GAGs - GeniAus' Gems - 5 May 2017

Congratulations to my genimates who completed the 2017 A to Z Blogging Challenge. You have helped raise the profile of Australian Geneablogging.

The big news on the geneablogging scene this week was Thomas MacEntee's announcement that he will no longer be maintaining the Geneabloggers site. There has been some lively discussion on Thomas' decision on Facebook and other social media. I see this as a commercial decision on Thomas' part. Thomas has done a great job in bringing the geneablogging community together over the past eight years but, as a professional who needs to make a living, Thomas must do what is best for him.

The Geneabloggers brand has allowed Thomas to build up a reputation and following in the geneaworld. He probably realises that, for him, devoting time to Geneabloggers will not grow his business. He is now turning his attention to other areas including DNA - an area that is growing and may provide more commercial opportunities for him. I don't think Facebook and other social media will replace geneablogging but I do feel there will be less growth in the blogging arena as people become more comfortable in using other forms of social media for communication. 

For me blogging is a convenient, dynamic platform for sharing news, opinions and stories. I'm with James Tanner on this one. 

Long live geneablogging.

Following for your enjoyment are some of the blog posts that resonated with me this week.

The 116th story in Philip's amazing Great War series.
https://shireatwar.com/2017/05/04/116-w-s-filmer/

Thanks for the reminder Shauna.
http://www.shaunahicks.com.au/trove-tuesday-why-you-should-repeat-trove-searches/

Great to see Brett returning to research.
http://aussiebornirishblood.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/40-post-delay-back-to-it-stories-stored.html

A common problem.
http://maryboroughfamilies.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/what-mess-to-sort.html

Kylie speaks out for cemeteries.
http://blog.kyliesgenes.com/2017/05/protect-our-cemeteries/

Victorian esources.
http://caseycardinialinkstoourpast.blogspot.com.au/2017/05/historic-melbourne-and-victoria-on.html

A book review from Liz aka Infolass.
https://infolass.wordpress.com/2017/05/01/book-review-see-what-i-have-done-by-sarah-schmidt/

Irish woes.
https://diaryofayounggenealogist.wordpress.com/2017/04/29/difficult-irish-ancestors/

Dudes.
https://thedustybox.wordpress.com/2017/05/05/the-dude/

Some Gedmatch tips.
http://youngandsavvygenealogists.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/10-tips-for-making-most-of-gedmatchcom.html

I almost thought I was there, thanks Debbie.
https://cruwys.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/who-do-you-think-you-are-live-2017.html

Superseded storage

The cleanup at our home,Welwel, is progressing quite nicely.

All of my genealogy files, folders, books and photos have been moved and are shelved in our new home.  Today finds me back in my old geneacave going through more stuff. I have spent the day going through my collection of portable hard drives that have capacities ranging from 80gig to 4tb. Before I toss the old bulky models I have been going through their contents to see if I have neglected to transfer any files (that I may never need) whenI have upgraded over the years. I am cleaning all files off the old drives and then Mr GeniAus will give them the hammer treatment.

On the left of the above image is one of my earlier models which stored 80gig with its power source and on the right is one of my two 4tb portable models. This portable black drive travels everywhere with me while its blue mate stays at home.

Are you following @Congress_2018

I was surprised, when I looked at Twitter today to find that there are only five people (including Alona from @GouldGenealogy https://twitter.com/GouldGenealogyand me) following Tweets from the Congress organisers.

In case you had missed it the the Twitter hashtag for Congress 2018 (The 15th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry. 9 - 12 March 2018 http://www.congress2018.org.au/ ) is #congress_2018 and the Twitter handle is @congress_2018.

If you have a Twitter account how about showing your support for Congress?

Trove Tuesday - Local Zoo

It appears that there was once a zoo very close to our new home. Since doing some investigating I have discovered that the old zoo site now houses a caravan park. Naturally I turned to Trove to learn more about this site. 

CAREY BAY MAN PLANS

TO DEVELOP ZOO

ON the waterfront at Carey

Bay, "Bimbimbie"--a place

of many birds--is being developed

into a miniature zoo by its owner,

Mr. Brown.

"Two years ago my doctor told

me that unless I gave up heavy

work I wouldn't live 12 months.

I came out here, and plan within

10 years to develop a zoo that the

district will be proud of," said

Mr. Brown.

He has many birds in modern

cages, constructed so that people

can move among them. Water sprays

keep the birds cool in hot weather.

A large duck pond enables the

public to view the swans and ducks

at close range.

Natural conditions of birds have

been studied by Mr. Brown. He is

developing his zoo along these lines,

and has had remarkable results in

breeding birds and animals which

normally do not breed in captivity.

Most of the big birds and animals

have been named after children who

frequent the zoo. There is "Joey"

the emu, "James" and "Sheila" the

kangaroos, and "Percy" the duck.

"Percy" is a popular identity. re-

ferred to as the "talking duck." He

can quack "hullo," and when re-

quested bows courteously. "Percy"

has no objection to children nursing

him.

A variety of pheasants have been

bred by Mr. Brown, who has also

been successful in breeding scrub tur-

keys. A peculiar feature about the

male scrub turkey is that, after allow-

ing the female bird to build the large

mound of earth, 5ft. high, in which

she lays the eggs he keeps her off

the mound. If the monund is dis-

turbed, he promptly scratches the

dirt and sticks back into original

positions.

One of Mr. Brown's peacocks can

display a 6ft. span of bright colours.

Authorities have said it is one of

the finest peacoks they have seen

Some of the birds and animals were

given to Mr. Brown by people who

appreciated his hobby and desire to

establish a zoo.

Snake Got Away

A friend ill the country recently

sent him a 12ft. carpet snake. but it

escaped when children left the cage

door open.

"Bimbimbie" is visited by people

from Newcastle district and travel-

lers. At holiday times nearly a hun-

dred people have been on the prop-

erty at the same time.

"I plan to build a jetty and a picnic

shelter, surrounded by lawns and

shrubs, on the 95ft. frontage to the

Lake, with the cages and animal

enclosures sheltered by trees, and sur-

rounded by gardens," said Mr. Brown.

A large aquarium, with a "harbour"

bridge across it, will be built on a

space already allocated. Material has

arrived for a monkey carge, and steps

have been taken to secure a strip

of timbered country for use as a

koala enclosure.

"Many people have offered to assist

by providing birds and animals. and

I hope to import some. If I can set

tile foundation for a zoo in this dis-

trict. and give pleasure to the people,

I will be happy," said Mr. Brown.

1946 'LAKE SANCTUARY FOR BIRDS, ANIMALS', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , 19 January, p. 5. , viewed 02 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140607009

1948 'CAREY BAY ZOO', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , 23 March, p. 4. , viewed 02 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134324732

1951 'OBITUARY', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , 20 February, p. 4. , viewed 02 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139502446

1953 'Social Calendar', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 27 May, p. 10. , viewed 02 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160488623

1953 'MONKEY BITES BOY'S FINGER', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , 25 August, p. 2. , viewed 02 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134278936

1954 'To-day's Topics', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , 20 December, p. 2. , viewed 02 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134086324

1954 'To-day's Topics', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , 16 January, p. 2. , viewed 02 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134908561