Thanks to TV shows like ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ and websites like ancestry.com, family history has surged in popularity in recent years, making it an ideal topic for Adult Learners Week in Hobsons Bay from September 1-8.
And as a cultural historian and fourth-generation Williamstown local, Karen Wykes is the ideal person to teach it.
Ms Wykes will run a session on family history from 1-2pm on Thursday, September 4 at Williamstown Library, part of a variety of classes and workshops aimed at adult learners in Hobsons Bay.
Ms Wykes said she’ll not only be teaching people how to start their family history, but what history is and how it differs from heritage.
“History is something that’s happened in the past, heritage is a tangible thing,” explained Ms Wykes whose fascination with family history began at a relative’s funeral.
“I’ve always loved history and when my husband’s mother passed away I was speaking to a family member at her funeral who’d done their family history and that got me interested. So I started doing it myself and I’ve completed family history courses and I’ve also done a masters degree in cultural heritage.”
Despite her own interest starting at a funeral, Ms Wykes said the most important part of compiling a family history was starting it before relatives reached that stage.
“If you don’t do it now while those family members are alive, once they’re gone it’s too late.”
To find out more about Adult Learners Week in Hobsons Bay, go to: https://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Libraries/Library-news/Adult-Learners-Week
