101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Seniors Opal Card

Sorry folks this only applies to New South Welshmen and folk from the ACT over a certain age - a very exclusive group.

If you have a Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal Card you can tap into public transport services across Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter, Illawarra and Southern Highlands capped at $2.50* a day, no matter how much you travel.

The website tells us "With Opal you can travel on the following services: All Sydney Trains, All NSW TrainLink Intercity services, All buses in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter and Illawarra, All Sydney Ferries and the Stockton Ferry in Newcastle and Light rail. 

* Excluding Sydney Airport Station access fee "

Where do you get it? Apply here: https://www.opal.com.au/en/about-opal/opal_for_senior_pensioners/

All other visitors to Sydney will also need an Opal Card for use on public transport. Select the one that's best for you here: https://www.opal.com.au/

101 Reasons to Attend #congress_2018 - Bernhardt

Bernhard Doppelganger, the Mascot for Congress, is an interesting but elusive chap who has featured in a few Congress videos.

I was lucky to meet Bernhard in person when he visited Rootstech earlier this year. You can see Bernhard in the video below.



If you keep your eyes peeled at Congress you may also meet Bernhard.

The Ancestral Places Geneameme

Thanks to my genimate, Alona, for coming up with the The Ancestral Places Geneameme Challenge.

I'm late to the party but I've had a ball. It was so much fun that I might prepare one for Mr Geniaus'ancestors too.

I have enjoyed this exercise immensely as it has forced me to focus on my direct ancestors instead of engaging in Tangential Genealogy. It has made me realise that while it's a good idea to search laterally and apply the FAN Principle it is vitally important to fully research and document the lives of our direct ancestors. It's a while since I have concentrated on these lads and lasses.

Here comes a resolution - I am going to spend dedicated time over the next few months (in between travelling) looking at the records of each of my direct ancestors and adding to their stories.

Sometimes we need to have a focus - thanks again Alona for forcing me to focus.

A
Aberdeen, Scotland (Duncan)

B
Ballyfoyle, Tipperary, Ireland (Bowe, Kealy)
Bathurst, NSW, Australia (Hayward, Pusell, Tucker, Westbrook)
Brighton-le-sands, NSW, Australia (Curry)
Broadmeadow, Victoria, Australia (Duncan)
Burraga, NSW, Australia (Pusell, Tucker)
Burragorang, NSW, Australia (Curry)
Byrock, NSW, Australia (Duncan, Magick)

C 
Camden, NSW, Australia (Curry)
Canowindra, NSW Australia (Curry, Tierney)
Carcoar, NSW, Australia (Aspinall, Molloy)
Carrawa, NSW, Australia (Aspinall)
Cawdor, NSW, Australia (Curry)
Clare, Ireland (Moore)
Cobar, NSW, Australia (Duncan, Magick, Pusell)
Cobbity, NSW, Australia (Curry, Tucker)
Cobbora, NSW, Australia (Hayward, Magick)
Concord, NSW, Australia (Molloy)
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia (Hayward, Sergeant)
Cowpastures, NSW, Australia (Curry)
Cowra, NSW, Australia (Curry)

D
Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia (Curry)Datchet, Buckinghamshire, England (Eyers, Tucker)
Denison Town, NSW, Australia (Magick)
Diamond Valley, NSW, Australia (Homer)
Down, Ireland (Maxwell)
Dungog, NSW, Australia (Kealy, Tierney)
Dunns Plains, NSW, Australia (Pusell)

E
Enniskillen, Fermanagh, Ireland (Cregan/Criggan)

G
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland (Maxwell)
Glen Logan,, NSW, Australia (Curry)

H
Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia (Duncan)
Holborn, London, England (Fitchett)

I
Ireland (Gleeson, Harrington, McKeon, Wade)

K
Kensington, NSW, Australia (Curry, Duncan)
Kilbeggan, Westmeath, Ireland (Ryan)
Kildery, Kilkenny, Ireland (Kealy)
Kilkenny, Ireland (Bowe, Byrne, Connolly)
Kirkconnell, NSW, Australia (Pusell)

L
Liverpool, Lancashire, England (Pusell/Pusill)
Liverpool, NSW, Australia (Hayward)
London, England (Phipps, Westbrook)
Long Swamp, NSW, Australia (Aspinall)
Longbottom,NSW,Australia (Molloy)

M 
Maitland, NSW, Australia (Kealy)
Malabar, NSW, Australia, (Curry)
Mandurama, NSW, Australia (Molloy)
Marylebone, London, England (Phipps)
Meath, Ireland (Molloy)
Mooney Ponds, Victoria, Australia (Duncan)
Mountain Run, NSW, Australia (Aspinall)

N 
Narromine, NSW, Australia (Duncan)

O
Oxfordshire, England (Hayward)

P
Parramatta, NSW, Australia (Moore)
Penrith, NSW, Australia (Tucker)
Potts Point, NSW, Australia (curry)

R
Randwick, NSW, Australia, (Curry)
Richmond, NSW, Australia (Magick, Phipps, Westbrook)
Rockley, NSW, Australia (Homer)
Roscrea, Tipperary, Ireland (Tierney)

S 
Shoreditch, London, England (Harris, Phipps)
South Creek, NSW, Australia (Tucker)
Southwark, Surrey, England (Phipps)
Sussex, England (Homer)
Sydney, NSW, Australia (Molloy, Westbrook)

T
Templemore, Tipperary, Ireland (D'Arcy, Tierney)
Thompsons Creek, NSW, Australia (Pusell)
Tipperary, Ireland (Wade)
Trunkey, NSW, Australia (Pusell)

V
Victoria, Australia (Connolly, Molloy, Ryan)

W
Wahroonga, NSW, Australia (Curry)
Warrington, Lancashire, England (Pusell, Rothwell)
Wigan, Lancashire, England (Aspinal)
Williams River, NSW, Australia (Tierney)
Windsor, NSW, Australia (Phipps,Westbrook)
Wongajong, NSW, Australia (Curry)

Four Aussie Ambassadors for Rootstech 2017

There may be more announced but at the moment three of my geneablogging mates and myself have received invitations to be Ambassadors at Rootstech 2018. 

I am thrilled to be sharing the honour with Caitlin Gow from Brisbane, Jenny Joyce from Sydney and Sharn White from Sydney. We will be working in the Media Hub at Rootstech (or as I saw it described today The Bloggers' Moshpit) to send you updates on the activities from the conference in Salt Lake City. It was particularly pleasing to hear that Caitlin, a young genie who represents the future of our hobby/passion/obsession, is joining the ranks of the Ambassadors. 

STOP PRESS: 26/8/2017 -I have just heard that Jennie Fairs will be a remote Ambassador. Australia is well represented.

We will also have the opportunity to interview some of the genies at Rootstech in the video studio. You can see some of my previous interviews here on my Youtube Channel. 

Each year I try to organise a casual dinner for those international visitors from the British Commonwealth prior to the Conference. I already have quite a view starters for this event which I propose to hold on the Monday of Rootstech week. Socialising is such an important part of  Rootstech. In this post from 2016 my Canadian genimate, Ruth Blair, says  "There is nothing like sitting down and having a natter about our favourite topic – FAMILY HISTORY! " Rootstech provides many such opportunities.

While you can watch some Rootstech sessions via their livestreaming program there is nothing like attending in person. How about giving yourself a treat and joining the Aussie contingent at Rootstech in Salt Lake City from February 28 to March 3, 2018.

Disclaimer: As a Rootstech Ambassador I receive complimentary admission to the event, invitations to some exra events and dinners and a free registration to give to one of my readers. I bear the cost of my return airfares from Australia and pay for my accommodation and meals.