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Family head made a short journey, inside a month (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

matriarch

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'a short journey inside a month' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'family head' is the wordplay.
'family' becomes 'matri' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'head' becomes 'arch' (synonyms).
'matri'+'arch'='MATRIARCH'

'made' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for matriarch that I've seen before include "venerable old lady" , "Very old or venerable woman" , "Female head of a family or tribe" , "Woman dominant" , "Powerful older woman" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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