Ancestor Approved Award

A nice surprise I received over the weekend in a comment on my blog was that I had been nominated for the Ancestor Approved Award by Pauleen from Family history across the seas.
This award has been doing the rounds since March, 2010 and has finally made its way to Australia.

Thanks, Pauleen, for the nomination and thanks also for nominating some of my favourite blogs from dowununder. I will copy her list here in case some of my readers would like to take a look at some of the fab writing that is produced in Australia.

• Shelley, Twigs of Yore at  http://twigsofyore.blogspot.com/
• Geniaus http://geniaus.blogspot.com/
• Judy Webster, Queensland Genealogy at http://qld-genealogy.blogspot.com/
• My Family History Research at http://baker1865.wordpress.com/
• Carole’s Canvas: http://caroleriley.id.au/
• Family History Research at http://famresearch.wordpress.com/

The Award was created by Leslie Ann Ballou At Ancestors Live Here and asks two things of those who receive it:
Recipients should:

• Write 10 surprising, humbling, or enlightening aspects of their research;
• Pass the Award on to 10 other researchers whose family history blogs are doing their ancestors proud.

Having to select just 10 surprising aspects of my research is a challenge as, on a daily basis, I am surprised, humbled or enllightened. I have a shonky memory so the ten things I select today would probably be different from ten I would chhose tomorrow. Here goes:

1. I am regularly suprised by the feedback I get from my family website and the  generosity of strangers who share details of their family lines that enlighten me.

2. I have been enlightened by the snippets of information I have found on Trove relating to members of my family. Since reading about my ancestor, Dennis Tierney, in newspaper articles I know more about him. He enjoyed a wager anad a tipple but was an outstanding Catholic citizen who took an active interest in his hometown, Dungog. He was a man of many talents who built The School of Arts, a number of local schools and was an undertaker in the town.

3.  I have been enlightened when hearing talks by Dr Perry McIntyre who has an incerdible depth of knowledge about the Irish in Australia in the 19th century.

4.  I was surprised to discover that James Ball had been married twice when we found his grave in Rochdale, Lancs.

5. I was humbled when I visited a family home in Ballyfoyle, Kilkenny, Ireland. The two elderly distant cousins in residence gave us a grand welcome and wanted to crack open their best Irish whisky.  Sitting in the humble home in which Patrick and Katherine Kealy raised their nine children was a humbling experience.

6. I was excited as I watched my husband and his cousin unwrap a clock made by their ancestor in Scotland over 150 years ago. It had taken us years to find a clock and it was wonderful welcoming it to Australia and into the hands of a descendant of the clockmaker.

7. I have been an inactive member of The Society of Australian Genealogists who has started to attend  meetings and talks. I am humbled by the efforts of the many volunteers who support this organization in so many ways.

8.  I am surprised to find that the most popular post on my blog has been Australian Vital Records on Ancestry.

9. I am humbled to be one of a stellar lineup of Official Bloggers for the Rootstech Conference.


10. Reading an interview of my ancestor, Patrick Curry, conducted by Caroline Chisholm sent shivers down my spine. It was surprising, humbling and enlightening to see the words spoken by my ancestor transcribed.

On whom shall I bestow my nominations? I am tempted to second some of Pauleen's nominations but will refrain.  I am nominating some Aussie blogs and some from across the seas that I enjoy or wish to encourage.

1. Genealogy in New South Wales - Carole Riley.
2. The Wandering Genealogist - John Gasson
3. Michelle's Heritage
4. TMG Sydney
5. Winging it - Alex in New Zealand
6. Wishful Linking Family History Blog - Maria Northcote
7. Moonee Valley Family and Local History Blog
8. Orange Family History Group
9. Yarra Plenty Genealogy
10. Fanning Family History and Research - Kathleen Fanning