Trove Tuesday - Racing in the Blood?

On this First Tuesday in November when many Australians are attaching their fascinators and joining friends at Melbourne Cup events on the track or elsewhere I am sitting at home remembering that horse racing is in my blood. Obviously the horseracing genes of my Great-Great Grandfather, Denis Tierney did not pass down to me.

I discovered Denis's involvement in racing in Dungog via Trove. I have selected just ten clips that detail Denis' involvement between 1848 and 1874.

It was said in an obituary "In days gone by it might almost be said that horse racing, at least, was impossible without Tierney's guidance and assis-tance. Even to the last he was no mean judge of horseflesh. It was only a couple of years ago that, as he and I were standing together on the Dun-
gog course, he tipped the first and se-cond horses as they cantered by, and all have heard him tell how he did the same thing at Randwick on a particular occasion."
1894 'The Late Mr. D. Tierney.', Dungog Chronicle : Durham and Gloucester Advertiser (NSW : 1894 - 1954), 23 February, p. 2. , viewed 01 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134308176

August 1848

1848 'Classified Advertising', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 16 August, p. 3. , viewed 01 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article710014

July 1849

1849 'FIRST DAY.', Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer (NSW : 1845 - 1860), 14 July, p. 2. , viewed 01 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59769190

June 1850

1850 'THE TURF. DUNGOG RACES.', Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer (NSW : 1845 - 1860), 29 June, p. 1. , viewed 01 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59770852

January 1851

1851 'Dungog New Year's Races.', Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer (NSW : 1845 - 1860), 11 January, p. 2. , viewed 01 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59771840

August  1853

1853 'MANGROVE CREEK RACES.', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 13 August, p. 2. , viewed 01 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article671195

1853 'Hunter River District News.', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 10 August, p. 2. , viewed 01 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article671087

1853 'THE INTERIOR. DUNGOG RACES.', Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), 11 August, p. 2. , viewed 01 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61326937

September 1855

1855 'Classified Advertising', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 1 September, p. 2. (Supplement to the Maitland Mercury), viewed 01 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article705596

September 1865

1865 'DUNGOG RACES.', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 12 September, p. 3. , viewed 01 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18703780

August 1874

1864 'DUNGOG RACES.', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 27 August, p. 2. , viewed 01 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18713161

First on Librarything

I had been dragging the chain with my purchase of  Getting the Most from Family Historian 6 by Simon Orde but I finally succumbed and ordered it from Gould Genealogy 11 days ago. For the past week I have been watching out for the Australia Post man who finally delivered the book half an hour ago.

I love Family Historian and for the most part find it intuitive but sometimes I need help. Although Family has excellent online support I sometimes like to follow instructions from a book (call me old-fashioned). I'll read this book over the next few days and let you know what I think of it.

I was surprised, when I entered the details into my Librarything account, to find that I was the first person to add the book to that database.

SAG at Hawkesbury

I had a pleasant time at the Society of Australian Genealogists event in the Hawkesbury last Saturday.

Michelle Nichols

When I arrived early at Windsor Library Danielle Lautrec, Education Officer from SAG, was in attendance and ready with her clipboard to welcome attendees. When the Library opened at 9am we all trooped in to be welcomed by Michelle Nichols, Hawkesbury Local Studies Librarian and font of local knowledge. Our group of a dozen plus (I didn't count) settled into one of the library's comfortable meeting rooms.

Danielle introduced herself and asked us to share our Hawkesbury connections. I think only one attendee didn't have Hawkesbury connections. After this round table Michelle entertained us with her  talk on early history of the Hawkesbury which gave us lots of information to add colour to names and dates in our family trees. Although I had heard this talk before I still learnt lots as Michelle tailors her talks to each audience she addresses.

Following the history Michelle discussed the resources in the local studies collection at Windsor. It is a well-stocked collection with many genealogy resources for people researching in New South Wales and beyond. After this intro we adjourned to the local history area to do some personal research. The local history section at Windsor is in a bright and comfortable corner of the library and is a pleasant environment in which to work.

The Local Studies Area at Hawkesbury Library, Windsor

At 12:30pm some of the group adjourned to the historic Macquarie Arms Hotel for sustenance and a chat. After we had refuelled Danielle took us on a visit to the adjacent Hawkesbury Regional Museum. Both the Hawkesbury Library and Museum are housed in spacious, modern buildings. The Council is to be commended on its support of local heritage and history.

This was a fab format for a SAG event. Thanks to Danielle for looking after the group and Michelle for the presentations and guidance.

I hope SAG organises more regional visits in the future. I would love to do a similar visit to Camden where my Curry ancestors were early inhabitants.

Win a Rootstech Registration

All of the Official Ambassadors for the Rootstech 2017 Conference have been given a Free Rootstech Pass to give away to one of their readers/followers/groupies. If they all Ambassadors participate there will be a lot of free passes on offer up to the cutoff  on November 30.

I must put my thinking cap on and devise a game of skill or chance so that I can also give my prize away. In the meantime I am noticing that several of my Genimates have posted details of thier competitions.

Ruby Baird has put details of her giveaway on her Instagram Account : her Instagram handle is @genealogyrambler. Her blog can be found here:  genealogyrambler.blogspot.com

Randy Seaver has his on his blog at http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/10/win-free-rootstech-2017-february-8-11.html

Lara Diamond has also shared details of her giveaway on her blog here: https://larasgenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/rootstech-free-admission-contest.html

As I see more competitions appear I will try to share them on social media.