Volunteering is nothing new to 64-year-old Pam Jennings.
Today, she works in the Heritage Centre, part of Geelong Library’s new, distinctive dome-shaped complex. She started her voluntary work at Geelong Library 35 years ago, albeit in far more humble surrounds.
It all stems back to her passion for history, which sparked when she was introduced to the idea of researching a family history. “I got intrigued and went to a meeting of the Geelong Family History Group,” she said. “I had young children at the time, but offered to do some indexing of material, which I did sitting at the typewriter.
“After returning to Geelong from South Australia where we’d moved for 12 months, I came into the heritage centre and made enquiries about family history again. They gave me some indexing and sorting to do at home.”
Pam said she was “dobbed in” to work on the Cemeteries Trust’s data base, and was there for 18 years, still taking heritage centre material home to index and sort.
She’s put together a number of books for historical societies, which are sold as fundraisers, and has indexed vast numbers of collections – all for the love of it.
After finishing employment, Pam returned to volunteering at the heritage centre one day a week, and is still busily indexing and sorting material of all descriptions.
“I love history. It’s important to know where you fit in after all the hard work done by past generations. “I also hate housework!” Pam doesn’t see indexing material as tedious.
“I’m always finding out things about my family, and that’s exciting. By indexing we’re making it more accessible for other people so they can share the excitement.
“We’re different from a public records office in that they only have government documents, but we have much more than that. People, clubs, businesses – they should never throw out their old records; they should bring them here.”
Pam has witnessed a big increase in numbers through the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre since moving into the new building five months ago. “We’ve had 30,000 visitors through.
“I remember years back at the heritage centre when we’d think three visitors a week was busy. At the old centre, we might have 20 or 30 a day – now look at it.
“Many people didn’t even know a heritage centre existed before this opened.”
Researching, sorting and indexing never stops. And Pam doesn’t intend to stop anytime soon either. “Hell no. It’s great fun, I enjoy the company of others and seeing things getting done that benefit people.”
