ONE of the largest community groups based in Millicent has found innovative ways to overcome the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The South East Family History Group has had to suspend its monthly meetings with guest speakers but otherwise it is continuing its goal of maintaining aspects of our cultural heritage.

Twice-weekly research sessions have resumed, work on restoring the historic Gran Gran graves continues while the monthly working bees at the old Millicent Cemetery and regular electronic newsletters have not been interrupted by the virus.

Boasting a membership of 140 from every corner of the region and every state of Australia, the SEFHG is based in its research centre in the one-time Millicent Primary School.

Drawn from all walks of life, the 12 searchers last weekend included a retired GP and a former Mayor of Naracoorte.

A strong financial position has enabled the SEFHG to suspend its membership fees for 2020.

Overseeing the SEFHG is retired Millicent resident Noel Boyle who has held the president’s role for the past 28 years.

The lifelong local has a vast store of knowledge given that his working life of 46 years was spent on the staff of the Millicent Post Office.

According to Mr Boyle, the first COVID-related impacts occurred in April with the compulsory cancellation of monthly meetings and research sessions.

“We had arranged for Wattle Range Council chief executive Ben Gower to be our guest speaker at our April meeting,” Mr Boyle said.

“The COVID restrictions have eased but our meeting room is too small to meet the social distancing rules.

“We often get over 30 at our meetings in a former classroom but the COVID rules would limit us to a maximum of 10 along with staff.

“The SEFHG has introduced a number of COVID-19 measures for research sessions including social distancing, contact tracing and hand sanitising.

“Ahead of each research session, tables, computers and door knobs and so on are sanitised and every second computer is used in that room.

“We were banned from having research sessions for about three months.

“Since they have resumed, there have been steady numbers of researchers each Wednesday and Saturday.

“The COVID rules means we cannot share food and so we cannot hold our usual Christmas party this month.

“The SEFHG does not hold meetings over the summer holiday months of January and December.”

Mr Boyle said the SEFHG committee has continued to meet regularly.

He said secretary Les Bebbington has stepped down from the secretary’s role to become SEFHG treasurer. “This was held by Betty Dunn who died last year. “Our new SEFHG secretary is Virginia Pawsey.

“We have continued with our working bees on the older graves at the Millicent Cemetery on the first Sunday of each month.

“Tony Manhood is among the volunteers and his welding skills have been used to restore the iron rails at old graves.

“The SEFHG has also been restoring the graves of two pioneers at Gran Gran near Mount Burr.

“This project should be completed by Christmas.”

Mr Boyle said a key aspect of his group was to assist with family research.

“We recently welcomed four visitors who are all descendants of the pioneering Mayell family.

“We showed them the original Mayell homestead at Rocky Camp and the Mayell horse-drawn wagon at the Millicent Natural Trust Museum.

“There was also a trip to the Millicent cemetery.”