The Genealogical Society of the Northern Territory Inc

Our Family History Library has no paid staff. However together as a team we continue to help people who want to reconnect to their families both past and present. We have a wide variety of requests from within the NT and all states of Australia, as well as international requests for help, some are more complex than others. Our volunteers continue to build our research tools by creating indexes to a vast variety of Northern Territory records. This in turn helps us to find names instead of researching for days and not finding any concrete family evidence. This past financial year we have been more involved in promotional and marketing activities. This work helps in bringing the wider public knowledge of what we do to help families reconnect. In July 2023 we sponsored Family History Awards at the Darwin Show. Weekly research workshops were presented by our Volunteers. During Seniors Month activities in August consisted of presentations for those interested in tracing their family tree as well as those who are more experienced. An Information stall was provided at the Caladium Festival in November. Trove workshops were also held during November. We embarked on advertising through the COTA (Council of the Aging) Information Network The society participated in the monthly History/Heritage talks on ABC Radio in February and May 2024. The Society was represented at the National Archives of Australia (NT) Consultative Forum. Volunteers provided an Information Stall at the Seniors Expo in June 2024 this event helps Seniors to get involved in a variety of programs and activities as well as help with health issues. All of these activities were undertaking whilst maintaining normal Library opening hours. During the financial for 20232024 we handled 1056 visits from members of the public; attended to 557 research inquiries from both local and interstate; had nine Volunteer Researchers provide 837 hours of Volunteer research assistance Topics ranged from persons wishing to establish Indigenous status to questions of an historical nature about the life their ancestor who might have lived in the Territory including rice farming, Cyclone Tracy, World War II, Chinese, Aboriginal and Russian lifestyles, early NT Teachers, peanut farmers, Gulf crabbers, life at the Parap Camp and at the Police Paddock. While this was happening, we changed our IT Services provider. Our new go to service provider is Territory Technology Solutions, who to date are providing an excellent server that includes sponsoring some of our activities. Our Family History Library is appreciative of the accommodation grant and continued support received from the NT Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities. Without this grant and support we would not be able to reconnect past and present Northern Territory families.