Australian Genealogists

A group for genealogists downunder - with roots from all over the world
Load Previous Comments
  • Co Ordinator

    in reply to your question yes it is general discussion on what you are looking for etc; The top one above is for the sole purpose of answering the request in detail to the inquirer and the other is for such as you have posted in helping others find their families.

    Wayne

     

  • BOB MAY

    Hi Maree

    Most of my Ausy research is SA and Qld

    Oseas Germany Poland England Scotland? and Ireland

    Oh what a help for your Irish research, they are a troublesome lot

  • BOB MAY

    Yes its good to see all those records coming online

    Gues which County I want That lonley red dot in the northern half completely surrounded by layers of green :))

  • Helen Violet Smith

    Yes it is great to see the new records becoming available for Ireland and even a few for Monaghan! I might someday be able to find out more about my McAtavey and Courtenay lot.

    Times have certainly changed. The amount of online records, websites, blogs and other amazing social history information that is now available means that sleep is restricted to just a few hours and housework, well, we just won't discuss that! 

  • garryr

    I will be beginning to look for Kilmartins in Victoria shortly.
  • garryr

    Maree, that's really helpful. Not sure where the pioneer Index is. You might help me there?
  • BOB MAY

    Co Monaghan. Of the Northen 2/3 of Ireland I think it is the only Co not on the net

     

  • Carmel M Reynen

    Gary My aunt married a Kilmartin and my cousin has done a lot of work on them. Where in Vic are your guys?

     

  • Carmel M Reynen

    That would be correct Maree, it is much harder to get adoptive details, often Red cross will help out but unless his mother is willing to give the information the privacy thing is correct.
  • Co Ordinator

    Now that's a good idea, let's all band together, use our pooled resources and get a producer, put it all into perspective and there we have it our own TV show?

      Wayne

  • Geniaus

    More members, that's fantastic.

    How about a little introductory message to the group

     

  • Geniaus

    Longstanding members - how about you reintroduce yourself to other group members.

    You may even find some distant cousins lurking or an expert in your area.

  • Geniaus

    I'll start the ball rolling.

    I was the first member of this group.

    I live in Sydney and have been doing the family history for over 20 years, you can find more about me at my sites:

    geniaus.blogspot.com, genimates.blogspot.com

    and my tree is at www.geniaus.net

    I am @geniaus on twitter

    I am passionate about the use of technology especially web2.0 apps fro genealogy.

     

  • garryr

    Hey, my last job before retiring last year producer at iPRIME!!!!!!!!!
  • Andrew D. Kemp

    Let's keep the ball rolling.

    I live in Melbourne and have been doing the family history for over 18 years, and to help break down my brickwall (one of them) I am conducting a one-name study of KEMP and related families.

    My tree is at www.kempfamilyhistory.com

     

    I am @nastrond34 on twitter

    I am passionate about genealogy and update my database daily, manage webboards and mailing lists and try to assist others.

  • Deborah Neyle

    Introducing self - Deb N 

    Hi all, my name is Deb. I live in Auburn, Western Sydney. I have only been working on FH since 2008 when I inherited a great, disorganised pile of stuff from my father. I am lucky to have a reasonable surname (NEYLE) but am still at the stage of trying to confirm all the info. I have obtained from Dad. His method of storage was various shoe-boxes so I am hoping to do better than that. I have a goal of following all relevant lines back to our arrival in Australia but sometimes I feel this is a bit ambitious. All research so far suggests that the Neyle family swam here from Devon,, England. I also have strong German influences on fathers side and Irish on Mums.

    No trees, websites or blogs yet

    Deb N  

  • John Patten

    I'm John, I'm a Libra with hazel eyes. I like long walks in the archives and monitor lit ancestry.com searches. My hobbies include weeding out duplicate branches in trees and a thirst for visiting graveyards. Obsessions include my wife and kids ancestry and rescuing my genealogy blog from hacking. I'm open to group research, but nothing too kinky (Irish records)!
  • John Patten

    Also, in seriousness, I would be interested in helping with any video production. I work in I.T, have a degree in graphic design and have done some video editing and storyboarding for TV commercials.
  • BOB MAY

    I'm Bob and have been doing family history for about 12 to 15 years, but onlt really seariously over the last fove years when I decided that I would make my grandchildren the centre of the tree and leave them as much about their heritage as I can.

    I am lucky in one way as that only involves one family set of grandkids, but the bloodline mixtures do prsent some problems.

    Have managed 1 line into germany, 5 lines into England but there must have been some pretty good swimmers amongst a couple of them. 1 line into Ireland.

    There are 3 lines that are proving to be a problem two of them I am still in Australia - 1 only 3 generations back and can't prove the next step back, but just about willing to bet next years Melbourne cup punt on it.  The other Australian one goes back further but I haven't found the generation to jump the pond. The normal Irish problem of not being on the ground as in a couple of other cases in England.

    Shauna I'm not sure semi retired would describe what you do, but the ulterior motive I can understand.

  • Co Ordinator

    Well Well what can I say these pages have multiplied incredibly quick and Geniaus what a magic suggestion and like most of us here, I too started on this page back around ten/eleven and now we have 57 pages of comments.
    I am Wayne Known as the Coordinator I try to help as many people as I can and have had positive feed back of my helping others.

    I transcribe and index every day for other genealogy sites one being LDS.
    On that note since indexing for them I have made quite a few friends via that and one being very high up that has given me so much info and sites to seek out plus giving me all the info that I needed for my particular line that he is connected with.
    I have also received another 3 contacts to say that we are distant cousins and supplying me with info.

    This has got out of hand, I have no idea what is on the TV these days and was amazed to be told that there more added to the viewing audience.

    I hale from down south of australia and live on the mighty river murray that is flowing the best it's ever been.When I find the time I jump aboard a paddle wheeler and cruise up n down the river.
    I also volunteer my time in a visitor information center on day a week telling people where to go (and get away with it) and promote tourism to what it should be.
    I also am on the board of a tourism body and lastly I am married of 20yrs to beautify lovely magic lady who is 17yrs younger than me and very tolerance in my involvements of life.
    I reckon that is enough said about me.

    Wayne
  • Carmel M Reynen

    I am Carmel I live in central Victoria and have been tracing my family for over 30 years. I started when there was no microfiche, or computers and definitely no internet. I have found it is great to find a new ancestor and their details but find it much more fun to find out about the person. Loving newspapers that are continually coming on line, it brings those family members to life. 

    I have photographed a number of cemeteries, been involved in the digitisation of cemetery records, have completed a number of transcriptions fro various organisations, helped many people with family research and am the editor of LINK the news letter for the Ballarat and District Genealogical Society. I do have a blog of some of the ways I have resolved brick wall, identified photos etc. 

    I started family history before I started my family and now have 5 children and 6 grandchildren and still counting. 

    I love these groups as often something can be staring you in the face and need someone else to point it out. 

     

  • Anne Stafford

    I am Anne and I live near Bendigo in Victoria. I have been doing my family history on and off for about 20 years. I really love all the things that technology is bringing to our hobby includint the online webinars that are now available. I am trying to focus on my brickwalls that I have put aside over the last few years and hope to make some breakthroughs soon.
  • Linda Ottery

    My name is Linda. I worked as a Librarian for most of my working life, but now look after my disabled husband. When my mother, whom I call "The Real Family Historian" passed away in 2004, I inherited all the papers, photos, mementos - boxes and boxes of them. I have a tree on ancestry, but it needs careful revision, as I was an absolute beginner in 2008 when I first decided to tackle Mum's research and put it online.

    We recently moved house, and am in the process of reorganising Everything, and I get easily way-layed, off the track and become undecisive as to what task to takel first. Do I scan? Do I put such fragile letters and papers that I have into archival storage? Which branch shoud I follow? How much can I afford to spend on certificates and many more questions. I have found and met many new "cousins" from all over the world in carrying out my Family History, but still many brick walls. I descend from 3 pairs of covicts that married (6 direct ancestors)

    I live in Melbourne, but ALL my family is from NSW, so getting around to local historical or family history groups makes things a touch difficult, while my Librarian training makes me eager to carry out my own research.

    Regardless of the difficulties, I am a definite FH addict, and while following this group for a long while, this is my first post.

    So hi from me to all of you, especially Geniaus who has been a great inspiration to me, and perhaps one day, I will gain the courage to ask for help with some of my brick walls!!

  • Geniaus

    Maree,

    Web2.0 applications on the internet are those that allow collaboration or interactivity just like Genealogy Wise which uses the Ning program. Blogs and sites such as Facebook are other Web2.0 applications.

    Web1.0 - the first iteration of the internet did not allow for readers to add comments etc. These early sites were read only whereas Web2.0 apps give read and write access.

    I will do a blog post about this at my blog http://geniaus.blogspot.com in the next few days and post the link here so you and others can have a read.

  • Geniaus

    There are some great stories here, thanks.

    I have profiled a few of you on the GeniMates blog http://genimates.blogspot.com but would love to add more profiles.

    I keep getting messages from people telling me how much they enjoy the blog but, although a number of people have promised me profiles, they are yet to come up with the goods.

    Please don't be shy and consider submitting a profile. It will only take you about 15-30 mins to complete the online form.

    If you are willing to give it a go please email genimates@gmail.com

     

    Cheers, Jill

  • Geniaus

    I started a new blog yesterday http://geniausevents.blogspot.com/ in which I am collating a calendar of events of interest to genealogists in Australia.

    Please take a look and let me know details of any events in your area that may be of interest to others.

  • Tanya Honey

    Has anyone else seen the discussion on the GENANZ Rootsweb listserv regarding the NSW BDM index search no longer accepting the asterix(*) when searching on names? The discussion has been taking place here http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/GENANZ/2011-05/130568... .

    I've only tried a few quick searches, but it does seem that the (?) can be used to replace one letter only in a name. Not good news for those of us who have made discoveries using the (*)!

    I'd be interested to hear anyone else's thoughts on this. I will be sending some comments through to NSW Registry bdm-complaints@agd.nsw.gov.au .

    Tanya

  • Rosemary Kopittke

    I have also heard that the wildcard is no longer available. If it is not available then searches will definitely be a lot less powerful. The ? is useful but doesn't fulfil the same purpose.
  • Tanya Honey

    Maybe it is the librarian in me, but I like to have as many options to help with searching as I can. Taking something away without an alternative does not help either.

     

  • Geniaus

    Tanya and Rosemary, thanks for the info.

    I had thought that it was gremlins in my computer.

    I will miss that facility.

  • Geniaus

    Thanks to Tony Raffaele who responded to my invitation to submit a rpofile to GeniMates. Read it here:

    http://genimates.blogspot.com/2011/05/garry-raffaele.html

    Please don't be shy - follow Tony's lead and tell your story in GeniMates

    Email genimates@gmail.com

  • Co Ordinator

    Just for those that want to listen to a LDS learning webinar Go Here:

    http://broadcast.lds.org/elearning/FHD/Community/Independent/Using_...

    This particular one is on BDMs in NSW you may need a reading program that it will tell you to install. This is required to run the video which lasts about 27mins.

    It was produced in Feb 2011 and still uses the * in searching so it may still be in vouge to use. I have had no cause to use it as yet but I'm sure you will find this a very interesting presentation as it is there for anyone to view .

     

    Wayne

  • Helen Violet Smith

    Thanks Maree. Unfortunately their 'next few weeks' is on island time as we have been waiting for a few months now but we live in hope that it will be soon.
  • BOB MAY

    Best news I've heared for a long time. Also have a look at http://monaghan.rootsireland.ie/ they now have Griffiths valuation 28000- and Birth/Baptism 32000- for Monaghan index free view pay
  • Rosemary Kopittke

    I just received an email with the following reply to a query regarding the removal of the wildcard (not by me but I don't wish to use someone else's name without permission):

     

    Thank you for your enquiry.

    The wildcard search option has been removed from the Registry's online search database.

    This option has been removed to improve the reliability of the search facility for our customers. Wildcard searches were overloading the server, causing the system to crash periodically.

    You can still use '?' to replace a single character in the search.

    If you require any further assistance , please contact us or visit our website at www.bdm.nsw.gov.au.

     

    Kind regards

    Client Service Officer

    NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages

    (other address information)

  • Tanya Honey

    Thanks Rosemary. I have seen the same reply, maybe it is the standard one they are sending in response to the wildcard query.

    Hopefully the change will stop the server from crashing. It looks like we are going to have to get used to searching without the wildcard option.

  • BOB MAY

    Maree

    Great news. Have just registered as I have been waiting for Monaghan to turn green for ages.

  • Rosemary Kopittke

    The NSW / ACT Association have just been told that their email regarding the removal of the wildcard search option for the NSW BDM online has been passed on for further consideration regarding the re-instatement of the wildcard or using other alternate ways to prevent the server overloading and crashing.
  • Co Ordinator

    Now that does sound positive, there must have been quite a few that complained of such doings

    Crashing of their server seems a pretty weak excuse really coming from a site such as that.

    I'm sure they would be well equipped to say the least.

    But it Could be true on the other hand as the LDS site spat the dummy a few days ago, but that was probably because the site has had a rather big upgrade and seemed quite probable that something was not put in place right.

  • sam evans

    hi all

     

    i have a collection of south australian cemetery discs with headstone photos for sale. if anyone is interested please contact me at samevans74@bigpond.com for list and prices

    thanks

  • Geniaus

    Welcome to our new members. Please post an introductory message when you are able.
  • Maree Selby

    Have just received this email re asterix removal:

    Good Afternoon
    I can now confirm that the Registry is currently creating a new database with improved searching capabilities. The new system will be introduced within the next 6 to 12 months.
    that is good news :)

     

  • Co Ordinator

    Heck a big consortium like that and it takes 6/12 mths what next seems that they don't have an issue with anyone and just ignoring the complaints.

    Wayne

  • John Patten

    Hopefully it means downloadable images per Victoria.
  • Carmel M Reynen

    can you tell us which Registry this is? Obviously not SA
  • Kerry Kristaly

    They are talking about the NSW BDM Registry

  • Geniaus

    Hop over to http://genimates.blogspot.com/2011/06/carmel-reynen.html to see Carmel Reynen's profile on Genimates
  • M. Denise Golding

    Maree,  Justr catching up after a few months absence and noticed your comment about your cousin's birth father. The privacy bit can be a real sumbling block for us researchers, but here's a warning!

     

    I have two adopted granddaughters. The eldest has know her birth parents from birth, and they are a part of the extended family. There is no hassles, she knows which family she beongs to, but the birth parents are there in the background as an important part of her life.

     The second granddaughter has only known her birth mum (not such a close relationship), the father was never in the picture, the mother did not want to reveal who he was.  Recently some very serious health issues arose and the doctors were extremely keen to have a family profile  in an endeavour to help Jade through this very trying (and dangerous) time, so the mother was finally persuaded to contact the father. He did not know of Jade's existence prior to this.

    Well, all hell has broken loose! He (the birth father) went ballistic; he has threathened to kidnap her, has threatened the parents with everything from court cases to death wishes, has sent multiple emails, phone calls and letters - all very psychotic - and even after mediation is making such a nuisance of himself that my daughter's family has been turned upside down and a good day is when they don't have any contact from him.

    Important as this knowledge is, and as much as your cousin may want to find his birth father, step carefully. If the birth of a child is unknown, sometimes it is better to let things lie. There may be a reason the father was not told. (In this case it was because the mother felt he was a little unbalanced and certainly not ready to accept the responsibility of parenthood, and he has certainly proven this. She had to be persuaded to release the information, and it was only because it was so important medically that she did.)

    Hope all works out well for your cousin.

     

     

  • Co Ordinator

    Denise I see your picture very clearly and have had an experience of similar situations.

    It is a pity that things like this do appear but lucky for my side it was slowly sorted out as it was with in another country and not on the door step.

    And yes it is best to think and talk to the person concerned and if they want to follow it through them do it with caution with out treading on toes.

    Also some families just go silent and don't want to go there at all so one has to respect their wishes and leave it.

     

    Wayne

  • Kim Bogusz

    hi everyone,

    i am just wondering if anyone can help me with finding out family members from ukraine/poland/germany? my grandparents migrated over to australia during world war 2 and i am starting to research my family tree after they have passed on. so i cannot ask them any questions on their family unforcunately. is there any way i can find out my grandmothers and grandfather siblings? i tried looking on their birth certificates but no luck. also i see on the national archieves website the information of my grandparents immigrating over here but cannot see the file. can anyone also help me in releasing that file so i can find out more about my family.

    thanks very much in advance for your help.

    kim