30 Bob for Daphne

 Indulging in some Sunday afternoon newspaper browsing on Trove  I found this mention of my mother-in-law, Daphne Gillespie from 1931. I wonder how she disposed of her 30 bob?

1931 'Advertising', The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), 1 January, p. 6. (LAST RACE EDITION), viewed 18 Jul 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224659981

Rootstech Free Pass Giveaway - A Birthday Surprise

When I notified the winner of my Rootstech Free Pass Giveaway Competition this morning she responded "Thank you. A wonderful birthday gift!". I was thrilled to find that today is her birthday - what a super surprise for her.

My winner is my genimate Lilian Magill, an Australian geneablogger and Rootstech supporter. I imagine she is wearing a big smile today.

Lilian taking a break for sustenance and networking at Rootstech 2016

GeniAus (L) and Lilian (R) at Rootstech 2016

 I think this will be Lilian's 3rd trip to Salt Lake City for Rootstech. I am sorry that health issues prevent me from joining the Aussie contingent this year but I know that Lilian and the other Aussies attending will be wonderful ambassadors for genealogy downunder.

Rootstech 2020 - Free Pass Giveaway

One of the perks of being a RootsTech 2020 Ambassador is that I receive a free pass for myself and one to give to one of my genimates. RootsTech 2020 will be held at The Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 26 to February 29, 2020.

Each year I have packed my bags and made the long trek from Australia to Salt Lake City to  attend Rootstech, The Greatest Geneashow on Earth. Unfortunately this year I have a date with a surgeon so cannot attend Rootstech physically; I'll certainly tune in virtually while recuperating.  The good news is that I still have a pass to give away.

This competition provides me with an opportunity to give someone else a chance to experience the excitement and education Rootstech offers. 

The winner of this competition will

  receive a complimentary RootsTech 2020 Pass with access to over 300 classes: 

• -Keynote/General sessions
• -Power Hours on popular topics
• -New Lunch and Learn Session
• -New Specialized Forums
• -Expo Hall
• -Evening Events

This 4-Day Pass does not include airfare, hotel or the coverage of any other expenses. If the winner has already registered for RootsTech 2020, the original registration fee will be refunded.

What do you need to do to be in the draw?

Publish to me, @geniaus, on Twitter, a tweet that describes Rootstech using three words eg Rootstech is a great genealogy gathering. Make sure you add the hashtag #Rootstech to your post. 

• One entry per person
• By entering this draw you give permission for your name to reported on social media.
• The winner will be chosen randomly. 

I will publish the winner's name on this blog by Saturday 11 January, 2020 (GMT time).  Please tweet your entries to me by midnight Thursday 9 January 2020  (GMT time).

Announcing the winner - VGA Virtual Conference free registration

.  

The Virtual Genealogical Association is a global organisation for the 21st century that fulfils the needs of family historians:

• whose circumstances make it difficult to attend local genealogical society meetings
• who prefer online presentations, special interest groups (SIGs), conferences, and socializing
• with an interest in connecting, networking, and mentoring with global genealogists.

The Association's virtual conference will be held from November 1-3, 2019! 

As the Convenor of the New South Wales Chapter of of the Association I had a FREE Registration Code for the conference to share with one of my genimates.

I randomly chose a winner from those folk who had entered my competition and was pleased to see that a fellow Australian, Michelle Nichols was the winner. Congratulations to Michelle; when I asked her if she would accept the prize she said "Yes please!!!! Very pleased to hear this news."

If you still wish to be a winner then you can register for this event. See below

Speakers include Judy G Russell and Blaine Bettinger from the US,  Fiona Brooker from New Zealand, Ursula Krause from Germany, Audrey Collins from the UK and Helen Smith from Australia. 

Australians who may be sleeping while the live sessions are broadcast will not miss out on any of the sessions. Attendees will have access to recordings & handouts for all sessions for 6 months following the event - watch any time, any place, on any device. 

Closed captioning via Rev.com will be added to all sessions and made available to attendees within 7 days of the event. 

Cost is reasonable at $US59 for VGA members & $US79 for non-members. 

Details at https://virtualgenealogy.org/2019-vga-conference/.

Virtual Genealogical Association - Free Conference Registration Competition

I have been an enthusiastic member of this online genealogy society since its inception in April 2018. The Association was founded by Katherine R. Willson, Christine Woodcock, Terri O’Connell, Tami Mize  and Lisa Alzo and now has an impressive membership list that reads like a who's who in the genealogy world.  

The Virtual Genealogical Society is a global organisation for the 21st century that fulfils the needs of family historians:

• whose circumstances make it difficult to attend local genealogical society meetings
• who prefer online presentations, special interest groups (SIGs), conferences, and socializing
• with an interest in connecting, networking, and mentoring with global genealogists.

The Association has announced its VGA virtual conference to be held from November 1-3, 2019! 

Speakers include Judy G Russell and Blaine Bettinger from the US,  Fiona Brooker from New Zealand, Ursula Krause from Germany, Audrey Collins from the UK and Helen Smith from Australia. 

Australians who may be sleeping while the live sessions are broadcast will not miss out on any of the sessions. Attendees will have access to recordings & handouts for all sessions for 6 months following the event - watch any time, any place, on any device. 

Closed captioning via Rev.com will be added to all sessions and made available to attendees within 7 days of the event. 

Cost is reasonable at $US59 for VGA members & $US79 for non-members. 

Details at https://virtualgenealogy.org/2019-vga-conference/.

You have a chance to win a Free Registration to this event. 

 

As the Convenor of the New South Wales Chapter of of the Association I have a FREE Registration Code to share with one of my genimates.

* This competition is open to both members and non-members of the Association

* Entries are restricted to one per person 

* The prize is not redeemable for cash

* The winner will be contacted by email and subsequently announced here on the Geniaus blog

* All entries must be received by Midnight (AEST) on Sunday 15 September

* The judges decision is final

To enter the competition you must:

* 1. Share this blog post with a comment in a public post on either your Twitter account, on Facebook or in a blog post. I must be able to access and share your posts.

* 2. Using the subject line "VGA Competition" Email jillballau@gmail.com with a link to your social media post.

Good Luck

Rootstech 2019 - Pass Giveaway

One of the perks of being a RootsTech 2019 Ambassador is that I receive a free pass for myself and one to give to one of my genimates. RootsTech 2019 will be held at The Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 27 to March 2, 2019.

Each year I pack my bags and make the long trek from Australia to Salt Lake City to attend Rootstech, The Greatest Geneashow on Earth, because it is the best. This competition provides me with an opportunity to give someone else a chance to experience the excitement and education Rootstech offers.

The winner of this competition will 

 receive a complimentary RootsTech 2019 Pass with access to:

• Over 300 Classes
• Keynote / General sessions
• Expo Hall
• Evening Events

This 4-Day Pass does not include airfare, hotel or the coverage of any other expenses. If the winner has already registered for RootsTech 2019, the original registration fee will be refunded.

What do you need to do to be in the draw?

Send an email to jillballau@gmail.com and please use the subject line Rootstech 2019 Pass Giveaway.

We all know that there is plenty to see and do in and around Salt Lake City. In the body of the email please tell me three things (apart from attending Rootstech)  a Rootstech attendee should do while in Salt Lake City. Remember to include your name and contact details.

By entering this draw you give permission for your name to reported on social media.

I will publish the winner's name on this blog by Friday 16th November. Please forward your entries to me by midnight Tuesday 13th November (GMT time).

For the time challenged

Rootstech Expo Hall

Lucky Lisa

I am thrilled to announce that geneablogger Lisa Gorrell from California, USA, is the winner of my Rootstech Pass Giveaway that was drawn on Wednesday in front of members at the monthly meeting of the Hornsby Shire Family History Group. 

Hornsby member, Jenni (Left), drew Lisa's name out of the envelope.

Thanks to all those who entered my competition by telling me three things a Rootstech attendee needs to take to Rootstech to enhance his/her experience. 

Lisa suggested these: 

1. Lots of colored pens to write notes
2. Good walking shoes to get around the big convention center
3. Largest enough suitcase to bring back all the goodies you'll find in the exhibit hall.

In the coming days I will compile a list of all the entrants suggestions that may assist those who are coming to Rootstech 2017.

I look forward to meeting Lisa in the flesh at Rootstech.

Rootstech Pass Giveaway

One of the perks of being a RootsTech 2018 Ambassador is that I receive a free pass for myself and one to give to one of my genimates. I need to run a little competition to select a winner.

The winner will receive a complimentary RootsTech 2018 4-day pass ($279 value) with access to:

• Over 300 classes
• Keynote / General sessions
• RootsTech classes
• Innovation Showcase
• Expo hall
• Evening events

This 4-Day Pass does not include airfare, hotel or the coverage of any other expenses. If the winner has already registered for RootsTech 2018, the original registration fee will be refunded.

What do you need to do to be in the draw?

In an email to jillballau@gmail.com please use the subject line Rootstech 2018 Pass Giveaway.

In the body of the email please tell me three things a Rootstech attendee needs to take to Rootstech to enhance his/her experience. Remember to include your name and contact details.

So that all is above board I will draw the winner at the next meeting of my local family history group, The Hornsby Shire Family History Group, on November 15th and will publish the winner's name on this blog.

Please forward your entries by noon Monday 13th November GMT time.

By entering this draw you give permission for your name to reported on social media.

Rootstech 2017

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.

GeniAus' Rootstech Free Pass Giveaway

If you are considering a trip to RootsTech in Salt Lake City from February 8-11, 2017 you might like to save on Registration. As a RootsTech Ambassador I have a complimentary RootsTech plus Innovator Summit 2017 4-day pass, valued at $299 to give away.

It includes:

• Innovator Summit 
• Over 200 classes
• Keynotes
• General sessions
• RootsTech sessions
• Getting Started classes
• Expo hall
• Evening events

If you are one of the organised folk who has already registered for RootsTech you can still enter as, if you are the winner, you will receive a refund of your registration fee from the organisers.

This contest is only for a complimentary registration to the full four-day conference ($299 value) - you are responsible for all other associated costs.

Entering my contest is easy: 
 For me one of the most exciting parts of Rootstech is networking with fellow genies and presenters. 

1) 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.

2) Please share your link on Social Media with the phrase GeniAus with [persons's name] at Rootstech [year] and let me know of it in an email to jillballau@gmail.com with the subject 2017 Rootstech Giveaway.

3) The winner is also invited to find me in the Media Hub so that we can meet in person and have a happy snap together.

4) The Judges's decision is final.

All entries must be received by Midnight (GMT) on Monday 14 November and I will try to notify the winner by email before Midnight (GMT) on Wednesday 16 November. I will subsequently announce the winner in a blog post on the GeniAus blog.

An Example Post: GeniAus with Jenny, Hilary and Pauleen at Rootstech 2015

Disclosure: I am an RootsTech 2017 Ambassador and one of the advantages is being given this free registration. I have also received a complimentary registration to RootsTech 2017 but I will have to outlay several thousand of my own dollars to make the trip to Rootstech.

Win a Rootstech Registration

All of the Official Ambassadors for the Rootstech 2017 Conference have been given a Free Rootstech Pass to give away to one of their readers/followers/groupies. If they all Ambassadors participate there will be a lot of free passes on offer up to the cutoff  on November 30.

I must put my thinking cap on and devise a game of skill or chance so that I can also give my prize away. In the meantime I am noticing that several of my Genimates have posted details of thier competitions.

Ruby Baird has put details of her giveaway on her Instagram Account : her Instagram handle is @genealogyrambler. Her blog can be found here:  genealogyrambler.blogspot.com

Randy Seaver has his on his blog at http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/10/win-free-rootstech-2017-february-8-11.html

Lara Diamond has also shared details of her giveaway on her blog here: https://larasgenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/rootstech-free-admission-contest.html

As I see more competitions appear I will try to share them on social media.

We have a Winner

Thanks to all the genies from around the world who entered my competition to win a full Rootstech Pass.

While I would like to have given the pass to an Australian I resisted the tempatation and conducted a fair competition.... it came down to the luck of the draw. All entrants bar one submitted the correct answer, 19,  so I had to draw a name. I wrote each name on one of my business cards and shuffled and shuffled before selecting the top card.

The winner was Leslie Lawson, whose name is actually familiar to me through her blog, Genealogy and other thoughts, After checking Leslie's bio I found that she was from Oregon so she will have to incur some expense to travel to Salt Lake City for Rootstech. This generous prize from the organisers should relieve some of that financial burden.

I hope that all of the entrants will consider attending Rootstech, it is worth every cent (and more). You will need to move quickly to Register before October 15th at The Earlybird Price of $US149. 

Leslie, I will be forwarding your Rootstech Winner Certificate by email. 

Rootstech Pass Giveaway

I am a Rootstech 2016 Ambassador.

This year I am hosting a very simple competition to determine the winner of my "One complimentary RootsTech 2016 3-day pass ($249 value)."

Don't worry if you have already registered for Rootstech. If you are the winner you will receive a refund from the organisers.

To Enter:

1. Follow this link

2. Scroll down to the  Sponsor List

3. Count up the total number of sponsors listed

4. Email that number together with your name, email address (and twitter handle and blog URL if you have them) to jillballau@gmail.com by Midnight (GMT) 12 October 2015. Please write "Rootstech Giveaway" in the subject line of your email.

5. I will notify the successful entrant and pass on details as to how to collect the prize.

The winning entry will be announced on the GeniAus blog, Google+ and Twitter on 14 October 2015.

NB This prize is for a Rootstech Pass only. All other costs associated with attendance at the Conference are the responsibility of the prize recipient.

I'm a winner - You can be too

I am a winner because I am off to Rootstech in 2016.  Although I have attended this event several time its gloss does not lose its sheen. I get to meet old friends, make new ones, hear some world class speakers, interview some interesting folk and, if I can spare the time, do some research in the Family History Library.

Additionally I have been selected as both a Rootstech Speaker and a Rootstech Ambassador - that will make me doubly busy but will bring more than double the fun. I have been given the graveyard shift on the Friday for my panel session "GS2384 - Dealing with Ethical Dilemmas in an Online World" where I will be joined by some fellow Genealogy Rockstars.  It is excitiing to see my Speaker Bio (we had to make them short) online. The Ambassadors' bios are yet to come.

You can be a winner because, as one of my Ambassador perks, I have a Rootstech Registration to give away. In the next few days I'll think up some sort of simple competition for my Rootstech Giveaway.   Watch this blog for further details later in the week.

My first ever Rootstech Interview with the late Joan Miller, and Jay Verkler (Familysearch CEO) in 2011

I believe that Rootstech Registrations will open today, 15th Spetember. (US time).  As a Rootstech Ambassador I have a Free Conference Registration to give away. In the next few weeks I will be announcing a competition for this prize so watch this space.

In the meantime perhaps you might be interested in thie following:

Submissions for the 2016 Innovator Showdown are now being accepted! FamilySearch International is looking for the next big innovative idea that will impact not only an industry worth billions, but also generations of families—past, present, and future! The 2016 Innovator Showdown will be held in conjunction with RootsTech, happening February 3–6, 2016, at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Innovator Showdown will be a global innovation competition for developers and entrepreneurs seeking an opportunity to impact the growing family history industry while competing for $100,000 in cash and other prizes. Innovators in any industry that have solutions directly or indirectly related to family history are invited to enter the showdown. Click the button below for showdown details and to enter. Submission portal closes December 1, 2015. ENTER THE SHOWDOWN

We have a winner - Rootstech Competition

Thank you to all those who submitted entries in my recent competition to win a free registration to Rootstech 2015.

Congratulations go to the winner, Karla Robinett, who wrote an enthusiastic Geneapoem for her entry. If you feel like following Karla's example and writing a bit of Geneapoetry using the entries in the Geneadictionary please do. I would be delighted to publish your efforts there.

Here is Karla's entry:

I’m a Trogenealodyte holed up like a mouse.

 

Leafing through the Treetops in my Treehouse,

 

Decrapifying my Cousin’s Sourcey crap.

 

Sinking in a Tangential  Lineage Trap.

 

A Geneajaunt to Rootstech with Flying Monkeys will be

 

The true Genea – Jewel for a Geneafreak like me.

 

(I’ll be doing a Geneajigg!!!)

I hope Karla has her Dancing Shoes ready!

Where GeniAus gets a chance to play Santa.

One of the nice perks of being a Rootstech Ambassador is that I get to give some lucky person a nice Christmas present. 

The kind folk at Rootstech have given me "One complimentary RootsTech 2015 3-day pass ($239 value) for one of your lucky subscribers." If you have already registered for Rootstech you can still enter this competition as I will supply a code to the winner and, if you have already registered, you will get a refund from Rootstech. If you haven't registered yet winning this competition might just change your mind about attending this premier event in Salt Lake City in February 2014.

This prize only covers your entry to the event, you will be responsible for all travel, accommodation and incidental expenses.

So what do you have to do to win this prize? 

You need to tell me in 50 words or less using as much Geneajargon as you can from my Geneadictionary http://geneadictionary.wordpress.com why you are or why you would like to attend Rootstech 2015. Of course you could use newly created geneajargon that can be added to the Geneadictionary. As a condition of entry you give permission for your entry to be posted in the Geneadictionary.

Please email your entries to jillballau@gmail.com by midnight (GMT) Friday 12 December.

I look forward to reading your contributions.

And the winner of my Rootstech competiton is....

...Fran Kitto aka TravelGenee from Australia.

Fran who is active on Google+, Twitter and in the geneablogging world submitted her post Preparation for RootsTech for a First Timer  as her entry in the competition and it was the lucky one to jump out of GeniAus' hat. 

Congratulations, Fran, you will now have a few extra dollars to buy some of the geneatreasures on sale at Rootstech this year.

I hope you have time to sahre your Rootstech excitement via social media.

C'mon Mate - Win a Prize valued at $239

I have been reminded by the generous folk at Rootstech that I have not awarded the Free Registration to Rootstech 2014 that is to be held from February 6th to 8th at the Salt Palace Convention Center In Salt Lake City and that I have at my disposal as an Official Blogger. This prize can be taken as a new registration or a refund of a registration already paid. Of course if you paid a discounted fee then that is what will be refunded.

I need to run a competition to award this prize. As it is the Australia Day weekend the competition will have an Australian theme.

For your chance to won this super prize please share on your blog or favourite Social Media site something with an Australian connection to Rootstech. It could be a photo you took of one of the Aussies you met at Rootstech, it could be a blog post written by an Australian about Rootstech, it could be a recount of a meeting with an Aussie at Rootstech, it could be some information you learnt from an Aussie who attended Rootstech or it could be information on a product you heard about from the Aussie vendor who was at Rootstech 2013.

So that everyone has a whole weekend to dream up their entry the competition will close at:

Honolulu (U.S.A. - Hawaii)           Sunday, 26 January 2014 at 11:00:00 PM HAST UTC-10 hours 
Sydney (Australia - New South Wales) Monday, 27 January 2014 at 8:00:00 PM  AEDT UTC+11 hours 
Corresponding UTC (GMT)              Monday, 27 January 2014 at 09:00:00  

I don't want to miss your entry so please email me at jillballau@gmail.com with your details and a link to your contribution.

The judge's decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. If it is too difficult a task for me I will pop your names in a hat and draw one at random. Once a winner has been selected I will forward their details to the Rootstech folk who will take care of the business end of things.

The Dr Rex Stubbs OAM Memorial Annual Scholarship

I snipped this from the latest eNewsletter of The Royal Australian Historical Society. I'm wondering if I should apply.

---------------

Entries are now open for the Dr Rex Stubbs OAM Memorial Annual Scholarship. To enter, write why you would like to attend the Royal Australian Historical Society (RAHS) state conference and gain a two year membership to RAHS. Using any media, express why the history of the Hawkesbury is important to you, or why an aspect of Hawkesbury¹s history is of interest to you. This may be done in writing, by an artwork or in a digital presentation. Entries close on Saturday, 31 August 2013. The Royal Australian Historical Society state conference will be held at Katoomba during 2-3 November 2013. The theme of the conference is ³The Great Divide: Getting there from here², examining place and landscape; museum collections; new family history resources; and commemorating the past. The scholarship is available to residents of the Hawkesbury Local Government Area (LGA), members of historical groups from within the LGA as well as Council¹s Cultural Services (Museum, Gallery and Library) volunteers. Further details and an entry form can be downloaded from Council¹s website here. Alternatively, brochures with all details and an entry form may be picked up from Council¹s Administration Building; Hawkesbury Central Library, Windsor; Richmond Branch Library; Hawkesbury Regional Museum; Hawkesbury Regional Gallery or the Hawkesbury Visitor Information Centre. Please contact Hawkesbury Central Library on (02) 4560 4460 if you wish to have a brochure posted or emailed to you.