18th September, 2025.
17:02): I thank the Picton and District Historical and Family History Society for inviting me to chair its annual general meeting. I truly valued the opportunity to catch up with so many familiar faces and sit down to listen and learn about the issues that matter most to them and the priorities they would like to see addressed. The society does incredibly important work not only for today, but also for generations of Wollondilly families to come. It is a well-organised group that does incredible volunteer work, from preserving local family histories, buildings and State heritage to maintaining archives of births, deaths and marriages, photos and documents. Members' efforts safeguard the stories that shape our community. Their dedication to deep-dive research, scanning and preserving historical records, as well as their advocacy with Trove, the State Library and the National Library ensure that missing pieces of our history are not lost but recorded and shared. Their commitment to keeping our local heritage alive is a gift to the whole district, and I thank the society for its tireless work in protecting the legacy of Wollondilly.