The 2016 Yvonne Jenkins Memorial Award Essay winner Jan Saundercock chose to recall her grand-mother whose husband died in 1927. 

“My grandmother was widowed at 33 and the mother of six children between the ages of 18 months and 12 years, I have always been inspired by the challenges she faced in keeping her family together” Ms Saundercock commented after receiving her award.

The opportunity to write about a favourite grandparent, their story and perhaps the reason why they are a ‘favourite’ was the decision behind the topic chosen for the 2016 Yvonne Jenkins Memorial Award Essay.

The Lithgow and District Family History Society Inc runs this annual award as a tribute to its first president, Yvonne Jenkins, who was a prolific author and family historian.

Yvonne illustrated many of her books with pencil sketches of the various buildings and houses of the families whose stories she researched and of whom she wrote.

Yvonne encouraged members to realise that even a short essay on an individual was an important part of research, as it shared the information with other family members as well as a wider audience when published.

Conducted annually, the essay is limited to 1,000 words and may be accompanied by photos. 

Ms Saundercock’s winner’s prize is free membership of the Lithgow and District Family History Society Inc for one year and her entry published in the Society’s journal which is distributed to members and over 150 other family history societies across Australia.

Prior to the announcement of the award those who attended the presentation were enthralled with the talk given by industrial historian, Vaughan Bryers, on the heroes and villains associated with the 70 year history of the Zig Zag Brewery.

Mr Bryers is currently writing a book on the history of what was established as the Great Western Zig Zag Brewery in 1888.

As a tribute to Yvonne Jenkins, and her interest in family history, Mr Bryers’ talk focussed on the people who were involved in the various stages of its history, and even touched on the current owners and their plans for the future of the Zig Zag Brewery.