great first year.
“We love having them at Cranbourne Library – they provide a really good community service, not only helping people find about their own history and the community’s history but also it’s a gathering,” he said.
He said the group provided a great community resource: “They’re just really happy in each other’s company – they’re really happy in the Cranbourne Library.”
“It is a reflection that libraries are more than just books – that we are a gathering place where people can learn and grow together.”
Local History Librarian Heather Arnold said the event was well attended: “It was a fun morning catching up with everyone and promoting history.”
“We had a fabulous cake and it was good to look back on the year,” she said.
“This has been a good opportunity to promote the fact that we’re still here; we’ve just moved to Cranbourne. We haven’t been demolished with the Narre Warren Library.”
Ms Arnold said the group were initially apprehensive about moving to Cranbourne “but now they’re here, they love it and they’ve got new members and lots of visitors, been a good move all round.”
She said one man who dropped-in for the celebration said was trying to trace his family history but had got stuck in the year 1812. “He said ‘they helped me’ which was a positive.”
Everyone is welcome to drop-in and use the service which opens on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11am to 3pm.
