LOTS of people have seen the tiles located out the Port Macquarie Olympic pool, but not many could tell you about the 493 individual names which appear on the tiles.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Port Macquarie and Districts Family History Society vice president Rex Toomey and his wife Yvonne have been researching the lives behind the names since 2011 and are about to release a book.
“I feel is so important to commemorate and record the memories from the people and their families of what it was like to live in Port Macquarie 50 years ago,” Mrs Toomey said.
The local Rotary Club organised the collection of funds that would be used toward the construction of the amenities block at the swimming pool.
To encourage people to make the then sizeable donation of £5 ($10.00) for each tile, they were told their names would be inscribed onto ceramic tiles which would then be placed on the front wall of the swimming pool as a thank you gesture for their generosity.
Brothers Ken and Craig de la Rue visited Port Macquarie on September 23 to view their grandfather’s name on the wall. Bill de la Rue was a town clerk and health inspector in Port Macquarie during the 1940s.
The brothers said they are excited to receive the book once it is published.
The Family History Society was formed in 1985 by a number of people who came together to research their family history. Today it has 170 members.
“The purpose of the society is to assist group members and also the public with researching their family history anywhere in the world,” Mr Toomey said.
The group’s president Diane Gillespie said each individual has their own story about their ancestors and the discussion will start with finding out about what a person knows about their relatives and expand from there.
Ms Gillespie said she enjoys communicating with the members of the society and finding out how they are progressing and what research they’ve done.
Mr Toomey said he enjoys the camaraderie of the Family History Society.
He encourages people to share how they found out about their ancestors, including the resources they used.
The members of the society believe the interest in people tracing their family history is growing due to the amount of resources accessible to them and the popularity of television shows.
Both Mr Toomey and Ms Gillespie encourage people who are tracing their history to think laterally and expand their research through utilizing as many resources available to them, including print material as well as online.
Ms Gillespie said her earliest ancestor came to Australia in 1825 and he was an Irish convict.
“I began as a kid, asking the questions you aren’t suppose to ask,” she said.
Prior to 1988, Mr Toomey said people tended not to want to know that they had a convict ancestor, due to status.
The Port Macquarie and Districts Family History Society want to engage with the younger generation as they see them as the future.
“We want to assist teachers in presenting family history as an interest,” Ms Gillespie said.
The group meets at The CC Mac Adams Music centre every Saturday.
Former Irish Ambassador Richard O’Brien will be at the group’s meeting on October 8 to conduct a talk about Irish orphans.
The group has a close relationship with other facilities and groups in town including the Port Macquarie Hastings Library, Port Macquarie Men's Shed and the Port Macquarie Historical Society.