Sue Wade, Clive Polkinghorne and Anne Gribble help young Tom Sandberg trace his family roots. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
You’re the only redhead in your family. You want to try to verify an old rumour that your grandma had an affair with the ranga milkman.
So who you gonna call?
The Griffith Genealogical and Historical Society has been digging up deep family secrets for more than 40 years. New technologies and a growing online worldwide community of family tree enthusiasts are making painstaking detective work a little easier for this group of dedicated volunteers.
“There’s a scandal somewhere in every family,” says Anne Gribble, the group’s matriarch.
Based in a tiny building across from the Griffith Visitors Centre, the society has subscriptions to websites ancestry.com and findmypast.com; a collection of old photos; land title certificates dating back to the 1800s; cemetery inscription copies as well as a host of other historical records and documents.
The group can also help people submit DNA tests and access birth, marriage and death certificates. But the society’s best asset is its members. Region Riverina met Anne Gribble, Sue Wade and Clive and Wendy Polkinghorne – all walking, talking encyclopedias who go the distance to trace family roots with a touch of humour.
A Griffith High School excursion to Scenic High in 1949, featuring Clive Polkinghorne. Photo: Wendy Polkinghorne.
“Sometimes people come here not knowing the names of their own grandparents … we don’t always find the answers but we try our best,” Ms Wade said.
“There’s now an online network of people who have done DNA tests. We can help you connect with others to solve family mysteries.”
On Friday, 19 August, young Sydney artist Tom Sandberg visited the group’s headquarters in search of help. His father grew up on a farm in Tharbogang, and Mr Sandberg wanted to dig into the history surrounding his soldier settler grandparents and research the birth of irrigation in the Griffith region for an art project he’s undertaking. The amateur detectives at the society immediately went to work, sitting their visitor down at a computer and researching his family records.
“I never knew my great-grandmother had been married three times,” Mr Sandberg said.
Mr Polkinghorne said they found records of Mr Sandberg’s great-grandmother remarrying after her first husband died, then a third time at a later date.
While there was no scandal in the Sandberg lineage, Ms Gribble said she often found family history details that surprised.
Clive Polkinghorne helps Tom Sandberg connect with his family roots. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
“There was one lady who came to us and found out her grandma was actually her aunty. Her mother’s supposed mum was really her sister.
“In those days, being an unmarried mother was quite scandalous, so you’d have a mother pretending to be an older sister.”
In addition to the genealogical work, the society excels at general history. Its speciality is the origin and activity of Griffith first settlers. The society maintains farmland holding records that date back to 1912. Members also keep memorable Griffith photos capturing old wine festivals, parades, anniversary celebrations and other key events. They provided Region Riverina with a copy of a photo of life member Mr Polkinghorne at a 1949 Griffith High School excursion to Scenic Hill, taken by his future wife, Wendy.
The Griffith Genealogical and Historical Society is looking for new volunteers. Membership costs $35 a year and includes access to all the group’s facilities. The Tranter St office is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1 pm to 5 pm. More details can be found on the website.
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