Shepparton Heritage Centre volunteer Kerry Betts is passionate about helping people uncover their family histories.
From uncovering unknown adoptions to celebrating anniversaries and family achievements, tracing family history can shape how people understand their identity and their place in the world.
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For National Family History Month this August, the Shepparton Heritage Centre is encouraging locals to explore their past through the centre’s Heritage Research and History Hub.
Volunteer Kerry Betts said the hub held a wide range of resources, including books, newspapers, cemetery records and school records, to help people trace their stories.
“People find where they come from really interesting,” Mrs Betts said.
“Sometimes they might be sorting through Nana’s things or Mum’s things and come across something that really puzzles them.”
She said the hub helped people uncover the stories behind those discoveries.
Having researched her own family history, Mrs Betts said learning about previous generations added a deeper sense of connection to the community.
“When you know your family has been here, you look at the place with different eyes,” she said.
“The town means something different to you.
“It adds colour. You know where your family fitted in.”
Mrs Betts has been volunteering for over 40 years with the Shepparton Family History Group, which later combined with the Shepparton Heritage Centre.
She now works alongside other volunteers in the history hub, researching the community’s past and helping make Shepparton’s history accessible to the public.
The history hub is open Wednesday to Friday from 9am until 1pm or by appointment.
