Was your ancestor a "Firey' in NSW?

In my ongoing quest for learning opportunities I just stumbled across details of a talk at The Local Studies & Family History Library in the Parramatta Heritage Centre.

Both my father-in-law and his father were members of the NSW Fire Brigade and I would love to learn more about which records I can access to learn about their working lives.  On 19th May there is a free talk at the library "Fires & Fire-fighters in NSW with Neil McGrath that might just give me some tips. I'l be headiing for the  centre at 2:00 pm to see what Neil has to say.

If you need further details Contact the Local Studies & Family History Librarian:

Email: localstudies@parracity.nsw.gov.auYou can visit the Local Studies & Family History Library at:
346A Church Street, Parramatta.

And I wonder whether anyone reads my blog!

One of the news alerts I have set up in Google news is for "geniaus".  This normally brings back links to tweets, blog posts and my family website.

I was surprised today when an alert lead me to a page in The Parramatta Sun. In an article "Heritage link to be lost forever" the journalist refers to one of my blog posts"Amateur genealogy blogger Geniaus wrote recently that she had signed a petition to save the building after she discovered one of her ancestors attended the factory." The article tells of the support for a protest protest against the Sydney West Area Health Service's plans to convert an 1823 Georgian building, part of the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct, into an IT centre.
 
There, in black and white, in the online version of the newspaper was a mention of my blog. It confirms that some people must read my rambles and in addition think that something I have said is worthwhile.

Article in Parramatta Sun

I am pleased to be able to play a small part in the move to save this valuable part of our nation's heritage.

Parramatta Female Factory

One of my convict ancestors, Ellen/Eleanor Moore, spent time in the Parramatta Female Factory. She was sent  for punishment at least seven times for various indiscretions. OnMay 27, 1828 she was sent for "two years in the Third class in the factory to be kept to hard labour for countenancing Mr. McGuire in exposing himself indecently and using unnatural habits before Mr. Dunn's children."

As it was the 'home' of one of my ancestors I am most interested in fate of the Female Factory.

In an email today on aus-nsw-hills-hawkesbury-hunter-valley rootsweb list Michelle Nicholls posted this message:

"For those of you interested in checking out the blog and petition to support the Female Factory Precinct Action Group, with the aim to have the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct returned to the people of Australia. This Precinct includes the Parramatta Female  Factory, Catholic Orphan School and Girls Industrial School see http://femalefactoryprecinctactiongroup.wordpress.com/ and http://petitionbuzz.com/petitions/savethefemalefactory "

I encourage all with an interest in Australian heritage sites (not just people like me with errant 3rd great-grandmothers) to sign the petition to save the female factory.