Distraction Time

The nerves kick in whenever I have a presentation to prepare/update and I go into avoidance mode which sees me doing all sorts of important tasks to delay what I should be doing. This post shares what I should be doing.

I am preparing a presentation on Blogs (not just geneablogs) for the Ku-ring-gai Seniors' Festival. It is a rerun of the presentation I gave in 2014 but, because there is a different slant on the topic and because I want to use current examples, I must do quite a bit of updating. In case there are some attendees who have heard me before I need to change the theme of my presentation so it looks fresh and new.

I am sure that there are probably a few spaces left for this free talk so, if you are able to join me on Thursday in Gordon, NSW, I'd love to see you.

And back to Powerpoint I go.

Help Please

I must get my act together for the Ku-ring-gai 2014 Seniors' Festival as I will be presenting two workshops on the program.

Firstly on Wednesday 12 March my topic is Sharing Your Story In Small Bites: Write a Blog. Should you wish to join me in the Gordon Library Meeting Rooms for this event please contact The Ku-ring-gai Historical Society for bookings:  Phone 02 9499 4568 between 10am-2pm or email: khs@khs.org.au.

On the next Wednesday 19 March I will be talking about Free Websites for Genealogy and History. The venue for this talk will also be the Gordon Library Meeting Rooms.

Hopefully I can convince a few community members of the benefits of blogging and show them some websites that might help with their research. I am looking forward to meeting new enthusiasts at these events.

The full festival program can be downloaded from here:
 http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/Services_facilities/For/Seniors/Seniors_Festival.

Now I need your help. I have many fabulous genealogy related websites that I often highlight in my talks and I also follow some pretty special travel and niche blogs. During my talk I want to highlight not only genealogy blogs but other interesting and quirky blogs that tell stories. I have a few faves (many written by genealogists) but would appreciate suggestions.

If you were in my shoes what super story telling blogs would you share.

 

It's a bit of a lottery

Each month I host a Technology Special Interest Group at a local society. Sometimes I have a set agenda and sometimes it is a bit of a free for all.

At the December meeting I had planned to teach people how to set up a free email account but a fellow member had encouraged a dozen members who were interested in the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner to come along. I ditched my plan and spent an hour demonstrating and passing a Flip-Pal around. The fellow member then offered to put in a bulk order for Flip-Pals to Gould Genealogy (Cheaper postage if you buy in bulk). I volunteered that I would show them how to use their new scanners once they arrived and didn't think any more about it.

I didn't have a formal agenda for today's meeting I just said on a Society blog post entitled Did you get a new gadget for Christmas? "All members are invited to join us. Please be ready to share news of any new resources you have found or gadgets you have acquired."

Flip-Pal Bag

When I arrived there were three new faces and a couple I already knew. They all had something in common - they were clutching Flip-Pal bags in mint condition but none as pretty as my pink one. They had come along to learn how to use their new toys. (I don't know how many of our members actually bought Flip-Pals on that order - perhaps Alona from Gould could tell me).

So the agenda for our meeting was set. It was fantastic because the attendees really wanted to learn, it was a small group so I could give individual attention and it was on a topic that I like and know a bit about.

As the day was hot and I had to leave Mr GeniAus in charge of the three grandchildren we are minding I wasn't too enthusiastic about attending the meeting today. But after that successful, impromptu workshop I am feeling quite in the pink.

Wednesday Preservation Group

Most Wednesdays finds me at Ku-ring-ai Historical Society where I work with fellow members on a range of tasks.

This poster that is part of a current display at the Society outlines our activities.

My Big Day Out

There were three genealogy related events in my day yesterday and I traversed quite a bit of the northern part of Sydney to attend them.

https://maps.google.com/

My day started with a 9:15 departure from my home in Galston (E on map) to Hawkesbury Library (B on map) for 10:00am, then I drove for about 50 mins to my next destination, Ku-ring-gai Historical Society (C on map) after spending a few hours there I set out for Hornsby Library (D on map) where I arrived at 6:00pm. I finally reached home around 8:00pm. Google maps estimate that I drove around 98 km. and it was worth every centimeter.

So how did I amuse myself?

Siobhan and her book

At Hawkesbury Library  I attended the monthly meeting of the Hawkesbury Family History Group. The guest speaker was Dr Siobhan Lavelle whose talk was about the 1813 crossing of the Blue Mountains. The content of the talk was different from what I expected but was fascinating; I had expected to hear a straight history of the crossing by Blaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson but Siobhan put a different slant on her talk. She discussed the various celebrations that have been held to mark anniversaries of the crossing and demonstrated, with references to books, newspaper articles, pictures and other resources, the influences that society and members of the explorers' families at various periods had on shaping those celebrations. I was most impressed by Siobhan's presentation; she was a lucid and entertaining speaker with a dry and irreverent sense of humour.

I purchased and look forward to reading a copy of Siobhan's book, 1813 a tale that grew in the telling, that is available from the Royal Australian Historical Society and bookshops in the Blue Mountains.

After chatting with a few fellow group members and Michelle Nichols, the local studies librarian, I popped into my Bambino and headed for Ku-ring-gai Historical Society where I spent a pleasant few hours scanning historical photographs and adding them to the Society database. I also managed to have a chinwag with members of the Preservation Group who were beavering away at various tasks.

Because at talks I habitually sit behind tall gentlemen who block my view of slides on the screens I like to arrive early to snag  a seat near the front of lecture rooms. I arrived 30 minutes early for the talk at Hornsby Library and was able to catch up with Peter Booth, Kim and his wife from Ku-ring-gai Historical Society and Neil Chippendale the local studies librarian. Guest speaker at the Hornsby talk was one of my favourite speakers, Dr Carol Liston, whose topic was "The Links between Local and Family History". Carol was in fine form and gave a great talk.

What I found interesting in Carol's talk was that she covered some of the same themes that Joshua Taylor had addressed in his talk last Saturday particularly the importance of Place in family history research.

Thanks to  Michelle and Neil, two of my local history heroes, for organising these great Family History Month events.

World War 1 Projects

Over at Ku-ring-gai Historical Society we have an enthusiastic group that is working on a project to commemorate those from the area who served in World War 1.

It was with interest that I recently read this post from Inside History Magazine on Facebook:

I know of several other groups who are working on World War 1 projects including the Somerset and Dorset FHS in the UK (ANZACS in Weymouth). 

The site that will be developed by Inside History Magazine is a wonderful initiative that will draw together information on the many projects that are being developed to honour our ANZACs.

You can register your project at http://www.worldwaronelink.com.au/.

Trove Tuesday - Thomas William Bernard Matthews

One of the soldiers I am researching for the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society's World War 1 Project is a young lad from Turramurra, Thomas William Bernard Matthews, who lost his life near Louverville in France on April 2, 1917.

Trove is proving to be an invaluable resource for this project as we try to build up a picture of the subjects we are researching. The first mention I find of Thomas is in the Land Newspaper 291st Casualties List Killed in Action for NSW published on May 11, 1917. This tiny mention seems so out of proportion with the huge sacrifice made by this young man.

I have not been able to find a death notice for Thomas yet but I have found an In Memorium notice inserted by his family one year after his death. 

1918 'Family Notices.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 2 April, p. 6, viewed 17 June, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15766121

While the verse in this notice conveys the sentiments of Thomas' family other documents found on Trove tell us a little more about his family.

Another In Memorium notice from The Goulburn Evening Penny Post tells us that Thomas had an elder brother William Burnard who died in infancy. It is probable that Thomas William Bernard was named for this brother.

1892 'Family Notices.', Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 - 1940), 5 November, p. 4, viewed 17 June, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98477862

The death notice for his father, J T Matthews, indicates that Thomas was the son of a former taxi proprietor in the country town of Goulburn, NSW.

1929 'Family Notices.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 30 April, p. 10, viewed 17 June, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16557795

I am so grateful to Trove for providing this extra information on Thomas.

A Volunteer learns a few lessons

I spent a pleasant few hours at my historical society last week learning how to use their photo database software. As I did so I handled some amazing images of people and places from the local area.

What struck me was the huge number of images that the society holds and that are searchable through this database. I think that presently the society has around 10,000 images digitised and catalogued in this collection that is only available in the society rooms.

This set me to thinking what I might be able to find if I visited local historical societies in the areas where my ancestors lived. I tend to visit genealogy societies when I am on the road but I should include historical societies.

So what did I learn at my society last week?

* That the society has an impressive photo collection
* Skills with a new software application
* That there are photo collections not available on the web via Flickr
* That I should remember to visit historical societies when I undertake a genealogy jaunt.

Have you checked out the photo collections in relevant historical societies?

World War 1 Project

As you may know I am a member of the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society. My duties include maintaining the Society Blog and Facebook page and serving on the Society Committee. As a relatively new member I am still learning the ropes and finding ways in which I can help out. I have recently joined up with a small group of enthusiastic volunteers who are working to put together a publication commemorating the centenary of WWI.

Do you have a Ku-ring-gai WWI ancestor?

The focus at the moment is on researching soldiers whose names are listed on Ku-ring-gai memorials. We are interested in seeking families of Ku-ring-gai military and also in gathering any WWI photos or other Ku-ring-gai related memorabilia that may be available.

If you think you can assist us please contact Kathie Rieth from the WWI Project Group through KHS at 02 9499 4568 or via the Society email khs@khs.org.au.

Confused by DNA?

I have attended a few talks on DNA and genealogy here in Australia and overseas. Our own Kerry Farmer has given one of the most coherent and understandable presentations I have heard.

If you would like to have the mysteries of DNA unravelled you would be welcome at Kerry's talk at the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society this coming Saturday. For further details please visit the Society's blog post:
http://kuringgaihs.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/dna-for-genealogists.html

I hope to meet up with some of my genie pals at this event.

A Gig at My Society

Friday this week will find me talking about one of my favourite topics, Blogging, but with a twist.

I usually spruik about blogs for genealogy and family history but on Friday, at Ku-ring-gai Historical Society where I am a Committee Member, I will be looking at History blogs. There is a lot of crossover with these topics but there are also many blogs that are particularly relevant to local historians.

As I have been preparing this talk I have found some wonderful new (to me) and interesting blogs. If you would like to join the Ku-ring-gai members for this event you would be most welcome (they are a friendly mob).

Details can be found on the Society blog.

A Social Society

I am thrilled that one of the local societies to which I belong has taken the decision to enter the world of social media.

Today The Ku-ring-gai Historical Society has launched its blog, http://kuringgaihs.blogspot.com, and Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/kuringgaihs. I have been giving the Society a bit of assistance with this project and am keen to ensure that it is a successful venture for them.

Please, if you have a spare minute or two, pop over and say G'day in a comment on the blog or visit Facebook  and 'like' the Society page. I have been singing the praises of social media to my fellow members and a few messages from  genealogy and history buffs from near and far would provide a practical  example of the power of social media for genealogy and history societies.

I congratulate Ann Barry, President of the Society, and her committee on this initiative.

Congratulations Jenny Joyce

I just read in The Ku-ring-gai Historical Society newsletter that Jenny Joyce of the Jenny's Genealogy Blog and a stalwart of the Family History Group of that Society was recognised with a GEMS Award by Ku-ring-gai Council for her work in the local community.

Whenever I attend a meeting of the Society Jenny is buzzing around helping set up rooms and making sure that all the technology is ready to serve the members; she also mentors many of the members who are no so au fait with technology. Jenny does a great job. She is representative of many society members who toil quietly and tirelessly for the benefit of others.

That's Jenny in the bright pink top in the front row of this photo. If you see her at Congress in Adelaide next week, tap her on the shoulder and congratulate her on a job well done.

http://hornsby-advocate.whereilive.com.au/photos/gallery/gems-awrds-ku-ring-gai-council/ 

An Outstanding Performance at Ku-ring-gai

Wendy Blaxland's background in teaching, drama, and the theatre was obvious when she addressed the monthly meeting of the Kur-ing-gai Historical Society Family History Group yesterday. A natural speaker, Wendy had those gathered enthralled as she told the stories of her famous Blaxland ancestors and some 20th century family members.

Wendy signing one of her children's books

Wendy is a direct descendant of Gregory Blaxland who led the first crossing of the Blue Mountains. She related the history of the two Blaxland Brothers, John and Gregory,  early free settlers in New South Wales, who became entrepreneurs and built  beautiful homes on either side of  the Parramatta River. John's house that became the original Newington College has now been restored and is part of the Silverwater Gaol while Gregory's more modest home Brush Farm has been restored by Ryde Council who have owned it since 1990.

Audrey Blaxland, Wendy's mother, was an actress and drama teacher who began her acting career at the Independent Theatre in the 1940s where she met Wendy's father. Wendy shared with us stories of Audrey's involvement with the Pymble Players and the Marian Street Theatre where Audrey spent 12 years as the Principal of the Marian Street Theatre School. Wendy who has been involved in the theatre since she was five years old is still deeply involved with the Marian Street Theatre for Young People as a producer, writer and board member.

Bohemian artist, Elizabeth Blaxland, an artist, sculptor and teacher at the East Sydney Technical College was the other 20th-century subject discussed. When Wendy first met her aunt, Elizabeth, who was in her 90s they immediately developed a strong bond. A number of Elizabeth's works are in the Manly Art Gallery.

I only wish that some of the genealogy presenters whose talks I have endured heard could have seen Wendy's presentation. It was an examplar that we could all follow. Wendy spoke naturally from the heart without notes, she used elements of humour and surprise choosing words that tugged at our emotions. She drew us into her world through voice and eye contact supported by the use of artefacts.

If you ever get a chance to hear Wendy speak grab it.

Thanks to Jo Harris, Leader of The Family History Group at Ku-ring-gai for organising such a super afternoon.

Society Membership Bonus

As I was heading out the drive this afternoon the postie handed me the mail which included a large A4 size parcel that looked like a magazine.  I was disappointed that it wasn't the Inside History mag that I was expecting. On ripping off the wrapping I found a more traditional looking publication of 180 pages.

When I joined the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society I vaguely remember reading somewhere that they published a journal. What arrived today was The Historian, Volume 40 Number 1, of the official journal of the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society; it is certainly a handsome publication. I am most impressed that a copy of this publication is included in the $30 annual membership fee.

The 28 articles in the publication all appear to have a connection with the Municipality of Ku-ring gai, the area the society serves. I am one of a number of out of area members of the Society that I joined because of its good program, committed members and excellent research facilities. The content of the journal is not just of interest to those from the area but to anyone with an interest in Australian history or architecture. The articles include histories of some of the beautiful old homes from the area such as Moppity, Dent House and  Biorah; members including Janette Smith and Corona Adams have shared reminiscences and there are biographical pieces on prominent citizens and architects. All of these articles are enhanced by old photographs, drawings, maps and building plans.

It is a little disappointing to realise that such a high quality publication might have a fairly limited audience. I don't know about copyright restrictions on the articles in this journal but it would be lovely to see them reach a wider audience such as that of  the Inside History Magazine that I am waiting for. The journal would be a valuable resource in large or neighbouring library's collections.

Thanks to Ann Barry, President of the Society, and the journal publication group for the wonderful surprise that landed in my mailbox today. It will provide me with many hours of interesting reading.

Feeling Good

Last week my Genimate, Amy Coffin, wrote a post The Volunteer Perspective. She related some experiences where she had volunteered to help genealogy societies and had not heard back from those organisations. Some people are shy and it takes a lot of courage for them to volunteer. To be ignored is a slap in the face and can damage the prospective volunteer's self-concept. After a couple of knockbacks one is not likely to volunteer again.

Amy spoke about the need for organisations to embrace volunteers and wrote some challenging questions that organisations can use to evaluate their response to volunteers.

This was my response to Amy's post:

"Newly retired I am ready to volunteer. 

I have mentioned how I might be able to help to a few people in the groups I have joined, I think I have something to offer but don't want to push myself onto them.

I guess these people have to get to know me before they entrust me with jobs. I was pleased this week to be asked to write a report for a society newsletter, maybe some more jobs will come my way soon."


I have been hesitant about volunteering in the Societies I have joined so was thrilled to be asked. I thank Jo Harris, Leader of the Family History Group at the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society, for phoning and asking me to write a report for the newsletter. 


Jo had warned me that she may edit my article and that the newsletter editor might then have a go at it. I was prepared to see something that vaguely resembled my writing in print. I was chuffed when I received my newsletter this week to find that it had been published with only a minor alteration.

Being published in the newsletter is only a small thing but it made me feel ten feet tall; I'm not an outsider in the group but someone who has now made a small contribution. The Society reached out to me and I willingly accepted their invitation.

How about you reach out to members of your organisations and ask them to help? 

30+ Pages of Notes to Digest

Terry Eakin preparing for the seminar

To say that Terry Eakin was well prepared for the Irish Research Day he ran for the Family History Group at Ku-Ring-gai Historical Society yesterday would be an understatement.

Terry's Resources

I came away with a greater understanding of Counties, Parishes, Townlands and Poor Law Unions, many online databases to check and more than 30 pages of handouts that Terry had prepared for participants. I  just need some time to reflect on the information Terry shared and to put my new found knowledge into practice. Terry brought with him an array of resources in print and CD format that he is generously lending to the society for them members' to use over the next six weeks or so.

Terry, who has travelled to Ireland 21 times, has published a number of works including Research in Ireland : with particular reference to the nine counties of Ulster. Thanks, Terry, for sharing your experiences with us.

Not at all related to the day's proceedings was meeting up with a second cousin once removed. We are both descended from convict, Elizabeth Phipps and one of her men.

Around ten years ago I had been in contact by snail mail and telephone with Elva who shared a lot of her research with me. I reciprocated by dropping off a bundle in her letterbox one day but did not get to meet her. Apparently Elva had noticed in the Society's newsletter that I had joined up and was on the lookout for me. When I was waiting for the seminar to begin I noticed Elva's name badge and we struck up a conversation that continued during the breaks in proceedings. I have to say that in spite of all the learning that took place yesterday meeting cousin Elva was the highlight of my day.

Lunch by Turramurra Ladies

I am so glad that I joined this society that has a well-stocked research centre and a great program of talks and seminars and where the members are friendly and welcoming.

Thanks to Jo Harris and the team who organised this splendid event and to the ladies of the Turramurra Uniting Church who were the lunchtime caterers.

The Kettles at Ku-ring-gai

Peter and Pauline Kettle were the guest speakers at Saturday's monthly meeting of The Family History Group of the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society.

The following details were published in the September KHS newsletter.

" Peter has been a long time member of the Sydney Dead Person’s Society,  prior to the beginnings of the Ryerson
Index in October 1998.  Once the Index became established, a Committee was formed and he became Vice President of the RI with John Graham at the helm as President.  Peter took over from John Graham as coordinator of the DPS in Sydney when John moved to Queensland and meetings now
take place at Mowll Village."

"Pauline was born in North Middlesex and lived there until 1961.  She left England for Australia with Peter and family in 1968.  She and her husband have had a shared interest in genealogy for many years.  Like her husband she is a member of the Sydney DPS and is very involved with that group as well as being Secretary of the Ryerson Index."

Peter gave a lengthy talk on The Ryerson Index in the morning session of the meeting. Although most of the audience were users of the index many of us were unaware of the history of the index and the roles of the people who maintain the index. I took considerable notes from Peter's presentation that I hope to publish in a forthcoming blog post.

After repairing to the Swiss Deli for sustenance with blogger, Jenny  I returned for the meeting proper that was chaired by Family History Leader, Jo Harris. Once done with the business of the day Jo introduced Pauline Kettle who read her paper on "Workhouses of England". As there is one ancestor in my tree who died in a workhouse in Dorchester, Dorset I was interested in the content of Pauline's talk and will be looking at the internet sites she referenced in her handout. Most promising of these is The Workhouse site.

The Society has an excellent program of talks and events. While there on Saturday I registered for "Sahibs, Nabobs and Boxwallahs–Europeans in India, 1600–1947" with Sylvia Murphy, "Familysearch.org" with SAG vice-president, Vicki Eldridge  and an Irish Day with Terry Eakin. Visitors are welcomed at these events. For further details contact the Society.

KHS Family Group Meeting

Arriving at my second monthly meeting of The Family History Group at The Ku-Ring-Gai Historical Society last week I felt that I belonged as a number of the people I had previously met greeted me warmly. There was also waiting for me a name badge.

Jo Harris, Vice-President and Family History Leader, capably lead the morning's workshop in which she demonstrated the new resources on the Society's intranet. Made available for $5 was a multipage listing of the resources on the intranet, I declined to purchase this as it was only available in hard copy but I am sure that it will be a valuable resource for those who like to have paper-based records.

On these occasions I find that the incidental things I learn are most valuable. I learnt that Hyde Park Barracks has a database of every convict that spent a night there. One can phone and ask if  a particular convict is on this list. One can then request, for a fee, a copy of the database entry. I usually use Abebooks to find copies of old and out of print books to buy, Jo introduced me to Booksandcollectibles another online bookstore. During the lunchbreak I ate my peanut butter sandwiches in the company of Cecilia, whom I hadn't met previously. 

After lunch we had our formal meeting. I am sorry that I won't be around for the talk on Trove by Ann Manley on August 11th (visitors welcome - contact the Society) but I will be able to attend the Irish research day on 8th October. This active society already has a Mac users interest group and is soon to start up a German interest group.

Guest speaker for the afternoon was Gary Luke, a committee member of the Australian Jewish Historical Society, research advisor with the Australian Jewish Genealogical Society and a trustee of the Jewish sections at Rookwood cemetery. Gary spoke on Foreigners and Aliens giving details of Government records about non-British immigrant ancestors.  Although I have a boring British/Irish ancestry I found Gary's talk that was richly illustrated with images, quite fascinating. 

A couple of important takeaways were:

* Remember to look for records in the country that a town/village was in at the time of an event not the country the town/village is in now, there have been many changing borders over the past few centuries
* In NSW Change of Name records from 1868 to 1967 are in Land Titles office
soundex phonetic conversion
* The Applications to Marry in The Great Synagogue are a valuable and often overlooked resource.

Bradfield Park History

I've just been reading the latest newsletter from the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society and saw news of this new project. I am sure that Ann would be pleased to hear from anyone with memories of that institution. Details follow:

" The Society is currently working on a publication on the WWII RAAF base and subsequent Bradfield Housing
Settlement, and the adjacent Migrant Camp, at West Lindfield.

If you have any memories or memorabilia of the core period from the mid 1940s onward, please contact Ann Barry on a.barry@optusnet.com.au"Bradfield Park