The Office

My genimates like to post views from their office windows. Here was mine as I travelled by train  to Hornsby for their Family History Group meeting.

Here and there in National Family History Month

Aware that it's National Family History Month and that I am actually in Australia I threw myself into #familyhistory activities last week. Surprisingly I am not giving any talks this month so I've had a bit of time to play. Mr GeniAus does wonder what I am doing in my geneacave all day!

Piling system

From time to time I tear myself away from the more palatable geneactivities to do a little bit of tidying, scanning and think about filing. I'm very good at digital filing but a failure at physical filing. I have reorganised my cupboards but my piling system is still evident.

I continued to microblog via my GeniAus Facebook page and The Hornsby Shire FHG page. I contributed to many conversations on Facebook which I fine myself using more and more since the demise of Google+.
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Although I haven't written on this blog I have been blogging here  https://curryaus.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/avoiding-the-keyboard/ and here  https://hornsbysfhg.wordpress.com/2019/08/08/geneagala-day/ and  here https://ballau.blogspot.com/2019/08/inspection.html.

Monday was spent experimenting with data gathering and importing into my CurryAus project see blog post above).

On Tuesday I took myself to the monthly meeting of the Newcastle Family History Society, it's only the second time I have been to one of their meetings since joining. I'll try to do better. Sitting among the small audience of members who all knew each other I once again realised how lonely it can be as the newbie in a Group. It was disappointing to see such a small attendance at a meeting of a group with such a large membership. I wasn't sure that I would enjoy the talk by Marie Hughes who talked about her family and their business, Hughes Pottery which operated in the Merewether area for over 100 years. As a newcomer to the Newcastle Region I found the talk fascinating the story of the family business was interwoven with the family's genealogy. 

Hughes Pottery at Newcastle Family History Society

Two webinars were on my program for Wednesday. Firstly I watched Fiona Brooker's webinar on New Zealand  at Legacy Family Tree Webinars. I left this early to tune into the Newspapers webinar from the National Library of Australia which you can now view on their website or Youtube. I'm sorry that I didn't stick with Fiona's webinar as there was more for me to learn there than at the newspapers session which was a basic presentation aimed at new users and beginners.

On Thursday I made a rash decision to register for The Society of Australian Genealogists' Wikitree Challenge that was scheduled for the next day, Friday. This event organised by Veronica Williams and Danielle Lautrec aimed to improve Australian content, share our research, and promote the Society's collections all in one day. 

I failed on promoting the Society's resources but managed to share second place in the Challenge. I went way beyond the finishing time of 3pm so that I could complete my personal goals. My 16 Great-grandparents and many of their descendants now have sourced entries on the Wikitree. You can visit me here on Wikitree. 

My mother always taught me that if had a commitment one shouldn't back out if something else came along so on Saturday I missed the dedication of a new plaque on my descendant Elizabeth Phipps' grave at Richmond. Thanks to cousin Lynn Griffiths who organised the event to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Elizabeth's death.

Meanwhile I spent the day at Hornsby Library chairing the annual Geneagala day we at Hornsby Shire Family History Group host in conjunction with the library with special guest Emily Hanna from NSW State Archives and Records. It was a splendid day. You can see some photos and a report here in a Facebook post.

Genies at Gemeagala Day at Hornsby

While August has been a quiet month for talks presented by me September is busy so I have fired up Powerpoint and worked on my webinar and in person presentations. I spend way too much time preparing for these gigs; I am a serial reviser.

I spent quite a deal of time on my DNA Matches. I have used DNA Painter to map both my and Mr GeniAus' chromosomes. In the hope of finding new cousins to map I have repeatedly visited  Family Tree DNA, Gedmatch and MyHeritage but haven't had much joy. My greatest disappointment at the moment is the lack of matches to paint. If you only have your DNA at Ancestry and want to make more connections PLEASE upload to each of these sites. I have been able to keep up with new strong matches at Ancestry as they seem to be trickling in.

Mr GeniAus is smiling because I won a free pass for him  to attend #RootstechLondon. To win the prize I had to submit an interesting word that I had come across in my family history research. My winning word was Progonoplexia (I have a bad case - how about you?)

What did your week look like?

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?

Paul Draws a Winner

When my Rootstech Free Pass Giveaway Competition closed I needed to select a winner. I decided to put the entrants names into a hat and get Mr GeniAus to draw the winner.....but then I had a brainwave.

As yesterday was The Hornsby Shire Family History Group Meeting and our guest was Paul Parton from Familysearch I thought it would be a good idea to invite Paul to draw the winning entry. Thanks to Paul and fellow members who allowed me a couple of minutes to do this in a public forum.

Who is it Paul?

It's Lilian Magill

I was over the moon when one of my genimates names was drawn out. The lucky winner drawn by Paul was Lilian Magill, President of Bankstown Family History Group. Lilian so enjoyed her trip to Rootstech this year that she has already registered for 2017. This prize worth $US299 will lighten the load on Lilian's purse.

CONGRATULATIONS LILIAN

Contest entrants were asked :"To enter this contest you are asked to search the internet and find a link to a blog post, video or photo that shows me and someone famous or infamous I have met or interviewed at a previous Rootstech OR If you have a picture of you and me together at Rootstech you can share that in a new post."

Lilian blogged this image of some cold Aussies at Rootstech 2016.

You're invited

One of the hats I wear is as an organiser of the Hornsby Shire Family History Group.

Jenny Joyce

At our formal meetings each month we have a guest speaker. In organising the speakers' program I have been fortunate to have several of my genimates as guest presenters. I am so appreciative of your support.

Next Wednesday Jenny Joyce will be presenting The Amazing things in the UK Gazettes, an informative talk I first heard at the Canberra Congress last year. If you have ancestors from the UK and would like to hear how this resource can assist your research you would be most welcome to join us at Hornsby Library at 2:00 pm on Wednesday 19th October. Further details.

You will be assured of a warm welcome and a great learning experience.

This is a FREE event. 

A Proud Old Genie

I look after the website for our very new local Family History Group.

Tonight at the Annual Conference Dinner of the NSW and ACT Association of Family History Societies Inc our Group received The Dorothy Fellowes Website Encouragement Award for a website administered by a society member. As our Group’s media (and website) person I was thrilled that I was in attendance at the dinner and able to collect the award on behalf of our Group.

Congratulations to our northern neighbours, Wyong Family History Group, a group with a long history who won the major award.

I was so proud that our efforts as a new Group were recognised with this Encouragement Award. That our Group that has only been in existence  for seven months received recognition for our efforts is most pleasing.

You can visit our website here: https://hornsbysfhg.wordpress.com

Jill Ball, Media Officer, Hornsby Shire Family History Group receives our award from Dorothy Fellowes.

Representing Hornsby

Mr GeniAus and I are manning a Hornsby FHG table today.

We've signed up a few new out of town members and chatted to a few people with links to Hornsby Shire at the NSW/ACT Conference and Family History Fair in Port Macquarie this week.

Two Mentions

As many of you know I also blog in some other places. This morning I was excited to discover that two of my blog posts rated a mention on Jana Last's Follow Friday ~ Fab Finds for September 4, 2015 list. On the occasions I find the GeniAus blog on Jana's list I always get a thrill, it's affirming to find tht a blogger of Jana's stature appreciating something I write.

Todays's mentions were for posts on two other blogs. The first mention was for "To Pin or not to Pin ... by Jill Ball for Worldwide Genealogy ~ A Genealogical Collaboration". I am a proud member of the group of genealogists from several nations who contributes a regular post to this blog.

The second mention makes me especially proud. I am the media person (website, blog, communication) for a new family history group that was established in February this year. Having Jana mention the post "Download Free Genealogy Guides by Hornsby Shire Family History Group" will bring some new readers to our blog and promote the work our fledgling group is doing in our area.

I cannot wait to meet Jana in person at Rootstech 2016 and thank her personally for her mentions.

Stanmore Shame

After hearing Michelle Nichols talk at Hornsby Shire Family History Group last Wednesday and pondering on the value of photos to family historians Mr GeniAus thought it would be nice to offer some of his collection to his old primary school.

From Marrickville Library website

So last week he phoned Stanmore Public School and asked if they had an archivist. They didn't. Then he asked if there was anyone who looked after the school history and if there was anyone who would be interested in copies of his photos from the 1950s. I listened as he asked a series of questions of the person at the other end of the line and got the feeling there was no interest. I was right.

When he got off the 'phone I could just tell how disappointed Mr GeniAus was. Perhaps the person he spoke with may have been very busy or having a bad day but surely she could have taken his name and number and asked the principal, the teaacher librarian or folk in the staff room if anyone was interested.

We had a little chat and talked about other places that might show more interest. Mr GeniAus phoned the Marrickville Library and asked to speak to the local studies librarian. What a different response he got.  The librarian was definitely interested in the photos and would be delighted to have copies in the local history collection.  Digital copies will be on their way to Marrickville real soon and should find their way into the online collection there.

Kudos to Public Libraries and Librarians.

Chasing my Tail

Since arriving home from our eight week holiday last week I have been flat chat getting our house back in order, catching up with all our descendants and my one ancestor and organising a few events for National Family History Month.

I still have a long list of things to do so, if I haven't responded to your emails please that is on my 'to do" list. I won't take offence if you send me a gentle reminder. I read many of your blog posts while on the hop but apologise for the lack of comments. Thanks for keeping me informed on all the geneanews from Australia.

After the weekend I will be chasing up all the folk who have committed to joining me in the Geneagala Hangouts for National Family History Month.

In the meantime I am basking in the glow of a successful meeting of our FHG today with guest speaker Michelle Nichols. You can read my report here: https://hornsbysfhg.wordpress.com/2015/08/19/michelle-nichols-at-hornsby-shire-fhg/

With Michelle Nichols (Oops - My mother told me it was rude to point)

The next task on my agenda is finalising arrangements for our National Family History Month "Genealogy Clinic" and talk on "Beginning Family History" on Saturday.  You can read about that here: https://hornsbysfhg.wordpress.com/2015/08/16/genealogy-clinic/. Feel free to pop in during the day.