Joynealogy in Action

 Sunday was a great day of Joynealogy for me (and I hope the genies at Wyong Family History Group).

Way back during Covid times my 3rd cousin, Regina, asked me to present a seminar at her local family history group. Covid caused a few hiccups with scheduling a face-to-face event but, after a false start or two, we finally agreed on Sunday 20th April. If Covid reared its ugly head again we decided we could go virtual.

The gods shone on us and the seminar went ahead as a face-to-face event at The Wyong Golf Club last Sunday. My day of joy started with a voice (from genimate Janelle) in the carpark calling out "Jill" as I alighted from my car.

It's two years since I caught up with these genimates

My joy continued right through the day from when I gathered with the earlybirds on the steps of the Club waiting for opening time until the end of the day when I sat down and had a gossip with some genimates whom had I hadn't seen in the flesh for two years.

There were a number of my genimates and so many familiar faces at the event who all politely laughed at my "Mum" jokes. I hope they also learnt some new tip or tool to take away. The joy of the occasion, Wyong Family History Group's first seminar in quite a long time, was not so much in the learning it was in the camaraderie and mateship of those who attended the event. It was so refreshing to talk with real people rather than talking heads on a screen.

I presented three talks selected by the Wyong genies under the banner of 21st Century Genealogy : using old and new tools to connect and communicate - Social Media for Genealogy, Frugal Family History and Cousin Bait. I love gabbing on about my favourite tools.

I was captured in action by Regina

Regina and I were both smiling like Cheshire Cats when another of her cousins captured this happy snap at the end of a successful day. Oh, such Joy.