We stayed in the Green Room

In a new experience for me tonight I demonstrated to a group at The Botany Bay Family History Society how Google Hangouts on Air work. I connected with Heather Clarey and members in the Society rooms in Sydney's far south from my kitchen in Sydney's far north.

Heather, who worked from her laptop, had set up a big screen so that the members could see us hang out. I had anticipated that we would Hangout on Air but, so that we speak candidly, I didn't press the record button and we stayed in The Green Room. We did not go  "Live On Air" and have the session recorded to Youtube as it was better for the newbies that we kept our conversation private. Apologies to those in the GeniAus community who were prepared to join in and say G'day to Botany Bay.

GeniAus hanging out with the genies from Botany Bay tonight

I really enjoyed the experience. Heather moved the camera around a bit so I could see the audience and some brave souls commented and asked a question. It was probably good that my image was grainy on the big screen.

Thanks to Heather and The Botany Bay Family History Society for giving me an opportunity to pay a virtual visit to their rooms to chat about Hangouts on Air. 'Twas a great learning experience for me too.

Excursion to The Other Shire

I live in the Hornsby Shire Local Government Area on the northern edge of Sydney, known as The Bushland Shire about one third of Hornsby's area is public bushland.

On Saturday I will be going on an excursion to Sydney's southernmost Local Government Area, Sutherland Shire which for some reason markets itself as The Shire.  I'll be attending the Heritage Fair hosted by The Botany Bay Family History Society at Tradies in Gymea.

The Fair is being held in a venue with great facilities and there is plenty on the program to amuse and interest family historians. I will be working on the Unlock the Past/Gould Genealogy stand demonstrating the Flip-Pal, providing information on upcoming cruises and events and showing their range of publications.

I hope I can steal away for a few minutes to see some of these other exhibitors:

BOTANY BAY FHS EXHIBITORS

Welcome & Membership table Sales and Raffles  Getting Started Ask for Info English Interest Group Writers' Interest Group Irish Interest Group Scottish Interest Group Family Tree Maker Users' Group Reunion For Mac Users' Group Legacy Users' Group Immigration Soldiers Project Filing Your Records Mapping Family Search Joy Murrin Transcriptions Marilyn Rowan Transcriptions  Turtle Transcriptions Ancestry.com FindMyPast Book Displays Australian States Research OTHER EXHIBITORS  Images 4 U Gould Genealogy Unlock the Past Seniors Endeavour Computer Club   Stampin Up Scrapbooking Port Hacking Potters Spinners & Weavers Calligraphers Jewellery  Cape Banks Family History Society Bankstown Family History Society State Records NSW Biographical Database of Australia Sutherland Historical Society Peter Plowman Books Custom Framers  Flip-Pal Scanners

But that's not all on offer. There is a program of free talks throughout the day:

10.40 am	Peter Plowman, author of Emigrant Ships to Luxury Liners: Postwar Migrant Ships
11.40 am	Joy & Allan Murrin, NSW BDM Transcription Agents: The Best of Times for Family History Research
12.40 pm	Maree McKinley, BBFHS Member - Writers' Interest Group Convenor Writing Your Family History
1.40 pm	Gail Davis, NSW State Records What's in the Archives for Family History?
2.40 pm	Helen McDonald, Local Studies Librarian, Sutherland Shire Libraries Local History Resources in our Libraries

How about popping down to Gymea on Saturday and saying G'day? 

Jean - A Generous Genie

I firmly believe that one of the benefits of face to face meetings and conferences is the networking
and incidental conversation that occurs at these events. I learn so much about local history, research methods and resources from the people with whom I chat.

At the recent NSW/ACT Conference in Canberra I sat at a dinner table with two people I knew, one I had heard of and six I didn't know. Once the ice was broken we had a fabulous night chatting about this and that. We had a famous Australian footballer on our table who had been a neighbour of Mr Geniaus many years ago and another lady who was in the same year at the neighbouring girls' school to the boys' school Mr Geniaus attended (I think Mr Geniaus was a little disappointed that he didn't come to the dinner with me).

Jean Campbell, the President of The Botany Bay Family History Society was the lady who went to school at the same time as Mr Geniaus. I told Jean that he was attending the 50th reunion of his class in November and she said that she had some of the yearbooks from his school. They had been given to her and she could not throw them out (genies are hoarders) and that, if he wished, he was welcome to take a look at them. When I got home and relayed the news Mr Geniaus was over the moon as his mother (who didn't have the hoarder gene) had thrown out all his school yearbooks.

Last week I contacted Jean by email and when she responded passed her details on to Mr Geniaus. They have been corresponding and the upshot is that Jean is posting one of the yearbooks that mentions Mr Geniaus to him.

Thank you, Jean, you have made someone a very happy old boy.