Beginning Family History

 I'm busy prepping for this event in National Family History Month at Hornsby Library.

New Interactive Local Resource

Last night Mr GeniAus and joined several other local history history enthusiasts at a function at Hornsby Central Library where a new interactive online digital resource, Hornsby Shire Recollects, was launched. I was attending as a representative of the Hornsby Shire Family History Group.

The database claims to "provide easy online access to a rich store of heritage material relaitng to Hornsby Shire, its people, and events."

Hornsby Shire Recollects Home Page

The three speakers, Hornsby Mayor Phillip Ruddock, Associate Professor Carol Liston and Hornsby MP Matt Kean each spoke briefly about the importance of local history and heritage and then Mayor  Ruddock cut the celebratory cake.

Reference and Local Studies Librarian, Neil Chippendale, and Library staff member, Karen Richardson, then got to the good bit, a demonstration of this new tool which provides a user friendly platform to access Hornsby's collection of digital resources supplemented with new additions from community organisations and local history enthusiasts. The new platform certainly appeared easier to search than the collections it replaced but I needed to try it out myself.

This afternoon I gave the database a run through. Logging on and creating an account was a simple process. Navigating the site was a breeze and the search mechanism was intuitive. I give it a thumbs up. Having heard the presentation and tried out the tool I am keen to add some resources from our family collection to the database.

The promotional material for the resource states " you are also able to contribute your own knowledge and memories about the holdings, as well as create personal collections of your own." If  community members embrace this resource and share the photos and documents they have squirrelled away Hornsby Shire Recollects will be a valuable resource, not just for people from the Hornsby Shire but for many with an interest in Australian history and heritage.

Comfortable outside the Comfort Zone

 It's now two weeks since I moved out of my comfort zone in Genealand and presented a talk on The Joys of History Blogging to a group of Australian History enthusiasts at a local U3A Group.

I was made most welcome by the Group's leaders and as the presentation was in a venue at Hornsby Library with which I am most familiar my nerves flew out the door prior to the presentation.

U3A presentation at Hornsby Library

Many of the 50+ people at the gig had little or now knowledge of blogs and what a useful resource they could be for the reader, researcher and writer. It was pleasing to see how well the talk was received but it was also a little disappointing that, until now, so many people did not have any idea of useful blogs could be in their study of Australian History.

Geneart - Not for sale

For our Family History Group meetings our local library allows us to use their Main Meeting Room. Another function of this room is to provide an exhibition space for local artists and organisations.

This week there was an exhibition of  woolly pictures (sorry I didn't read the detailed description of the works).  As we were clearing up one of the fellow members drew our attention to one of the works which one could describe as Geneart (a new word for the Geneadictionary.

As some of the works were for sale I thought I might buy it but it was listed as Not for Sale. As I thought it was cute even kitschy I took a photo so that I could share it with you.

Do you have any pieces of Geneart?

Family History at the Library

I found a bit of Mr GeniAus' family history at the local library today.

Local Lads

I thought I had blogged about this local resource from Hornsby previously but I can't find such a post. I apologise if I have previously written about this local resource but it is a valuable one that is worth promoting.

The people at Hornsby Library took the decision to publish biographical infomation about the people on the war memorials in the shire in an oline format. I applaud this decision because, unlike a printed work, an online publication is dynamic. As new information about the boys becomes available the site will be updated to reflect this.

http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/library/resources-and-research/local-history/war-memorials

Congratulations to Hornsby Library Local History team for this super resource, You can see it at http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/library/resources-and-research/local-history/war-memorials

Family History Society proposed for my District

Presently there is no Family History Society for my  Local Government Area, Hornsby.  I belong to groups in two neighbouring areas, Ku-ring-gai and Hawkesbury, and enjoy being a member of those groups. It would be a great asset to the Hornsby area to have a local group.

A few months ago I was approached by another Hornsby area family historian, David, with the idea of forming a group for Hornsby. David has been working with Neil Chippendale, our Local Studies Librarian, and a few other interested parties to investigate the feasibility of starting up such a group. I am pleased to let you know that an initial meeting has been set down for February. All interested parties are invited to attend as per this email from Hornsby Library.

"Dear Family History Enthusiast

Over the last, few months a small group of family historians have been having informal talks about re-starting a local Hornsby based family history society, discussions have been fruitful and it is hoped that a new society will be formed. It has been decided that a meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 for all interested parties with the idea of formally establishing the Hornsby and District Family History Society. Ideas about the formation and objectives of the society will be discussed, we hope that you will be able to attend.

The meeting will take place in the large meeting room at Hornsby Library on 25th Feb. at 2pm.

If you have, any queries please feel free to contact Neil Chippendale on 9847 6807 or nchippendale@hornsby.nsw.gov.au."

Should you have any ideas/thoughts on this proposal I'd also love to hear from you. 

Next talk at the local....

My mate Neil Chippendale from Hornsby Library has emailed with details of next month's family history talk at the library.

I haven't previously come across David Michel so I am keen to attend, it is always interesting to hear a new person's experiences in the field of family history.

Bookings can be made online from the link here:
http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/library/activities-and-events/family-and-local-history-talks

I have already booked and was most impressed that Hornsby Library is now using an online booking and payment system with Trybooking. 

Australia's Unknown Soldier

Because I haven't been able to drive for a couple of weeks I dragged my chauffeur Mr GeniAus off to a talk at our local library in Hornsby this morning.

Hornsby Local Studies Librarian, Neil Chippendale and Mr GeniAus at the talk today.

The talk "Australia’s Unknown Soldier Returns Home" was delivered by Linda from local funeral directors T J Andrews. Linda related the story of how Rob Allison former Managing Director of the firm, helped to bring home Australia’s "Unknown Soldier" in 1993.

Prior to the talk we had a jolly time chatting with other folk we found there including my distant cousin Elva, friend Judy and several of Mr Geniaus's former workmates.

Once the talk commenced a stillness descended upon the room, The content was fascinating, the delivery was reverent and the attendees were respectful and attentive as they reflected on the content being presented. Linda included several readings including the eulogy delivered by then Prime Minister Paul Keating in the presentation. I have never encoutered such a silent group at any talk I have attended.

Linda from T J Andrews

Information leaflet from T J Andrews tells the story

Thanks to to Neil Chippendale from Hornsby Library and Linda from T J Andrews for organising such a moving talk during this special week.

Although this wasn't a #NFHM2014 event it caused me to reflect on the sacrifices made by my family members who served their country so selflessly. Mr GeniAus and I both enjoyed the talk and, on the way home, discussed taking a tour of the Western Front battlefields. We have previously visited the area independently but feel that we would benefit from a tour lead by a historian and military expert.

T J Andrews state on their website  "If your organisation would like a complimentary presentation about the Unknown Soldier then please call: 1800 386 372." I would commend this offer to genealogy and local history societies.

I'm up for this one

Thanks to Neil Chippendale from Hornsby Library for sending me notification of this talk in August.

A Hornsby Date for your Diaries

I have been notified that the next family history talk at my local library in Hornsby will be presented by Local Studies Librarian, Neil Chippendale.

Neil Chippendale worked as Local History Librarian for the London Borough of Hounslow for 14 years. He also operated a small family history business titled "Chippendale's Family History Research Service". He worked for the Cairn's and Maryborough Family History Societies and also did work for Janet Reakes. He moved to Australia several years ago and now works for Hornsby Shire Council in NSW running the local and family history sections of the library service.

Please contact The Library for Bookings

*****

Neil Chippendale

will talk on

An introduction to English & Welsh Family History

at

          Hornsby Shire Library,

28-44, George Street, Hornsby.

2077

on

Friday 30^th May 2014

at

2:00 PM

$5:00

To book please phone 9847-6614

For further information phone

Hornsby Local Studies: 9847 6807.

Linking Lives to Learning and Leisure

Writing Family Histories at Hornsby

The next genealogy talk at my local library at Hornsby will be presented by author, Carol Baxter. Those who have attended Carol's previous talks around Australia will know that she is a lively, vivacious and knowledgeable presenter. In this talk on March 19th Carol will you how to turn dry facts into exciting narrative.

Thanks to Neil Chippendale, Local Studies Librarian at Hornsby for sharing details of this event.

Book online http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/library/activities-and-events/writing-interesting-family-histories or at any Hornsby Shire Library Branch.

Lord Sydney

I was disappointed that I was unable to attend Andrew Tink's recent talk at Ku-ring-gai Historical Society so I was pleased to hear from Neil Chippendale from Hornsby Library that Andrew will be speaking there in September.

Andrew's talk "Lord Sydney: the life and times of Tommy Townshend" is part of NSW History Week celebrations.

My Big Day Out

There were three genealogy related events in my day yesterday and I traversed quite a bit of the northern part of Sydney to attend them.

https://maps.google.com/

My day started with a 9:15 departure from my home in Galston (E on map) to Hawkesbury Library (B on map) for 10:00am, then I drove for about 50 mins to my next destination, Ku-ring-gai Historical Society (C on map) after spending a few hours there I set out for Hornsby Library (D on map) where I arrived at 6:00pm. I finally reached home around 8:00pm. Google maps estimate that I drove around 98 km. and it was worth every centimeter.

So how did I amuse myself?

Siobhan and her book

At Hawkesbury Library  I attended the monthly meeting of the Hawkesbury Family History Group. The guest speaker was Dr Siobhan Lavelle whose talk was about the 1813 crossing of the Blue Mountains. The content of the talk was different from what I expected but was fascinating; I had expected to hear a straight history of the crossing by Blaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson but Siobhan put a different slant on her talk. She discussed the various celebrations that have been held to mark anniversaries of the crossing and demonstrated, with references to books, newspaper articles, pictures and other resources, the influences that society and members of the explorers' families at various periods had on shaping those celebrations. I was most impressed by Siobhan's presentation; she was a lucid and entertaining speaker with a dry and irreverent sense of humour.

I purchased and look forward to reading a copy of Siobhan's book, 1813 a tale that grew in the telling, that is available from the Royal Australian Historical Society and bookshops in the Blue Mountains.

After chatting with a few fellow group members and Michelle Nichols, the local studies librarian, I popped into my Bambino and headed for Ku-ring-gai Historical Society where I spent a pleasant few hours scanning historical photographs and adding them to the Society database. I also managed to have a chinwag with members of the Preservation Group who were beavering away at various tasks.

Because at talks I habitually sit behind tall gentlemen who block my view of slides on the screens I like to arrive early to snag  a seat near the front of lecture rooms. I arrived 30 minutes early for the talk at Hornsby Library and was able to catch up with Peter Booth, Kim and his wife from Ku-ring-gai Historical Society and Neil Chippendale the local studies librarian. Guest speaker at the Hornsby talk was one of my favourite speakers, Dr Carol Liston, whose topic was "The Links between Local and Family History". Carol was in fine form and gave a great talk.

What I found interesting in Carol's talk was that she covered some of the same themes that Joshua Taylor had addressed in his talk last Saturday particularly the importance of Place in family history research.

Thanks to  Michelle and Neil, two of my local history heroes, for organising these great Family History Month events.

One of my fave speakers coming to Hornsby

As someone who likes to attend lectures I have heard speakers who range from woeful to wonderful. Neil Chippendale, Local Studies Librarian at my Local Library at Hornsby has sent me through details of the next talk in the Library's Family History series.

I'll definitely be going along to hear Dr Carol Liston who is on the wonderful end of my speakers scale. Carol, an academic at The University of Western Sydney is a great communicator and entertaining speaker. 

Ralph Hawkins at Hornsby

I recently attended a most entertaining talk, Blackmailing the Governor - Australia's First Strike, by Ralph Hawkins.

I was pleased to hear from Neil Chippendale, Local Studies Co-ordinator  at Hornsby Library, that Ralph will be presenting this talk at Hornsby Library, 28-44, George Street, Hornsby, on Thursday June 13th at 6:30 pm. The cost for this event is $5.00

If you would like to hear Ralph discuss his latest research you can book by 'phoning 02 9847-6614.
For further information phone Hornsby Local Studies: 9847 6807

A Date at my Local

Details of my next talk at my local library , Hornsby Shire Library, have been firmed up. I enjoy meeting up with local people who share my passion for family history; hopefully I will be able to share some tips that will help them further their research. Thanks to Neil Chippendale, Local Studies Co-ordinator at the Library, for the invitation to present.

I will be presenting a session GeneaGoogling : Effective Google Searches at the library at 6:30 pm on Wednesday 27 February. This will be a basic session that introduces attendees to some simple strategies to optimise their use of the Google Search Engine.

Bookings are essential; details will appear on the library website shortly. The library charges a small fee for attendance of these events

Hornsby Event

I'm sorry that I can't attend Hornsby Library's next family history talk as the presenter, Heather Garnsey, is one of my favourite Australian presenters.

Family & Local History Talks

Stuck?

Try the Society of Genealogists

a talk by

Heather Garnsey

Are you having trouble researching your family history? Heather Garnsey will talk about the Society of Australian Genealogists collections and how they can help, especially the manuscript and family history collections.

Heather Garnsey is the Executive Officer of the Society of Genealogists.

Date:  Friday 9 November

Time:  2:00 pm

Place: Hornsby Shire Library, Meeting Room
          28-44 George Street, Hornsby (entry via Hunter Lane).

Cost:  $5.00

Bookings: To book please call 9847 6614 or email library@hornsby.nsw.gov.au. For more information please call Hornsby Local Studies on 9847 6807.

Jeremy Palmer returning to Hornsby

I just heard from Neil Chippendale, Local Studies Librarian,  about the next Family History Talk to be held at Hornsby Library.  Unfortunately I won't be able to attend as I will be performing at the Unlock the Past Expo in Brisbane but I can recommend the talks at Hornsby as being good value. I attend them whenever I am able.

Jeremy Palmer at an earlier Hornsby talk

Jeremy Palmer will give a talk on English & Welsh Probate Records at Hornsby Shire Library, 28-44, George Street, Hornsby 2077 on Wednesday 27th June 2012 at 6:30PM $5:00.

It is important to prebook for these events as they often sell out.

To book please phone 9847-6614
For further information phone Hornsby Local Studies: 9847 6807.

From the Other Side of the Fence

My ongoing commitment to CGD sees me watching and listening to many presentations on genealogy related topics. Earlier tonight I stood on the other side of the fence.

Although I have presented to a number of audiences over the years I have never given a talk in my local area. I was thrilled when, last year, I was approached by Neil Chippendale the Local History Librarian at Hornsby Library to give a presentation in their series of Family History talks.

I was more nervous than usual prior to this talk as I felt I had to do really well for my local community. When Neil told me a few days ago that the event was sold out that made me even more nervous. My topic, Trove: a nation's treasure, was not one that I felt particularly confident in presenting but having given the talk I realise that I do know quite a bit about this fantastic resource. The good news is that techonology didn't fail, no-one nodded off to sleep and many people including a couple of librarians said that they had learned quite a few new tricks.

I got such a buzz from presenting to my neighbours who were such an appreciative audience. I thank Neil, a perfect host, who was there to greet me and help me set up; he made sure I had everything I needed and gave me a glowing introduction and vote of thanks.

Thanks also to Mark from Trove who took a look at my handouts and slides and suggested a couple of amendments.