June Newsletter

Antique Valuation Day This day was another huge success and thanks must go to the hard working committee and members who made the day the great day that it was.  The quality of the items presented for valuation were of a very high standard.  National family History Week 2 -10 August, 2008 As our August workshop falls within this period it was decided at the Executive meeting to open up our workshop to members of the community.  The theme for the workshop will be offering help to find an elusive ancestor [details to be finalized at the next meeting].   Because of the 4.5sq.m space we operate in it is not possible to do anything in that space so the Boronia Room would be used as normal.  As stated many times before, members of the Executive are not the experts so we are calling on members to share their talents and perhaps give a short 5 – 10 mins talk on a particular website or cd you have used with success.  Presentation would best be done on an overhead projector so everyone can see.  Please let me know asap  if you are willing to help. Reminder:  Membership subs are now due Please put you money in an envelope with your name and amount and give it to Marie who will issue receipts as soon as convenient. Ann Watson raised the question of the membership cards which were issued for the first time last financial year. Have you ever used yours? These cards are a lot of work for Ann and Di and it was felt it was not worth the time it takes so these cards would only be issued for members of the Executive. New computer Marie has purchased another new computer and has loaded some programs on to it.  Michelle has been chasing up internet connection for us and from an email received today it looks as though that might happen soon. Thanks to Marie and Michelle. Dates for your diary Saturday August 2        National Family History Week   Sunday August 31        Maitland Fair, Maitland City Bowls, Sports & Rec. Club From the Mailbag Tree of Life, Wyong    Cure for Diseases of the Stomach and Intestines [1920] An interesting website: http://gownewspaperindexes.com.au Newspaper indexes for family history researchers from the following newspapers: Cumberland Mercury, Hunter River Gazette, Bombala Herald, Macleay Argus, Macleay Chronicle, Maitland Mercury, Manning River Chronicle, Manning River News, Manning River Times, Parramatta Chronicle, Port Macquarie News, Windsor & Richmond Gazette, Windsor Express, Australian Windsor Richmond and Hawkesbury Advertiser, Wingham Chronicle.  Whilst these newspapers appear to be local they cover a wide area so well worth looking at the list of surnames for each paper. Let me know if there are some the group should purchase. My female Ancestral Blanket….those crafty members will love this one! Search Tips for Problem Surnames Maitland Reminiscences John Goulston 1869-1961 Clarence William Sanders Terrible & Disastrous Fire in West Maitland Members’ Interests AFTC JULY 2008 Early Probate Records: Computers & Genealogy www.records.nsw.gov.au/early-probate More National Burial Index records www.findmypast.co/home.jsp Genanz Mailing List http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/AUS/GENANZ.html Decisions of the Superior Courts of NSW 1788-1899 www.law.mq.edu.au/scsw/index.htm Irish Famine Memorial Sydney Australia www.irishfaminememorial.org/default.htm Working Boarders: The Boarding out Scheme in NSW 1880 – 1920 http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=commwkpapers July Workshop will be next Saturday 5 July.  Marg will give a short presentation on the merits of joining a group. Best Wishes,   Marilynne Sharp, Secretary

May Newsletter

Those present at the last workshop would have been most impressed by the amount of research done by Brian A’Hearn.  Thank you Brian for sharing your journey with those present. The Resource Room seems to be a very busy place on Monday mornings.  Members have been able to help non-members with research. Elaine, Gordon and Eric helped Marlene Elkins with her research and Marlene gave a donation of $50 and a lovely card with a message of thanks.It has been proposed a form be completed by the enquirer before research is started.  This will alert the person to the fact that there is a charge and it will help us keep a record of research.  The information on the form could also be used for follow-ups.  The Executive is working on this.  Once this form is in use it will be up to the member on duty to collect the money and place it in the locked cupboard. Vince spoke to Sue about connecting a second computer to the Internet and it would appear this will not happen in the near future. Vicki Brooke, Museum Co-ordinator at Por Stephens Council has organised another meeting between local Family History/Historical Societies next Friday at Lemon Tree Passage.  The aim of the meeting is to compile a list of resources each group has.  I am not sure how this list will be used.  T.F.H.G. will be well represented at this meeting. The mailbag has been a little on the light side this month.  Some quotes from Footprints from Port Macquarie: Taken from actual writings from Hospital Charts: On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night. Discharge status: Alive but without permission Patient has two teenage children but no other abnormalities. The patient refused autopsy. The patient has no previous history of suicides. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year. Valuation Day is 28th June  Helpers are required to set up the room at 8.30am.  Elaine is again taking on the task of looking after refreshments and will be glad of some helpers.  The menu has been extended to include a cup of soup & bread for $5 and sandwiches and drink for $5 as well as the scones & drink for $2.50.  If any one would like to bring a plate of sandwiches or a pot of soup it would be very much appreciated.  Please talk to Elaine on Saturday if you can help. Marie will be on the door taking names and money.  Cost will remain the same as last time.  $5 will give admission plus one valuation.  If you have 2 items then it will cost you $10.  If you have nothing to be valued it will still cost $5 for a very good day’s entertainment. [This is the same as last time.] There will be a raffle. 1st prize Box of fruit [value $40], 2nd prize Salamander Book, 3rd prize Bottle of wine.  Tickets 50c.  If anyone has anything for lucky door prizes it would be appreciated. There will be just one display table this time promoting the group, Salamander Book sales, Pioneer Register and Pedigree Certificates. Please spread the word about the Valuation Day. Thanks to Alwyne for the three new computer chairs in the Resource Room. Our website is looking very professional thanks to Michelle’s talents and hard work.  Please have a look at it and give Michelle some feed back.  Don’t forget our members’ page.  There are still lots of people who don’t have the names they are researching on our page. Next weekend is the long weekend but there will be a workshop Our AGM will be on 6th September at 9AM .  Please note the earlier start as on that day we will have a speaker coming from State Archives to talk about what’s new at State Archives. Those who attended the Newcastle Family History Seminar last weekend thoroughly enjoyed the two presenters.   Please remember to spread the word about the Valuation Day ……it’s our best form of advertising. Hope to see you on Saturday.   Marilynne Sharp Secretary. 49810177.

April Newsletter

APRIL NEWSLETTER 2008 Our Antique Valuation Day was a huge success both socially and financially.  One hundred and eighteen valuations were done on the day and we saw some fine examples of English and European porcelain, some “to die for” silverware and lots of Oriental “objects d’art”. Many thanks to our members and especially those on the Executive who gave so freely of their time. The raffle brought in $117.50, Morning Tea 182.35, Valuations $642.00 which gave the  great total of $795.00 profit. The raffle was won by an ex-member and friend to many of us, Noeline Carroll, second prize went to Elaine Munro’s son and Tom Parrott won third prize.  Thanks to all for supporting the raffle. Computer A new [second-hand] computer was purchased and is up and running.  Thanks to Marie and Barry. Donations Grahame Miller has donated a Queensland Police Gazette 1871 – 1880 Thanks Grahame. Pioneers Group and Website Michelle Gilliver-Smith has joined the group of researchers working on the Pioneer Register.  Michelle will be checking information already found.  Michelle has also offered to take over maintenance of our webpage.  She has asked that members have a look at it as it is and that they bring constructive criticism to the next workshop.  This might be a good opportunity for members to give Michelle the names of people they are researching so they can be added to our member’s list page.  Our thanks to Marg and Di for their work on the site in the past. Guest Speaker Brian A’Hearn will be our guest speaker on Saturday.  Brian is a wealth of information and I am sure we will all learn from him. Our insurance bill had to be paid and now that the RAHS asks for specific numbers in each age group we will have to modify our membership and renewal forms so this information is readily available at insurance renewal time. Resource Room: Council has had holes drilled into our workbench so the towers can go underneath giving up more working space.  Council has also been asked if we can have our new computer hooked up to the internet.  Members are reminded that time on the internet is restricted to 30 minutes if there are other people waiting.  A reminder too that printing must be paid for.  Duty Librarians please make sure the cupboard is locked when leaving.  The Resource Room seems to be a busy place on Mondays which is good.  Thanks to those who have been working in the Resource Room. New Resources: The Genealogist : March, June, September, December 2007 Your Family History: September, October, Spring 2007 Family History Monthly: July 2007 Family Tree Magazine : August 2007 Searching Overseas, Susan Pedersen The A to Z Genealogical Handbook, Janet Reekes Tracing Your Family History in Australia, Nick Vine Hall Electoral Registers since 1832 and Burgess Rolls, Jeremy Gibson & Colin Rogers The Complete Guide to Military Records, Your Family Tree Searching Overseas, Susan Pedersen Searching for Mary Ann, Lenore Frost Kith & Kin, Mortlock Library of SA Family History Research in NZ, Anne Bromell Compiling Your Family History, Nancy Gray Cemeteries of Australia, Faye M Young The Queensland Source Book, Perry McIntyre The History and Records of West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, Andrew Peake My Ancestor was a Merchant Seaman, Christopher T & Michael  Watts SAG, Guide to the Library. The above magazines all gave cds with them so there is a wealth of information on them [far too much to list] The above magazines and books were donated by my friend from Melbourne. There are also lots of new journals and copies of AFTC. Newcastle Family History Group has invited our members to their annual Seminar on 24 May, 2008, at the Community of Christ Church Hall, Thomas St, Wallsend.  Guest presenters will be: Heather Garnsey: The treasure trove of resources held at the SAG                              Are your Ancestors Hiding? This session looks at the search techniques you should use when looking for someone in Australian indexes. Martyn Killion: This session focuses on the records of the Colonial Sec Dept                            Second session looks at how to trace living descendants through, probate, deceased estate files, newspaper and electoral rolls. Cost $15 includes morning and afternoon tea.  You have to bring your own lunch. A group of us went to learn from Heather and Martyn last year and found it an excellent informative day.  I strongly recommend it to you.  Perhaps we can car pool as we did last year.  You will need to photocopy the registration form and send it with your cheque to NFHG by 16th. Marilynne Sharp Secretary 49 810177.