Five Committee Members – Over 80 Years’ Service

In 2020 and 2021, , five longstanding committee members retired and were honoured by the Group at our Covid-extended 50th anniversary celebrations:

JESSIE HANDOLL 
(10 years)

Committee: 2010 – 2020
President: 2013 – 2019
Vice-President: 2019 – 2020

Jessie took on the position of President a bit reluctantly, but was a great success. She kept us all in order and kept the meetings on track. She was always willing to take responsibility and take on the hard jobs. She has been a great asset to the Committee.

CLARE BAYNE 
(19 years)

Committee: August 2000 – 2019
Vice-President: 2001 – 2003
President: 2003 – 2005
Examiner of Proofs: 2000 – 2003 and 2016 – 2019

Clare Bayne who returned to the committee after a break to serve again. She was president at a difficult time. Among other things, she presided over changing the qualifying Pioneer ancestor date from 1835 to 1803. She was Examiner of Proofs before that and did a great job. She then took up this position again later. She was instrumental in simplifying the procedures there, making a considerable difference. Taking huge cabinets to her house from the Genealogical Society of Victoria and whittling the contents down to two small ones. She also rejuvenated the Application Form, attended Family History days, collated Newsletters and was always fun to be with.

SUSAN GRANT 
(21 years)

Treasurer and Membership Secretary: April 1999 – 2020

Susan Grant did an amazing job as Treasurer for 21 years. Amongst other things and apart from the money side, she has managed the membership records impeccably and kept the cumulative database with every detail of each member’s pioneer ancestors, etc. She has been the one who produced the ‘Certificates of Appreciation’ and ‘Certificates of Membership’ which are so well done. She has also done the name labels for the meetings and Newsletter envelopes, playing a huge part in mailing out the Newsletters both as hard copy and via e-mail.

MARILLA JAMES
( 18 years )
From being part of the committee from 2003, Marilla has held the position of Honorary Secretary from 2005-2019. There have been many changes over this time and she has been involved in these. Her skills have been instrumental in correction of procedeures and rejuvenating rule changes, naming databases, publications such as “Profiles” and other vital information. Marilla also attended Family History days, Genealogical Society of Victoria meetings and many other events.

KEN SMITH
( 15 years )
Ken is an Honorary Life Member of the Group. He has held the position of Vice-President, 1994-1996 and President in 1996-2000. He has been invaluable as proof reader for publications and finding interesting speakers. Ken has also spoken to many community groups over the years about the Port Phillip District times for the Group. His database of land, newspaper, and insolvency records have been an amazing resource as well.