BDGS Past President Joan Hunt FRHSV was presented with an Award of Merit by His Excellency the Honorable Alex Chernov AC QC Governor of Victoria and Patron of RHSV at a ceremony held on the 24th of February 2015 at the Royal Historical Society in Melbourne. The Federation of Australian Historical Societies at its General Meeting in 2014 determined that Joan was an outstanding candidate for this award.
The other recipient was Professor Geoffrey Blainey AC FRHSV - illustrious company indeed. Joan served for two terms as President of the Ballarat & District Genealogical Society, providing excellent leadership for almost a decade. She is very well regarded by our members for her continuing interest and support for the Society's initiatives.
The citation for the Award of Merit mentions Joan's extraordinary contribution to the community history movement in Australian over a period of more than 40 years. In regional Victoria her influence has been crucial to the setting up and training of local historical societies in optimum administrative practices and the care of their collections. This entailed a great deal of time and travel - always cheerfully and generously given. We are thrilled for Joan and share her delight at this celebration.