Busy as but just have to mention...

... the talk I attended at The Hawkesbury Family History Group yesterday.

Vicki Eldridge gave an excellent talk on the resources available to research Schools & Teachers in NSW. It was a practical presentation that offered lots of hints, resources and guidance for researchers.

If you get a chance to hear this talk grab it.

Head out to Hawkesbury

It isn't a bad drive outside of peak hour to Hawkesbury Library at Windsor although it's on the outer fringe of Sydney. Once one arrives at the library free parking can be found under the building.

I venture out there on the second Wednesday of the month to attend the meetings of the Hawkesbury Family History Group. This group is a support and information group for family historians co-ordinated by the Hawkesbury City Library Service. Anyone interested is invited to attend the meetings.

I was just putting the dates for the remainder of the year's meetings in my calendar when, looking at the list of guest speakers, I realised what are worthy crop they are.  If you would like to hear Carol Liston on "Accessing Land Titles Records", Vicki Eldridge on "Teacher and School History Records" or Angela Phippen on "Wises Post Office Directories" consider joining me at the Hawkesbury meetings; details can be found here.

In addition to the regular meetings the library hosts Family History Classes with Michelle Nichols, Local Studies Librarian. Some of these are free and some are $10. Bookings for these are essential; details can be found here on the library site.

I'm heading for Windsor on Wednesday this week to hear Julie and John Sword speak about "Family: the first century" history of the Sword family. For me it's a pleasant 30 minute cross-country drive through Sydney's beautiful semi-rural areas.

FindMyPast at Hornsby

Just in this morning is an email from Neil Chippendale,Local Studies Coordinator, at Hornsby Library giving details of the next Family History Talk scheduled at the Library, 22-44 George Street, Hornsby.

On Thursday 9th June at 6:30 pm, 2011 Vicki Eldridge, Vice-President of SAG and professional family historian, will give a talk  "FindMyPast in Oz".

findmypast.com.au is the first site outside the UK for this well known pay-to-use family history resource provider and an enormous boon for researchers of Australasian families. 50 million records for Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands and Papua New Guinea" and growing every month. Vicki Eldridge,  will look at the range of records currently available, most of which are unique to this website; discuss how they can help you further your research and provide some tips to help you get the most from your searches.

These talks at Hornsby that are usually booked out in advance are great value at only $5 (including a cuppa).If you see me there please say g'day.

For bookings please phone 9847 6614. For further information phone 9847 6807

Details of activities and events at the Library can be found on the Activities & Events webpage