With Christmas and New Year fast approaching, you only have a few days to visit our family history rooms in 2025.  We will be closing at 1pm on Saturday 13th December 2025 and re-open on Tuesday 13th January 2026.  We wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year and look forward to catching up with you in 2026.

Any family history researcher is keen to find a grave, or at least a grave site for their early ancestors. Many of us have spent time wandering around various cemeteries looking for a headstone relevant to us.   We are now excited to share that Dubbo Regional Council has  made records for all cemeteries within its council area available  to the public online.  To access what they call “Councils Memorial Mapper” I have found the following procedure the best way to gain access.  First go to the council website, click on Community and Groups under which  you will find cemeteries.  Then go to Search Cemetery Records where you will find a link to “Councils Memorial Mapper”.  Remember less information is sometimes the best with family research, so maybe start with just a surname. It will take a short time for the map to appear. Good luck.

Our last Share Your Story for 2025 will be held on Friday, 17th October 2025 at 2pm, in the Drama Room (our usual venue), which is upstairs in the Community Arts Centre at Western Plains Cultural Centre.  Member Pauline Kuhner will share with us her research into the life of Dr Lily Holt McCrimmon. Dr Lily was a pioneer in Australian medicine who during her life lived and worked in England, Solomon Islands, and Australia before settling into her life and work in Mendooran. Pauline’s publication is called “Almost Forgotten: the life of Dr. Lily Holt McCrimmon”. Copies will be available for sale on the day.  Your $8 entry will include afternoon tea, but you should book for the event by emailing Lyn at  baretsmiths@bigpond.com. before Wednesday, 15th October 2025.

Share Your Story for September will be presented by Peter Woodley,  who will share his story of researching and writing his book “We are a Farming class – Dubbo’s Hinterlands, 1870-1950”. Peter has uncovered many fascinating stories of local people whose lives embody the  history of the ‘farmlands’.  He will take the opportunity at our Share Your Story to have his publication launched by our Federal Member Dugald Saunders.  You must book to attend this event on Friday 12th September at 2pm. It will be held in the Auditorium in Western Plains Community Centre on Wingewarra Street Dubbo. Your $8 entry fee includes refreshments after the event, and the chance to chat with Peter.  If you are attending please  email to baretsmiths@bigpond.com by Wednesday 10th September.

Do you have any ancestors with the name Butler? This might be a gathering for you. As well as a variety of genealogy subjects there will be talks about Butlers who have contributed to the early development and history of NSW.  Names such as William Butler a convict on the First Fleet, James Butler who was the butler to John and Elizabeth Macarthur, Laurence Butler and Fernando Butler just to name a few.  You will hear about the Butlers from New Zealand and Argentina. As well, trips to the Elizabeth Farm, the Old Government House and Lancer;s Memorial Museum will be conducted. This event will take place from Friday 17th October to Monday 20th October 2025 and will be based at the Holiday Inn Hotel, at Warwick Farm.  Visit the website www.butlersocietysoutherncrossregion.org or email Alan Squires at squiresa@bigpond.net.au