The Townsend Trophy is a competition held every two years in memory of Gwen Townsend, who was one of the first members of our society. Its aim is to encourage members to shape their family history research, with a structured outcome.
The Townsend Trophy used to be presented to the winner to hold until the next competition. This meant that very few people got to actually see it. From 2005 it will be displayed in the Library.
Winner 2009: Heather Lauritzen
Winner 2007: Heather Lauritzen
Winner 2005: Wendy Cooksey
Winner 2003: Beverley Bragge
Winner 2001: Glynn Brown
Winner 2000: Dawn Williams
Winner 1999: Heather Lauritzen
Winner 1998: Bonnie Cooper
Winner 1997: Bonnie Cooper
Winner 1996: Wendy Cooksey
Rules for entry to the Townsend Trophy:
- Entrant must be a financial member of the WFHS Inc.
- Entrants may enter subsequent years featuring a different person.
- Entries to be submitted by the 30 April.
Each entry must include:
- A story of between 2000 and 2500 words. Examples of the subjects the entrant may wish to include could be an occupation; tragedy/happy event; a migration; life story; maps, dates and events.
- A 4 generation chart indicating the person/s featured.
- An explanation showing the entrant’s relationship to the person/s featured (may be in chart form or written).
- Copies of written proof from the entrant’s research to show how connections were made.
Examples of proof:
Letter Certificate or transcription
Diary entry
Newspaper article
Bible entry
- A list of proofs.
- A title page including: Title of story, Entrant’s name, Year of entry. A maximum of 3 photos/pictures may be used to enhance the entry (these do not have to be people. Can, for example be of a church/building/ship).
The preferred order in which to put together the entry is:
Title page.
Acknowledgements (if needed).
Chart.
Entrant’s relationship explanation.
Story.
List of proof documents.
Copies of proof documents.
Please note, index, footnotes or table of contents are not required, but may be included.
