Grahame Walton is a third-generation descendant of James and Helena Selwood. He has been researching and building his family tree records, on and off, for more than 25 years. He has assisted others as a volunteer at the local Family History Centre in Palmerston North, and in designing and presenting Legacy family tree software workshop courses at his local SeniorNet club.
In January 2001 he chaired the Selwood Family Reunion held in Invercargill which commemorated the 125th anniversary of the arrival of James and Helena Selwood in New Zealand. This was a great event with over 80 Selwood descendants attending. The field trip visited many of the Southland and Central Otago locations where the Selwoods lived and raised their family of 11 children (see the section on the 2001 Reunion for more details).
The year 2026 will be the 150th anniversary since the arrival of James and Helena Selwood in New Zealand. Just maybe this occasion should also be celebrated? That would be up to some keen descendants to organise!
Grahame originally planned to bring out a post-2001 reunion publication, but as time passed, and as internet technology developed, it became apparent that the web was a more dynamic and interactive forum to communicate the James and Helena story, in preference to a hard-bound publication.
In a website such as this there is an opportunity to add new information, pass comments, provide feedback, and to modify or correct existing material. Your comments/feedback is very much welcomed through the Contact form.