Some leads coming my way?

Back in National Family History Month I was the winner of not one but two prizes in the Prize Draw. I am most grateful to all of the sponsors for their support of this event.

One of my prizes was 5 Birth, Death or Marriage Images  from The Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages. I was rather excited to win this as a few ancestors escaped to the Sunshine State and I don't know much about them. This prize is worth more than the $100 value to me.

I decided to order Death records as I thought I would get the most value from them. After a lot of deliberation and index searching I selected five people, three from my side of the family and three from Mr GeniAus' family. I have asked for records for a great-aunt and two first cousins once removed. On Mr Geniaus' side I've requested a first cousin once removed and a first cousin 3 times removed. I find the Queensland interface for searching more user friendly than the NSW one so my selection process was a pleasant activity.

Images ordered

I am hoping that I have spent my prize wisely and that the results lead me to find some new cousins.

My prize email from the The Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages says that I will have my images within four weeks - I can't wait.

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. 

The way to my heart

I'm a bit of a bibliophile who tries to be sensible and not spend too much on books so I love receiving bookish gifts. Today I was really spoilt.

As a thank you for my presentation at Hawkesbury Family History Group I was presented with some pretty flowers and a shiny black bag that contained two recently published books, a historical society journal on Hawkesbury Personalities and an FHG newsletter.  This gift chosen by the Group Coordinator,  Michelle Nichols, was so appropriate for a booklover.

When I delved into the bag I was reminded that speaker gifts were a topic of conversation at the recent  member forum at NSW and ACT Association of Family History Societies Conference. Delegates were discussing options of gifts for presenters other than the usual bottle of wine or box of chocolates. A few suggestions were bandied around, someone suggested pens made from special timbers , others suggested petrol vouchers or gift vouchers.

Having been the recipient of all of the above as well as several local history books I have appreciated the vouchers and books most of all. As with many things in life one size doesn't fit all.

What I was trying to get across in my talk today was the idea that we should not only be well-mannered but thoughtful genies as well. In her selection of a gift for me today Michelle demonstrated that thoughtfulness. 

BTW I had a beaut time at the event today and was most appreciative of the lovely comments and interesting family skeletons attendees shared with me after the talk.

The audience at Windsor this morning

Trove Tuesday - Granny Walz

Queenslander "Granny Walz" welcomed her 88th descendant in 1930. I wonder how many descendants there are around today and how many of them still reside in the Mackay area.

1930 'UNIQUE GENEALOGY.', The Week (Brisbane, Qld. : 1876 - 1934), 11 April, p. 7, viewed 12 October, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article182584787