How to Join
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Port Phillip Pioneers Group is open to persons having ancestors of whom at least one settled or was born in the present State of Victoria prior to 1 July, 1851 and can provide proof of direct lineal descent from their Pioneer ancestor/s.
Eligibility for Membership is determined by the Committee, on the recommendation of the Examiner of Proofs. See belo.w under Evidence Required for Membership for how to apply for Full Membership.
If your are interested in the history of the Port Phillip District but do not have a pioneer ancestor, or have not yet been able to establish a link with one, you can join as an Associate Member. You can find an application for Associate Membership here.
Benefits of Membership
Pioneer EchoAttend our General Meetings. These are held at 2.00 pm on the second Saturday in February, May, July, September and November. The venue and program of addresses by guest speakers on subjects of topical interest to Members are published on this website and in our Newsletter Pioneer Echo.
Participate on a voluntary basis in a variety of projects organised by the Group.
Contribute queries or articles of historical interest to our Newsletter Pioneer Echo or contribute an article on your ancestors as already certified for inclusion in the next edition of Pioneer Profiles.
Receive the Newsletter Pioneer Echo, which is issued five times per year. The Newsletter contains lists of New Members and the person or people from whom they are descended. There is also a report from the President, a calendar of events for the year, reports on activities both interstate and within Victoria, Member’s queries, dates of historical interest and a variety of other material.
The opportunity to further genealogical knowledge through the use of our expanding online resources and library of journals and books.
Evidence (‘Proofs’) Required For Membership
Evidence of residence by the Pioneer ancestor in the Port Phillip District of NSW prior to 1 July 1851 may be in the form of authenticated information from an official registry or family papers. In the case of secondary sources such as published records, specific reference needs to be provided. A Death Certificate certifying death after 1 July 1851 is not normally accepted by itself as proof of residency.
Evidence of descent from the Pioneer ancestor should be in the form of Certificates from an official registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, but Wills and other documents can be submitted if certificates are not available. Documents submitted as proofs are to be forwarded with the Application Form – and will be returned.
In the event of direct evidence not being available, circumstantial evidence may be put before the Examiner of Proofs for consideration. Acceptance of any such evidence will be at the discretion of the Examiner of Proofs
Descent through adoption or birth will be accepted with adequate proof. Show evidence of change of family name by you nor any ancestor on marriage by including relevant Marriage Certificates.
Applications for Membership should be made on Port Phillip Pioneers Group Application Forms. These Application Forms are obtainable by sending an e-mail request to our Examiner of Proofs, Marney Butler-Jones or phoning her on 0419 119 611. Please ensure that Documents forwarded with the completed form are complete and legible.
All relevant certificate numbers are listed on the Application Form in the appropriate boxes.
If you would like to join as an Associate Member pending proof of your ancestry, the application form is here.
Subscription Rates (from 11 May 2024)
(a) Ordinary Member $15 a year for e-mail Newsletters, $25 a year for posted Newsletters
(b) Family Membership $20 a year for e-mail Newsletters, $30 a year for posted Newsletters
c) Entry Fee/First Subscription $40
(d) Each Additional Pioneer Claim $10
Associate Members pay the same annual subscription fee – as for (a) or( b) – but not the entry fee.