Society of Australian Genealogists February events

A chronological list of all activities is now available for online viewing and bookings here. You can also phone Monday to Saturday during office hours on 9247 3953 or book over the desk during library hours Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday.

All activities are held at Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street unless otherwise specified.

• Saturday 1 February (10.30am - 12.30pm) - Getting Started on Your Family History - Members Only
  For new members with no family history research experience. Learn the basics of how to start researching, what to do, and where to find and ask for help. Members Only. Bookings Essential and limited to 10. Cost $10.00.
• Saturday 8 February (10.30am - 12.30pm) - Family Tree Maker User Group
  Join other users of this popular family history software for an opportunity to share tips and get help. Bookings essential. $8 ($12 non-members).
• Saturday 8 February (1.30pm - 3.30pm) - Reunion (for Mac) User Group
  Reunion users are invited to an informal meeting encouraging members to exchange information, ideas, and techniques. Bring your questions, laptop, iPad or iPhone. All Reunion users or potential users are invited. Bookings essential. $8 ($12 non-members).
• Thursday 13 February (10.30am - 12.30pm) - Writing Discussion Group
  Indexes are the first place you should look for information. So why are they at the back of the book? What do you put in them? How are they set out? Come and discover the answers to these intriguing questions. Bookings essential. $8 ($12 non-members).
• Saturday 15 February (1.30pm - 3.30pm) - The Master Genealogist Software Group - Using TMG to help your research
  Sue Dobson will lead a discussion on how to use TMG to prepare for your research. Rob Walley will demonstrate Mocavo and how to enter your results into TMG. Bookings essential. $8 ($12 non-members).
• Thursday 13 February (10.30am - 12.30pm) - English Research Group - Charles Booth Notebooks
  Charles Booth was a philanthropist and social researcher and spent many years in the late 1880s documenting the life of the working classes of London. We will discover how to use his maps and notebooks and look at the lives of some of the many families living in the East End of London who appear in these notebooks. Presenter - Pauline Kettle. Bookings essential. $8 ($12 non-members).
• Thursday 20 February (10.00am - 11.30pm) - Tour - Sydney Observatory Guided Tour
  Join a 90-minute tour guided by an astronomy educator which will include: the unique history of the observatory, a 3-D space theatre experience, a look at a simulated night sky in the digital planetarium and viewing through the telescope (weather permitting). Bookings essential. $15 ($22 non-members).
• Tuesday 25 February (8.00pm - 9.00pm AEST) - Webinar - Goldfields Research for NSW & Victoria
  There are an ever increasing number of resources available for tracing your ancestors on the Victorian and NSW goldfields. Philippa Garnsey will discuss the resources available at the SAG library and online, looking at many you may not have considered. Bookings essential and limited to SAG members only. Price $10.00.

A boom broom crop

From the Maitland Mercury report:

For most people the scorching summer is a sign to find shade but for Phoenix Park farmer John Wright, it is time to get to work.

Mr Wright has just finished harvesting his annual millet crop by hand – an exhaustive process that  takes him two full days.

The 72-year-old has been growing millet for more than 40 years at his Wrights Road farm, following five generations of production, and managed another bumper yield in 2014.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Jan. 22, 2014.

All-star cast in 2014 for Who Do You Think You Are?

Sydney Swans dual Brownlow medallist and 2014 New South Wales Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, broadcaster and television presenter Amanda Keller and writer, director and television host Paul McDermott have today been announced as the final cast members to join the sixth Australian season of celebrated genealogy program Who Do You Think You Are? which will air on SBS ONE later this year.

U.K. National Archives World War 1

The National Archives is making thousands of digitised First World War unit war diaries from France and Flanders available online.

The unit war diaries are among the most popular records from our First World War collection (file series WO 95) and the first in a series of First World War records to be digitised as part of our centenary programme - First World War 100. 

Newspapers added to Trove

        New South Wales newspapers recently added to Trove:      
*      The Australian Producer's Home Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1910)
*      Balmain Observer and Western Suburbs Advertiser (NSW : 1884 - 1907)
*      The Bathurst Daily Argus (NSW : 1909)
*      The Bombala Times (NSW : 1912 - 1938)
*      Bombala Times, Manaro, Coast Districts Advertiser (1899 - 1905)
*      Camden News (NSW : 1895 - 1954)
*      Construction and Real Estate Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1930 - 1938)
*      Dungog Chronicle : Durham and Gloucester Advertiser (NSW : 1894 - 1954)
*      The Elector (Sydney, NSW : 1900)
*      The Gundagai Independent (NSW : 1928)
*      Illawarra Daily Mercury (Wollongong, NSW : 1950 - 1954)
*      Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW : 1856 - 1950)
*      Jerilderie Herald and Urana Advertiser (NSW : 1892; 1898 - 1954)
*      The Mining Record and Grenfell General Advertiser (NSW : 1867 - 1876)
*      Mullumbimby Star & Byron Bay-Bangalow Advocate (NSW : 1936)
*      Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954)
*      The North Western Courier (Narrabri, NSW : 1913 - 1954)
*      Raymond Terrace Examiner ; Lower Hunter Port Stephens  (1912 -1954)
*      The Richmond River Express and Tweed Advertiser (NSW : 1903 - 1904)
*      The Scrutineer (NSW : 1892)
*      Tamworth Observer and Northern Advertiser (NSW : 1910)
*      The Telegraph and Shoalhaven Advertiser (NSW : 1879 - 1881)
*      The Tenterfield Courier and District Advocate (NSW : 1914)
*      The Tumut & Adelong Times (NSW : 1864 - 1867; 1899 - 1949)
*      Western Age (Dubbo, NSW : 1914 - 1932)
*      Western Grazier (Wilcannia, NSW : 1896 - 1951)

Suddenly Mansfield has a bright future

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Showing the care of a proud father, Chris Richards is bringing the history piece Mansfield back to use as a function centre.

It has required a substantial sum of cash and discussion with Maitland City Council

While the building had previously been used for functions, the former bank has undergone significant changes – to cater for 21st century events – that include a circular drive and establishing the main entrance at the rear.

“Without a doubt it will be the grandest building in Maitland if not the Hunter Valley and country NSW,” Mr Richards said.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Jan. 9, 2014.

Australian War Memorial

ANZAC Centenary
There have been a few changes to the Memorial's centenary of the First World War webpages over the last few weeks. Check out the new First World War interactive timeline and out new look landing page.
For updates on all of the Memorial's plans for the centenary, keep visiting our website.

History: magazine of the Royal Australian Historical Society

History: magazine of the Royal Australian Historical Society
Number 117, December 2013

• 2013 Certificates of Achievement - recognition to those memve4rs of societies whose contribution is significant and noteworthy
• President's address - historical societies in the regional economy
• Executive Officer report - RAHS State History Conference 2013
• Cultural grant winners 2013
• Heritage grant winners 2013
• The 2013 Lesley Muir address - Associate Professor John McQuilton
• Against the odds - the rescue of Betsey Broughton - Dr. Margaret Stevens
• Constructing an Australian identity - newspaper cartoons and illustrations from 1880 to 1940 - Dr. Janine Sagar
• Privateering and voyaging from Sydney during the French revolutionary and Napoleonic wars - Liet. Chris Maxworthy

Maitland's Jewish history revealed

From the Maitland Mercury report:

The history and intrigue behind one of Maitland’s oldest cemeteries will be revealed to the public to bring the city’s Jewish heritage to light.

The Friends of Maitland Jewish Cemetery, along with Maitland City Council, will host an information day in February to share the history of the cemetery with the public.

“We want to invite people to learn more about the cemetery, its history, cultural value and also the conservation methods used at the site,” council’s heritage officer Clare James said.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Jan. 6, 2014.

It's Dorset down under - family reunion

From the Maitland Mercury report:
It’s a history that traverses the globe, and dates back to 1849 in the Hunter Valley. Now the Soper family, originally of Dorset, England and more recently the Hunter Valley, is holding a family reunion.
Descendants of William and Mary Ann Soper who arrived in the Hunter Valley from Maiden Newton, Dorset England in 1849, will converge on Maitland Park this on Saturday, January 4.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Jan. 4, 2014.

Society of Australian Genealogists

Certificate Course in Genealogical Studies 2014

The SAG will again be offering this course in 2014. Applications will be open from 1 - 28 February and up to 25 places will be offered. The course information and application form will be available shortly at http://www.sag.org.au/events/courses-in-genealogy.html.

Top 100 Genealogy Websites for 2013

 From GenealogyInTime Magazine:

The top 100 list serves as a useful guide for both beginning and advanced genealogy users. It is always helpful to know what websites other people find useful and relevant. The top 100 list also provides some interesting insight into how the field of genealogy has evolved over the past year. 
See more at: Genealogy InTime

Maitland Mercury Super Show heritage

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The committee behind the Maitland Mercury Super Show has a new president who’s eager to build on the event’s proud heritage.
Greta’s Bill Smith, an angora fleece grower, has taken over from Trevor Hardes, who resigned from the position last year.
The committee has battled to secure funding to maintain heritage items including the grandstand, which was made off limits to spectators because of structural decay.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Jan. 3, 2014.

Aboriginal elder Lance Murray : proud of heritage

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Former alderman and historian Lance Murray is a nominee for Citizen of the Year in Maitland’s Australia Day celebrations.

As a regular attendee to the ceremonies at Maitland Park he was humbled to be considered for the award.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Jan. 1, 2014.

Maitland ready for more exciting developments in 2014

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Former Maitland historian, the late Harry Boyle, was a big believer in that what we learn from the past helps us to plan for the future.

He always referred to the Mercury – which celebrated its 170th anniversary on  January 7 – as the paper of record for Maitland, offering readers a window into the comings and goings of our vibrant city.

The Mercury continued that proud tradition again in 2013, covering the city’s personal triumphs and tragedies for the past 12 months.

Taking what we have learnt during the past year – and a leaf from Mr Boyle’s book – Maitland appears primed for big things in 2014.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Dec. 31, 2013.