George Spooner has been awarded life membership of the Busselton Family History Society in recognition of his tireless efforts for the association.
Mr Spooner joined the society in 2001 and has served on the committee for 16 years.
In his time, he has spent six years as vice president and four years as president.
Mr Spooner told the Mail he was inspired to join the group after they helped him explore his family history.
“I’d been overseas visiting my family in England and my sister gifted me our family tree,” he said.
“I wanted to know more and I was walking by their former location on Queen Street, I popped in and the society found me information on the spot.
“I just had this curiosity after having this completed tree presented to me, and I wondered about my mother’s side – it just developed from there as a hobby.”
The society provides resources and materials to enable people to research their genealogy.
Mr Spooner said he was shocked and honoured to be bestowed with life membership at the Annual General Meeting.
In addition to Mr Spooner’s award, Daphne Holgate and Merle Fellows were given certificates of appreciation for their long-term support of the society.