27 Tuesday Mar 2018
Posted in Database and Indexes, Essentials, Local History, Uncategorized
People don’t welcome change but sometimes the NEW version is better than the OLD version. That’s the case with the updated PROV website!
There is still more to be added but it’s definitely worth using the new version.
Learn some simple steps and start to really enjoy using it!
04 Saturday Nov 2017
Posted in Essentials, Events
Sometimes you just have to read something! It’s not very long – less than 1,670 words – in fact less than 4 pages.
I challenge anyone who has ever done any family or local history research to read this and not want to go back for more or to pass it on to others.
Graeme is well known for a number of books such as the Rise and Fall of Marvellous Melbourne. On 16th October 2017 Graeme spoke at the 2017 Victorian Community History Awards at the Arts Centre in Melbourne – fortunately you can read his words in the Public Record Office Victoria blog.
I hope this blog never disappears as it deserves to be read again and again.
In fact if you ever find it missing, I’ve copied the text to a safe place and would not hesitate to ask for it to be reinstated.
Enjoy – it’s definitely worth reading.
21 Monday Aug 2017
Posted in Essentials, Events, Personal History
Tags
DNA, Family History Research, German research, Irish research, Italian Research, My Heritage, Researching Intercosatal Shipping and Passengers, Researching Women
I’m back home after attending the full two days of ‘Researching Abroad’ in Melbourne – ONE major complaint! I didn’t want it to end!
Friday was predominantly Chris PATON on Scottish, Irish, and English research.
Saturday was predominantly Dirk Weissleder on German and European research.
Which was best? I just feel sorry for the people who had / have to choose between one or the other – I was lucky as Melbourne was a two-day experience and I absolutely loved both and learnt so much from them.
In addition to Chris and Dirk I really enjoyed the MyHeritage presentations, Part 1 and Part 2 with Rosemary and Eric Kopittke – definitely worthwhile.
I caught up with a number of friends and former colleagues and was delighted to meet up with my fellow ‘Official Ambassadors’ – Anne Young (left) and Jennifer Jones (middle).
Apart from my own German ancestry (New South Wales) there were a lot of German immigrants to my ‘local’ region – Geelong and District. I’m definitely keen to follow up more with the German-Australian Genealogy and History Alliance and the International German Genealogy Partnership.
It was a great two days – you still have a chance to attend the Adelaide and Perth sessions so jump up and do it!
14 Monday Aug 2017
Posted in Essentials, Events, Personal History
Tags
DNA, Family History Research, German research, Irish research, Italian Research, My Heritage, Researching Intercosatal Shipping and Passengers, Researching Women
From famine to feast! I’m making the most of my newfound mobility minus the moon-boot and with wheels!
It all kicks off today with the first Family History talk I’m giving for some months – at the Wyndham Plaza Library in Werribee – TWO talks this afternoon – they’re free and you can still book. I’m really hoping I’ll catch up with some old friends there.
Mind you I WILL have trouble seeing people there because my hair is SO LONG as I haven’t been able to get to the hairdressers for SO LONG. I have to keep pushing the hair out of my eyes!
Things will improve by Wednesday as that is when I will get my hair cut – Yippee!
Then I am SO looking forward to listening and learning instead of talking on Friday and Saturday at the Unlock the Past Researching Abroad event at Bulleen in Melbourne. It is just so great to be out and about but even more-so to get to this event. Yes – I’m an ‘Official Ambassador’ and more than happy to promote the event because the two days are SO relevant to my own family history research:
Hope to see you at Werribee or Bulleen or both!
28 Wednesday Jun 2017
Posted in Essentials, Events, Important news
Read the details on my other blog – time to get a move on and save money!
20 Saturday May 2017
Posted in Essentials, My Family, Research books
Tags
Books, East End of London, German research, Irish Maps, Shipping and Passengers to Victoria, Squatters and Pastoralists Victoria
If there is one thing that GeniAus could really get me motivated about it has to be books – but what a challenge … FIVE???? … Five Faves Geneameme.
FIVE books? My Library Catalogue contains 3,008 items. Oh, I have heaps more – they’re just the ones that are catalogued at this stage!
How is it humanly possible to choose just FIVE from that collection? Now that’s what I call a challenge.
I have other priority things I should be working on but decided doing this blog would get me in the right mood! So here is how I reduced it from 3,008 to just 5!
First I tried the books I pulled off the shelves more often than others.
Then I looked at the books that weren’t fully available on the web.
Next I looked at the books that I used for ‘local’ research [VICTORIA] when I did research for others, and my own personal family research [NOT local].
Finally I tried to look for a real variety.
GeniAus I hope you realise the sleepless night(s) you caused! So finally here they are …
| Book No. 1 | |
| Title | Pastoral Pioneers of Port Phillip |
| Author(s) | R V Billis and A S Kenyon |
| Description | From the foreword: In this work the names of the true pioneers of Port Phillip, and of the properties they held under depasturing licenses, are perpetuated.
It is in two main parts: Part I – Pastoral Licensees [the people]; Part II – the Port Phillip Runs [the property names]. And don’t skip the Notes at the end – additions to both Parts. Details include the name of the District and potentially a number of different runs. Other information could include: years / dates the run was held, arrival, birth or death, and sundry other data. |
| Cover |  |
| Book No. 2 | |
| Title | Dielheimer Familienbuch 1648-1900 mit Horrenberg, Balzfeld, Unterhof und Oberhof |
| Author(s) | Klaus Ronellenfitsch |
| Description | If you don’t have German ancestors then you mightn’t be interested in this one. BUT if you have any non-English speaking ancestors this may perhaps get you thinking and encourage you to tackle this type of research.
To ease you into the Familienbuch, have a look at ‘The Ortssippenbuch (OSB)‘; and the ‘Local Family Books (The OFBs of Germany)‘ on Family Search. Then get a little more adventurous with the ‘Family Book‘; the Dielheimer Familienbuch 1648-1900 and the ‘Online Local Family Books‘. How did I learn about these books? Jenny Paterson from the Burwood and District Family History Group has written many excellent articles on (Australian) German research for their journal ‘Ances-tree’. I can’t stress how important it is to follow every ‘lead’ – footnotes, references, sources and bibliographies. This is the golden rule for every book, database, website etc. – you will learn so much doing this. I believe that because of Jenny’s work, the Society of Australian Genealogists has the larges collection of Famillenbuch in Australia. I was able to purchase the one relevant to my own family and location of Oberhof in Germany via the web direct from the author. Using the book I was able to confirm a possible ancestor from Family Search adding siblings, parents and another generation to my family. I can’t wait until someone produces the book for Epfenbach! And don’t forget to use Google Translate and/or the browser Chrome to translate entire web pages and site. |
| Cover |  |
| Book No. 3 | |
| Title | London’s East End: Life and Traditions |
| Author(s) | Jane Cox |
| Description | How good does it feel – browsing through maps, sketches, history and lots of photographs from the East End of London where my French Huguenot Silk Weaver ancestors lived for so many years? From the various Censuses I know that for some years they lived in Brick Lane – 37, 43, 45-7, 49, 117, 120, 142, 147, 179, 186 – all entries from the index.
Using this book I can immerse myself into their world – an absolute joy that literally gives you goose-bumps. |
| Cover |  |
| Book No. 4 | |
| Title | A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland |
| Author(s) | Brian Mitchell |
| Description | If you don’t love maps you are really missing something in your family history research.
Some people put Ireland in the ‘too-hard’ basket, however understanding the various geographical, ecclesiastical and administrative boundaries will help you with your research and selecting the right resources. Bounties, Baronies, Poor Law Unions, Civil Parishes, Dioceses and Probate Districts are all important to your research. It is also so important to become familiar with ‘the neighbourhood’ – those places that are so close to where your ancestors lived. |
| Cover |  |
| Book No. 5 | |
| Title | Shipping Arrivals and Departures, Victorian Ports
Vol. 1 1798-1845 Vol. 2 1846-1855 Vol. 3 1856-1860 |
| Author(s) | Marten A Syme |
| Description | OK – I know there are three physical books but it IS one series – you just can’t separate them.
Just because you’ve found a digital copy of a passenger list which shows your ancestor you haven’t finished your family history research if you haven’t looked at the entry for that specific journey in Syme’s books. What port did it come from, when did it depart, when did it arrive, and where did it go next and when. What was the cargo? Was it a special voyage for Assisted Immigrants? Who was the Master? What was the source of the information provided? And Volume 3 includes a huge amount on the minor ports of Victoria – you will learn so much from the cargo on arrival and departure. Don’t rush – absorb and learn from this wonderful series! |
| Cover |  |
Don’t forget to use your local library or inter-library loan to access these books!
08 Wednesday Feb 2017
Posted in Database and Indexes, Essentials, Events, Important news, My projects
Things are starting to happen and with your help I can get rid of the really really sad face.
19 Thursday May 2016
Posted in Essentials, Important news, Personal History, Uncategorized
I posted a blog a couple of weeks ago [ #sun7 ] lamenting the demise of Hobart on Sunrise in the order of weather on the info strip at the bottom of the screen.
History has been made in more ways than one! I’m not sure if it happened earlier this week but I definitely noticed it this morning – Hobart is back in it’s rightful place. I could be forgiven not spotting it earlier this week as Monday morning I picked up the keys to my new home [renting a lovely unit in South Geelong]. Needless to say I’ve been a tad busy but this morning I woke in my own bed in my new home and had a lazy lie-in watching Sunrise … and I nearly fell out of bed – Hobart came after Darwin and before Melbourne – exactly where it should be! It really felt like all was right with the world … and Hobart.
BUT another bit of history is being made NOW as I type – this if the first blog I’ve posted from my new home. I confess – the computer is all hooked up and working on my kitchen bench while I sort out the new office [spare bedroom] etc. but I can’t spend too long chatting – the list of chores is LONG.
I have separate pages on my dining room table to write on – complete with pen handy:
OK – TASKS and TO-DO items are yelling very loudly so this is enough blogging for now – I’ve created history so I must move on.
OH – and my pussy cat is yelling loudly – currently locked in the bathroom until I let him explore his new home further – probably tonight when I’ve stopped going in and out the doors every two minutes! Best thing is that he was allowed to live with me in my new home.
Happy, tired, contented …
11 Wednesday Nov 2015
Posted in Essentials, Events, Important news
If you’re doing family history and looking for BDMs in Victoria then you MUST read my other blog – I don’t have time to repeat everything and you only need to read this in one place to appreciate it!
ENJOY!
05 Sunday Apr 2015
Posted in Essentials, My projects
I thought it was about time I reposted my favourite saying. I can’t remember how long I’ve been repeating it to myself but I know it’s been a long, long time.
What triggered this was someone implying that I wasn’t prepared to get off my backside and learn and suggested that I wanted to be spoon-fed. As she doesn’t know me, I won’t even bother to retaliate!
And my favourite saying? …
If you don’t learn something new every day …
you’re just not listening to the rest of the world.
