Pictured at the official opening of the extensions to Forbes Family History Group rooms by the then Premier, Bob Carr, which took place on Monday, 23rd February 1998. Names from left to right are – Mayor John Mahlo, Caryl Slattery (FFHG), Premier Bob Carr, Member for Lachlan Ian Armstrong, Tony Kelly MLC and Cr. Dianne Decker.
Forbes Family History Group will be celebrating their 40th birthday this month, and invite everyone to their Open Day on Wednesday, 25 March from 10am until 3pm in the Family History Group rooms behind the Library.
Their first meeting held at the Jemalong Retirement Village on 26 March 1986 was attended by eight people – Marj Ticehurst, Dianne Lambert, Kim Smith, Hazel Madden, Jean Little, Leila Collits, Jill and Les Peasley. At the meeting, the following office bearers were elected – President Jill Peasley, Vice-President Jean Little, Treasurer/Secretary Kim Smith, Publicity Officer Dianne Lambert and Research/Librarian Mildred Churchill.
The group’s first few meetings were held at Jemalong Retirement Village, before the Forbes Historical Society allowed the group to use a spare room above the museum.
As membership grew, space became a problem, so the group approached Forbes Council for permission to use a room at the back of the Library which was being used for storage of library books. Permission being granted, the group held working bees to clear the room and repair the floor to get the room ready for use. On 17 April 1987, the group moved from the room above the museum to their present location behind the library.
In 1997, Forbes Council completed extensions to the group’s rooms and these extensions were opened on 23 February 1998 by the then Premier Bob Carr.
In 2026, Forbes Family History Group membership stands at 99 which includes five Life Members. Membership of Forbes Family History Group is open to anyone. Their rooms are open for research on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 11am and 3pm.