Biarri prepares for appraisal day

Stawell Biarri Group for Genealogy will present its annual Antiques and Appraisal Day at Stawell Library on Saturday.

The event will be from 10am to 3pm.

The group has hosted the event, led by auctioneer Bruce Lowenthal who provides his time and knowledge free of charge, for about 20 years.

The day is open for people to observe and-or bring along items for Mr Lowenthal to cast an expert eye over, talk about and appraise.

Mr Lowenthal will give a valuation estimate and supply a written valuation, which might be used for insurance purposes.

The cost of appraisal is $5 an item or $10 for three items.

The Antiques and Appraisal Day is one of few fundraisers the self-funded Biarri group runs to meet costs to supply the community with genealogy services.

The group offers the community help to access family history information in a variety of ways.

It has records of Stawell district churches, hospitals, schools and cemeteries.

Research officers are available for consultation on Wednesdays from 2pm to 4pm and Saturdays from 10am to noon.

People can contact the group via email stawellgeny@ gmail.com, on Facebook or website www.stawellfamily history.com.

The group’s room at the library has an extensive range of reference books on Stawell and district history, which are available for use in open hours.

Annual group membership is $25 a single or $35 for a family.

Membership entitles the use of research computers to access births, deaths and marriages and other information.

Volunteers are happy to help anyone starting out on family history and guide him or her with online research.