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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

SBDS Prototype 0.1

Try out the new search facility for resources at The National Library. It certainly looks attractive and appears easy to use. Patrons are encouraged to try it out and submit feedback from the site.

SBDS Prototype 0.1

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Who are these men? « SLWA Blog

Can you help The State Library of Western Australia identify these soldiers?

Who are these men? « SLWA Blog

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Australia Post - 200 Years old Today


Australia Post is celebrating 200 years of postal service in Australia.


In "The Letters of a Nation Project" Australia Post is creating an interactive gallery of letters that have shaped Australia over time.

Members of the public are invited to become part of Australia's history and submit their letters to the site.

Details of celebrations to be held this weekend (26-28 June), including a concert at Darling Harbour with David Campbell, can be found here.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Geniaus the Mum

Gone from the header of my blog is the photo of an old family home in Ballyfoyle, Kilkenny.

As we recently had a family wedding with a good photographer I now have a relatively decent photo of the the children, their spouses and Mr and Mrs Geniaus that I am now using in the Geniaus header.

The young people in the photo are the future of our family. As their Mother and Mother-in-law I feel blessed to have such a beautiful family. I can think of no more fitting image for my blog than this one.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

New Resources on Scotland's People

Scotland's People latest newsletter indicates a number of new resources available on the site:

"New 1881 census indexes and images: this now completes the set of Scottish census records 1841-1901, uniquely available on ScotlandsPeople. Please note that this new version is in addition to the current LDS version of the 1881 census (which does contain images)
Old Parish Records (OPR) Deaths & Burials indexes and images have now also been added from 1538 to 1854
Coats of Arms 1672-1907 (free to search) have been added"

A Grandparent by any Name

This post on the ABC Newcastle blog "A grandparent by any name" started me thinking of the names we, in our family, have given to grandparents.

Mr Geniaus and I are known to our grandchildren as BobBob and Gummy. Gummy is the word our first toddler grandchild started calling me and it has stuck. I love being Gummy as it is a unique name that is very special as it was coined by one of the descendants.

My mother who was Grandma Elsie to my children is happy to be called Elsie by the greatgrandchildren. I called my own grandparents Nanna D and Nanna C so when my children were born we changed to Grandma for my Mum so there would be no confusion. My great-grandmother who was long gone before my children were born was known as Granny P.

Last night we were discussing Grandparent names with friends who had Barbie and Pa Jim and Nana and Grandfather as names for their children's grandparents. I am wondering what other names genealogists have in their families for grandparents.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Historic Ebenezer Church - bicentenary in 2009

Congratulations to Australia's oldest Church at Ebenezer that will be hosting bicentenary celebrations this weekend. More details from this link.

Historic Ebenezer Church - bicentenary in 2009

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Carnival of Genealogy, 74th Edition Annual Swimsuit Edition

Swimsuits, known in Australia as swimmers, bathers, cossies, boardies and budgie smugglers, are an integral part of an Aussie wardrobe. Geniaus has about half a dozen in her wardrobe plus a collection of old cossies in various sizes for visitors who may want to take a dip in the pool when they are visiting.

Swimmers feature prominently in Geniaus' family albums. For this carnival I am posting a photo that is not so old. It's a photo of Geniaus on her annual summer holiday to Ettalong around 1955.

In early January Mum, Dad, Geniaus and a few aunts, uncles and a cousin would pack the luggage into Uncle Jack's big Vauxhall and head to Woy Woy by train then to Ettalong by bus (Uncle Jack and family travelled by road) where we hired a cottage in Booker Bay Road close to the beach. Holiday activities included fishing in a boat we hired for the duration from Anderson's Boatshed, lots of swimming and canoeing in the calm waters at Ettalong and excursions in Uncle Jack's car. We would all pile in (no seat belts required in those days) and visit the big smoke in Gosford and the surfing beaches in Terrigal and Avoca.

We would eat lots of fresh local seafood: fish caught by the men and local prawns and oysters from the local co-op. We did not eat out but shared casual meals prepared by Mum and the aunts.

As only children my cousin and I revelled in the times these holidays that allowed us to interact with our extended family.

Monday, June 15, 2009

RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] Fwd: Canberra TMG Users' Group -- June meeting

I always seem to be busy with family when the Sydney TMG User Group meets at The Society of Australian Genealogists as it will on Saturday.

I was excited to note that the Canberra group is holding a meeting when I am there next week but, alas, I have a dinner engagement that evening and won't be able to join them. Best wishes for a productive meeting. Details can be found from the link below.

RootsWeb: TMG-L [TMG] Fwd: Canberra TMG Users' Group -- June meeting

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Seminars 2009

Details of free seminars at Queensland Archives in Brisbane.

Seminars 2009

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Sunday, June 14, 2009

I grabbed "Geniaus"

At precisely 2:01 pm (AEST) yesterday, a very convenient time for people downunder, I logged onto Facebook to grab a vanity URL.

I was thrilled to be able to score "Geniaus", the identity I use on a number of Social Networking sites. My son, who was visiting, logged in directly after me and grabbed his preferred name as well.

Genealogists, if you are on Facebook and have not reserved your URL you can find instructions here on the Facebook Blog.

2nd Annual TMG Weekend Conference « TMG Sydney

I'm sorry to have missed this - seems as though the attendees had a fruitful time.

2nd Annual TMG Weekend Conference « TMG Sydney

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Today Show:Libraries lend a hand in tough times

It's good to see libraries, genealogists treasure troves, getting good press on the Today Show in the US.

Today Show:Libraries lend a hand in tough times

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Mount St Lawrence Burial Register: Book One 1855-1896, Limerick City Council

I have my fingers crossed that I might break through a brick wall and find some "Curry" relatives in this new resource.

Mount St Lawrence Burial Register: Book One 1855-1896, Limerick City Council

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The Western Australian Post Office Directories

Now online at the State Library in Western Australia are The Western Australian Post Office Directories.
"The post office directories published by H. Pierssené and then by H. Wise & Co. are an invaluable source of information for anyone who is doing family history or research on Western Australia during the period 1893-1949."

National E-security Awareness Week 2009


It's easy to be complacent about passwords and online security. National E-security Awareness Week 2009 is being held this week in Australia. Our government hosts this week to to raise awareness about the importance of e-security among Australians.

Details of activities and suggestions for improving personal online security can be found at the Week's website.

Genealogists, it is time to evaluate and change your passwords now.

Smile for the Camera, 14th Edition Wedding Belles


Sadly I never got to meet my husband's grandparents who are pictured here. Eliza Anne Gowans, aged 17, and Ernest James Gillespie, aged 23, were married at 188 Albany Road Petersham on 29 October 1913 according to the rites of the Presbyterian Church with G. Acheson Gordon the officiating Minister.

Eliza and Ernest's partnership ended in divorce around 1935. Eliza had two more marriages before her death in 1962, whilst Ernest had one more marriage before his death in 1958.

Geniaus is back

After a relaxing few weeks floating around the Adriatic and Mediterranean with Mr Geniaus on two very different cruise vessels I have returned to Australia and am ready to get stuck into family history once more. The only spot of family history I did was a catchup with a distant cousin in Horningsham, Wiltshire,whom I had initially discovered through Genes Reunited.

I have many News and RSS feeds to go through and will share any relevant gems with you on this blog. Please take a look at the shared items box on the left hand side of the blog to see some news and info I have found..