DNA reconnections

I am thankful for DNA

In the past year I had contact with a fairly close DNA match - turns out they knew my Nan and my mother...but my mum had lost contact with some of that family.

Family is really important to my mum as she lost her father in an accident when she was eleven. As time goes on, many of her family have now gone - there is noone on her father's side that she knew now and few on her mother's side.

The greatest gift for my mum and the DNA matches mum was the fact that on Christmas Day they spoke for the first time in many years (50+). This person is about 13 years older than my mum.

Then last month we had the opportunity to take mum to visit her. What a lovely reunion it was. The older person in her mid nineties is still as sharp as a tack and we spent some time, listening to stories and she identified some people in photos that my mum had. This was an added bonus as I now have names to faces that we never would have known.

We are now planning another visit sometime in September!

So my suggestion is, when you have reasonably close DNA matches and you cannot instantly or easily work out where they belong - email them. Just write something quick and simple

"Hi my name is xxxxxxx and I noticed that we have a DNA match that is quite close - I would love to work out how we are related" I have now used this several times and in all instances have received a quick reply that they would be happy to work out where our DNA crosses. Within 3-4 emails exchanging surnames we usually have had it narrowed down and can then determine the match to the Common Ancestor. 

Whilst this does need to then be followed up with the appropriate research, it is a quick and easy way (especially for those that are older) to join those dots before it is to late!

A Review - A Venator Cold Case - The Sawtooth Slayer by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

 I am prefacing with apologies to Nathan, like a couple of others blog this has remained unpublished for some time.....

For those that are uninitiated into the works of Nathan Dylan Goodwin, I will introduce this entry by saying he writes different types of fictional work. I have read two of these types, one is the Forensic Genealogist series where you travel with Morton, the other is the Venator Cold Case series. 

This review is on the second book in the Venator Cold Case series. I will note however, that if you are at all interested in genealogy/family history and DNA you will enjoy Nathan's books!

Also be aware that Nathan Dylan Goodwin also has several Nonfiction books to his credit!

I would suggest that you read The Chester Creek Murders first, as it will set up the characters that continue with their lives in this new offering. However, if you don't you would still find this a very good read.

The Sawtooth Slayer is set in America during April 2020, during Covid pandemic restrictions. It begins with a current murder crime scene at Twin Falls Idaho, that appears to be yet another victim of a serial killer. The police engage the services of Venator, the investigative genealogy company based in Utah to assist to locate the perpetrator before another victim is added to the count using DNA.

Throughout the novel Nathan is able to weave the Venator's staff personal & work lives with details of the crime they are investigating perfectly to deliver a story that is hard to put down. Simultaneously enlightening the novice reader, somewhat, to how DNA clustering is used to join the DNA dots! (Not that it will make it any easier for those of us new to DNA, but interesting still).

Here is the link to Nathan's site

Genealogical Mystery Crime Novelist | Nathan Dylan Goodwin

I would welcome feedback on what you thought of his works so feel free to leave a comment!

Opportunities

 I recently visited an older relative with my mother. My "Aunt" was doing genealogy long before I became interested she did the hard yards, visiting State Records and building the story backwards piece by piece.

The wonderful thing is is that she has produced a family history for part of my ancestors that goes back to England and she didn't just concentrate on the direct line, she spread out and looked at siblings.

On the last trip to visit we had spoken about what she had and I was directed to a number of folders where the information was contained. Well it was contained, my excitement was far from it! Inside these folders were photographs with names and birth, marriage and death certificates as well as confirmation cards. 

This recent visit I took my flippal and asked if I could take the folders with me overnight to go through and scan - she was happy to entrust them to me! What treasure I found there (which I now need to download and sort) for my files. Due to the volume of information I am planning another trip to organise to borrow the folders in daylight hours and get documents photocopied!

Whilst in the area, we also visited another "Aunt" who had been going through her photographs and had sorted some from her mother's album to give to my mother. Talk about a treasure trove! The best was a photo of my Great Great Grandparents! But in going through what had been put aside there was a service record for one of her ancestors which she knew meant nothing to her children. She asked if it was of any use to me, I said I could definitely include it in my tree information and she handed it to me.

On returning to visit the first "Aunt" I showed her this document, it was on parchment! She was just as excited to see and feel it as I was! The person it was concerning is not directly related to either of us but that did not matter it was the understanding of the history that we held in our hands. The 40 odd year gap in our age melts when things like this come up....we are both like kids in a candy store!

(I found a number of blog posts that I have not published so am just doing so now. This one is from 21 June 2022)

Claiming the children

There are inevitably skeletons in every tree and by skeletons I mean - things not spoken about. Every family knows that when an older relation says the past should stay in the past or you shouldn't worry about what happened before that there will be something in that closet.

This post is going to look at two - both babies, who until my research, had been forgotten, not acknowledged and alone.

The first would have been my Great Uncle Arthur Oscar Edward Phillips born in 1895 and died a year later. This was four years prior to my Grandfather being born, so he would not have known about him and obviously it was never discussed. When I found his records I felt saddened to think this small person was not a part of our family tale, my mission find where he had been buried and claim him!

The second child Albert, belonged to my Great Aunt, she appears to have had a shotgun wedding just two days after his birth and sadly he died at26 days weeks old. I knew my Great Aunt and had a lovely relationship with her, but she never spoke about having a child and even my mother who had grown up next door to her was unaware of his existence. His tale I felt more tragic than Arthur's as her siblings would have known about the child but he appears to not have been recognised once he had died. She would remarry, but have no children and her husband would tragically be killed. I feel sad for her too that she never felt she could talk about her son, not even in her late years. Albert needed to be found and connected back to the family too.

Fortunately for me both boys were at Rookwood Cemetery, so on Thursday April 21st 2022 I set out with my daughter to find them. We located both of their plots, Albert's resting place was a rough guess given the nearest grave with a headstone that we could check for positional reference is about 2 plots up. Arthur's however was positioned that I know I was standing right in front of it and as I did I told him (as I had Albert) that we had found him and we would connect him to our family, he was no longer forgotten. The thing that surprised me on the rainy Thursday afternoon was that as those words left my mouth, for the second time that day, I became overwhelmed with a sense of grief - tears flowed. It was emotional - I had not expected that.

On leaving the cemetery I felt at peace that they had been located and now I can go about the process of having their graves marked and a memorial put there so others know that they belong to someone, they have a family, even if it has taken over 100 years for it to be put in writing.

War and the impact on a family

 As we reflect at ANZAC day, on our those who have gone to war, today while listening to the local service I reflected and compared the sacrifices made by many.

In recent months we have watched the devastation in Ukraine by Russia, but it is not our soldiers who have gone to assist. I understand this, as it would mean a World War, but Australians in the medical field have. Currently, for example, a mother and daughter((Lab technician and Paramedic) have gone, but they are not alone others are working for Christian Aid Agency - Samaritan's Purse. 

Ukraine: The Aussie medics helping refugees in war-torn Ukraine (nine.com.au)

This is what I began to reflect on, in World War 1 nurses from Australia went to war, they saw the most terrible sights but do we really acknowledge them or the nurses who then volunteered for the other conflicts that came after? Their roles were crucial not only to provide the medical care but also for the positivity that they gave in the gravest of situations to the soldiers. A number of years ago there was an attempt to raise the awareness, but I feel like that has gone.

Then there were the women who worked in the munitions factories, some in important war offices and other factories that kept the countries moving, for many this must have been a strange opportunity in World War 1, given the women's role was in the home! This would again occur in World War 2.

Lastly there are the wives and mothers, those who did what they could from their homes to support their soldiers - making ANZAC biscuits, sending care packages with knitted socks and a note, raising money for the 'cause'.

I do not have any nurses in my family, nor as yet any factory workers, but I do have mothers and wives.

Today I thought I would post about my Great Great Grandmother Emma Ellen Jansen. Born in 1853, a twin, in England she moved to Australia in 1911. 

In World War 1 Emma would have six sons actively in service, and her youngest (not pictured) enlisted but sent home just prior to embarkation, as the army felt she had given enough. Two of her sons fought for England the others for Australia, miraculously six returned home. Leonard (middle right) would be the only one not to return home, dying on 21 Sept 1918.

Some of these sons were married with families, but for now I am just concentrating on the impact for their mother.

Leonard and Richard (middle left) were both ANZACs, I imagine Emma reading the news of the battle and cannot imagine how she felt knowing that they were both there.

John (top left) did not join up for World War 1, he was already in the Dragoon Guards and had been in India and also South Africa for the Boer War.

Robert (top right) had been enlisted in England in the Middlesex Regiment and was a trainer at Bathurst initially before going to the front in the Engineers.

06 Aug 1915 - MRS. EMMA JANSEN, OF ANNANDALE, AND HER SOLDIER SONS. - Trove (nla.gov.au)

During the war, Emma had to wonder every time there was a knock on the door, whether that was someone with bad news. But she did not just sit back and not support the war effort. She raised money (I believe it was for the war effort), using pictures of her sons displayed behind her, on the streets of Sydney with others..she had a sign "I gave these, what will you give". 

By all accounts she was a determined, no fuss woman and this does not surprise me.

The newspaper account in the Daily Telegraph is not entirely accurate however, she was not a widow (her husband was back in England but it appears they were estranged). Her son Laurence was in the British Navy. 

So, when we think of those who died for our freedom, served for our freedom spare a thought for those who 'gave' for our freedom. 

Even today, the families that have been impacted by the 'peace keeping' missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, have given...for some the impact on the family as their soldiers return can be devastating and unfortunately are still not given the support that they need.

Lest we forget!

Technology and being left behind

I have missed blogging, however the difficulty has been not in not having the time nor the lack of things to blog but technology.

My laptop was purchased prior to 2008 and at the time was way ahead of what was available BUT it began not being able to cope with the technology as it could not update to Google Chrome due to the operating system. 

My Toshiba Satellite still functions really well, as long as I do not want to view my blog page, Ancestry items or Find my Past items and most recently, view more than the basic areas of the DNA sites. I can't even get Facebook or Messenger to load properly.

So, I had to wait until my technology was updated - which it now has. But I refuse to part with my trusty Toshiba so it will do all the photo work and word processing (because I really do not like Windows 10) and the new laptop will become the Genealogy computer.

So I have uploaded Family Tree Maker, that I purchased at Rootstech in 2021, and have decided not to sync with Ancestry as I am in the unique position of being able to ensure that all my research has been sourced. So I entered my details and I am going back one step at a time, one generation at a time and looking at what records I have and finding what I need or what I have misplaced. If I do not have the supporting Primary documentation then that is as far as I go...until I find it!

It is also enabling me to look with fresh eyes on information I collected many years ago but was unable to research further. For example, I have been able to look up my Grandfather's baby brother's burial at Rookwood on their deceased search and now know where he is buried.

The other advantage is that I have been able to set up folders for each person, so that relevant documents can be scanned and stored there. Giving a lot of consideration to how this system would work I decided to set up Surname folders and then sub folders within for each person. For females I have named their folders under their maiden name and put their married name in brackets. In some cases they have two names in brackets as they married twice. So far this system seems to be working well.

I need to get busy with scanning documents too as many I only have a paper copy for. This will be a lot of work but will organise all my files. (I hope anyway).

While I haven't been blogging, I have been on Twitter!

The 1921 Census has been released...so I will have something to blog about on that shortly!

Norfolk Island - Walking in the footsteps of the past

We often hear from conference speakers or speakers who come to our societies that you need to put your ancestors lives in context. To put flesh on their bones. We research documents, read newspaper accounts of the day, look at the advertisements in the papers to see what life was like, read books about the era, read journals of people who were alive at the time. If we are lucky we visit areas they lived in, even though they can be much changed from what they were.

For many years now I have believed that to put my ancestors lives into context for three sets of my grandparents meant that I needed to physically go to Norfolk Island.
Why did I think that? 

Well some background on my ancestors
I am descended from First Fleeters - two female convicts, one seaman, one marine they were involved during the first settlement at Norfolk Island, they were married there and one set of these grandparents gave birth to my next generation grandmother on Norfolk Island.
I am also descended from a soldier who was on Norfolk Island for the second settlement with his wife and family, they also had a daughter on Norfolk Island who would be my next generation grandparent.
So as you can see - I had reason to go!
In 2019 I decided to share this trip with my husband and youngest daughter and organised it for two weeks I did not want to experience it on my own.
The timing - 230th Anniversary of the Sirius shipwreck - I organised for the first week to do the week long tour with Cathy Dunn ( http://www.australianhistoryresearch.info/, ) while my husband and daughter could do their own thing. The three of us organised to do things together on the times I was free during week one. Week Two was planned for us to explore and enjoy.

We left Sydney Airport on March 13th (Covid 19 was not quite a huge deal, this would change within 4 days), as we descended and landed on Norfolk Island I burst into tears - yes this was more of an emotional journey than I had realised - I had finally made it! I also felt like I had arrived home and this feeling was one that got stronger daily and even now on my return to the mainland, my heart is yearning for that dot in the ocean.

We were picked up and taken to our accommodation Seaview- we had a stunning view of Phillip Island from our windows. This was heaven! It became even better when we worked out we were just up the road from Kingston.







Week 1 Began with meet and greet and dinner as tour participants arrived from Brisbane and Sydney, I even had a cousin arrive that I did not know about! 

Then Monday we had a Cyclone, who could have planned that! We were safe in our accommodation but my mind wandered to what it must have been like for my ancestors to weather a storm like that without a sound building to live in and to be so close to the sea - terrifying.


For the rest of the week, I attended the Sirius Week events culminating in a wonderful luncheon event down in Kingston to mark the 230th Anniversary of it being shipwrecked. This occured within view of where the Sirius lay on the reef!

During this week I had walked around Kingston on my own, soaking in the views, walking in their footsteps, imagining life here for the first & second settlements. (Both very different from the other)

I was seeing the view that they would have seen, that is context!



Kingston is a World Heritage Site, contains four museums and a research centre. It is a place that time has stopped enough, for it to not be a stretch for your imagination to put yourself back into their time. Forget the buildings that were built and just see the land, imagine the arrival of the first ship passengers, imagine them watching goods being transported from the Sirius to shore prior to it sinking.

 Then skip forward to the second settlement time, imagine people in the buildings, soldiers walking around, good and bad Commandants. I went into the buildings, looked out the windows at the different views, views that they would have seen.
Yes, this putting your ancestors lives in context really did need the trip here, I could not have felt/imagined the space and view and feelings of Kingston had I not stood and walked there.

Week 2 arrived - time for the family adventure to begin, but still on the hunt for ancestor footsteps.

One of my grandfathers had been given a 60 acre land grant (one of the first) so we headed off to find it, lucky for us the grant paperwork was very specific with geographical landmarks and the map also clearly defined it with the boundary being a stream. We drove around and worked out where we thought it was and then ventured back a couple of days later to explore it properly. I walked on it, photographed it, took video from it. It is not all a flat piece of land it is quite steep in places, but he made his farm work here!                                                          

I hugged a great big Norfolk Island Pine because I knew it would have seen them! I imagined their daughter playing under it when it would've been a deal smaller!
I did not walk the entire 60 acres, but enough of the land to feel connected! To imagine them looking out of their home at the ocean, their daughter running around playing.
While we were on Norfolk Island a ship came in with supplies for the island and offloaded at Cascade Bay, now this is an event! 
It takes skill. It involves four boats to offload and forklifts on the boat at sea and at the pier a crane, forklifts and trucks. So the three of us headed up to watch for a while. Whilst watching the boat I put myself in the grandmother's shoes who had been on the Sirius when it offloaded her and her son onto the island...it is not an easy place to come ashore, then it is up a huge hill (would have been very difficult in a long dress) and then realising that they walked to Kingston...we had driven on a road and it took us between 5-10 minutes, not flat road, hilly road and it has been cleared somewhat. How tiring this journey must have been for her and her young child. How daunting on arrival!
Just to view this, to put myself into her shoes and imagine what she must have thought - worth the trip. Definitely enabled me to put her story into context, that just looking at photographs of the area never would have done.

During the remainder of our time we did a few more walks, drove around a bit more and spent time snorkeling in Emily Bay. 

                                                                            

I wondered how they had felt, when they left, were they sad to say goodbye? Excited for the journey ahead and what awaited them in the colony of New South Wales?
As we prepared to leave and head back to NSW we were filled with dread/fear at what we were returning to, since leaving change had happened, the state was in lockdown, people were working from home, schools were encouraging students to work from home. We wanted to stay, Norfolk Island felt safe...did they have similar feelings?

2020 What a year ahead

Well we are nearing the end of January, it has been a terrible time in Australia with the bushfires, loss of homes, businesses, history, wildlife and life. It is a tale we will be telling for a long time, I would encourage those of you affected in these areas to take the time to write about your experiences, not only for the benefit of dealing with it, but as a living history for the future. Moment/s recorded for the future. Even if you were not directly affected, take some time to write about the sky that was just smoke and no blue for weeks, what you saw on television, how it impacted you - these are the tales that we should pass down to our children, grandchildren....years gone by we would have had a bard compose a song about it!
https://img.rasset.ie/00134669-800.jpg

As we begin this week it is new beginnings for our family...our youngest embarks on the first year of high school. For us our last child to begin this journey. I know that as a parent I certainly have reflected a lot over these holidays on what that means to me, to the family and how my journey in life now enters a new phase.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could just slow that clock down for a little while. On the upside, it should give me more blogging time and research time!

This year will see us embark on one of my bucket list adventures when we head to Norfolk Island to visit the place where 3 of my great grandmothers were born. It will also allow us to relax and enjoy a simple life for two weeks!
https://www.norfolkisland.com.au/

In September, Newcastle Family History Society Inc. and Maitland and Beyond Family History Inc.will host the 36th Annual Conference of the NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies from 11-13 September 2020 at WESTS New Lambton Newcastle NSW. To keep up to date with what is going on go to the website https://ridingthewavesofhistory.com.au/ and subscribe to the Newsletter. There are a lot of interesting speakers planned on a variety of topics! Places will be limited so be ready to register and pay!!
It is exciting for me as after going to a number of conferences over the past few years, this time I am involved in organising it. 

I am lucky that last year I attended a talk organised by Newcastle Family History Society, joined up on the night and have been welcomed by everyone there. It is lovely to belong to somewhere that you feel valued.

Finally, I want to note that it is my mother's 80th birthday today, not that she looks or acts like it, people are a bit surprised when she tells them her age. Born in 1940 she has lived through World War II (doesn't remember it of course), saw the moon landing, our currency change, phones change from operator assisted calls all the way through to iphones. She doesn't totally embrace technology but she knows how to facetime and use a mobile phone. She is fascinated with google maps and is willing to try to learn how to use it and a few other features of her ipad.
She was a stay at home mum and always had the washing up done and dinner on the table. Got up before my father to make his breakfast and then to see him off to work, before getting us up and ready for school. She did all the washing, ironing and putting away. She made our beds and was there for us. We have a great relationship, we talk, go shopping and are at the other end of the phone for each other. She is a great Grandma to the grandchildren.
She is an amazing woman. Always there for others. In recent years she has become more interested in family history than she was (mainly because I've been able to research her lines and it was information she had not know). 
Happy 80th Mum!

Day Two DNA Down Under

Another great day with great information.

From Blaine Bettinger
Genetic Genealogy Ethics
Be proactive not reactive - Educate
Genetic Genealogical Standards.com @ 10/1/15
These are meant as a guideline
Test DNA with consent, preferably in writing and keep a record. Ensure the test taker knows what the test is and talk about what if unexpected results are found.


Shared matches and genetic networks
Group and sub group matches using ancestry dots.

Advanced third party tools
Gedmatch: Tier 1 🛠
Segment search - begin without altering any fields
IMPORTANT...chromosome browsers squish maternal and paternal chromosome results together so only shows one chromosome where there is actually two.
Triangulation can take up to 45mins to run.
Lazarus attempts to recreate dead persons DNA
Phasing - separates DNA into maternal and paternal based on your DNA.
The mapS phasing tool - creates kit for gedmatch for dead people 


From Louise Coakley
Items are now being tested to get DNA from those in the past eg, aerograms, stamps, hair. While currently expensive it is worthwhile to put these items away to test in the future.

The day ended with a great panel discussion on various ethical type scenarios.
Looking forward to day three.

Louise Coakley

Jennie Fairs & Shauna Hicks

Pauleen Cass & Sharn White

Panel: Kerry Farmer; Michelle Patient; Helen Smith;
Brad Argent; Blaine Bettinger; Louise Coakley

Day One DNA Down Under

And so it begins...
What a great start to a three day conference.
Blaine Bettinger is very easy to listen to and his talks very informative!
What little things did I learn?
1.Ethnicity results think of as Biogeographical Estimate due to changes in borders over times.
2. Ethnicity can be quickly lost from the Dna as it is passed down in smaller amounts each generation.
3. Denture adhesive can destroy a DNA testing sample so avoid for 24hrs prior to testing.
4. Working out matching segments can mean you can identify segments by ancestor and use DNA painter to record.
5. Build research trees for your DNA matches but keep them private and unsearchable and clearly identified as Research trees or Q&D tress (Quick and dirty)
6. Always make notes in the notes field in your DNA results so you don't keep rediscovering the same thing.
7. We should be trying to disprove what we think we know, our theories/hypothesis to avoid confirmation bias.
8. If you have more than one kit (your  gedmatch it may be worth paying the $usd 10 for a months access to create a super kit as once done this will stay and you can compare your combined DNA to others
9. DNA painter is a new tool you can upload a gedcom file and use.
10. Identify people you match with using surname triangulation, reverse search pictures from profile pics, wikitree searches, searching Facebook,Twitter,Instagram etc ..
So that's my 10 points from the day!
Looking forward to Day 2.

DNA Downunder - It's almost time

I am really looking forward to DNA Downunder Sydney, hoping to unravel the mysteries of DNA for family history so I know what my results are showing me! I believe you can still attend some of the day sessions in Sydney here is the link https://www.dnadownunder.com/sydney/ 

By all accounts the other states have really enjoyed the talks and they were only for one day!!

Stay tuned I will update what I discover!

In the meantime
Head on over to Geniaus' blog post to read all about the Virtual Genealogical Association Conference,that is to be held November 1st - November 3rd. Best thing is you can attend from the comfort of your home! Click on the link: http://geniaus.blogspot.com/2019/08/virtual-genealogical-association-free.html

Are you aware of these records that are available?The Register of Cases of Bubonic Plague 1900-1908 is available now to the public to view.
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/magazine/bubonic-plague

The webiste home to Irish historic BMD of the GRO. These records now join the indexes that were available. 
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/

DNA - Day 2

So it has been a few days and I have logged back onto GEDMATCH, clicked on my "number" and wow, I have a table full of emails and a lot of numbers!

So now what is the next step?
I think a lot of reading and studying!
This is going to take a while to understand...in the meantime I will share what I find and when!

Pleased I have this done prior to going to the DNA Downunder Conference in Sydney
if you think that you may travel down the DNA path I would highly recommend that you try and attend either one of the DNA Downunder Days in various cities around Australia or come to the conference in Sydney.  You are sure to learn a lot and I am sure if it does not make sense at the time you will have that knowledge when you are trying to understand your DNA.
For more information...
https://www.dnadownunder.com/schedule/

DNA Discovery Journey Begins - Day 1

I will be attending DNA Down Under in just a few weeks and even though I have 6 DNA tests done through FTdna (4 family finder and 2 of these done for MTdna), I have only made contact with a couple of people using the matches and really do not know how to do anymore.

This is now the beginning of my journey to find out more...
Starting with one kit at a time!!

Step One: Download the RAW data   
https://genie1.com.au/how-to-download-your-raw-dna-data/
Step Two: Upload to GEDMATCH
https://genie1.com.au/tips-for-using-gedmatch/

Now I wait to see what happens! It can take 2 days...so I will be back to blog on the results!

Thanks to Louise Coakley Genetic Genealogist for your helpful blog!

Holidays! Memories! Games!

We have just been away for a week, for the first time in 4 years and the first time we were alone with our younger daughter who is 11! This was a great week, time for bonding, activities and games. Now why is this linked to family history? Well on our shopping trip on day one to get food supplies, Coles had "Pick Up Sticks" Wooden ones! Now as a child I had these and played often, not only with my siblings but by myself challenging myself to be able to remove the stick without moving any others. So I bought the box of them much to the excitement of our daughter who could not wait to learn how to play. For almost a week, every night after dinner the three of us would play "pick up sticks" and all enjoyed it!
We also played UNO nightly, read books, did jigsaws and my future paleontologist did her "dig up a dinosaur kits" (plaster of paris that encased various bones of dinosaurs - there were 5 different kits all complete with chisel and hammer) and went for a walk down to the local shops!
It occurred to me during this time just how important family holidays and the sharing of "old" games, no technology past times (jigsaws) were but also capturing the special moments with a quick photograph! 
But also how important it is to capture these times not just on our phones with a picture but to actually go and get it printed, put it in an album and WRITE about the time...and include the instructions for the games played!
I would love for you to comment on your favourite childhood game and how it is played!


But after being away from technology for a week, I have noticed that I have 2 more matches on my recent mtdna tests...so need to see what that is about!
I have no idea what I am doing with dna results and as I am attending DNA downunder in August I need to at least look at results and try and get organised, so I will be blogging step by step on what I am up to and how I go. Four kits have dna done, 2 have now had mtdna done...this should be an interesting adventure!!

Amazing Woman Warrior

As we have just commemorated ANZAC Day and the focus is on World War One plus the fact I did not blog about any women in history during history month, I am aiming to satisfy both with this story found in the Orange Leader through Trove dated 18 March 1918. She would actually leave Russia on a ship bound for America on 18 April 1918!
Although not Australian, I find this story inspiring for what Russian Marie Bockhareva accomplished. 

Read the article here that sparked my interest....

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article100960390

It would appear however that some of the facts in the article are not correct, she was beaten by her alcoholic  father and then physically abused by her husband, whom she left. She would rise above all this and become Commander of the Russian Women's Battalion of Death.

Although it says in the article she was illiterate, she actually had an autobiography set down, which you can read here all 339 pages! Digitised thanks to funding by Microsoft!

Yashka, my life as peasant, exile and soldier.

https://archive.org/details/yashkamylifeaspe00bochuoft

I do hope you enjoy the book! I would love to hear what you think of her life in the comments!

So What Did I Learn At Congress!! (This was all done and not published last year! )

Congress is a great place to hear great speakers on great subjects

Paul Milner; Judy G. Russell; Kerry Farmer; Pauleen Cass; Angela Phippen; Helen Smith; Lisa Louise Cooke; Paul Blake; Jill Ball to mention a few!

• There were 620 delegates and 309 pages in the speaker notes pdf that we were sent (what a fantastic resource)
• It was worth the six year wait!
• Society for Australian Genealogists can do an amazing job of organising a Congress!
• There is not another Congress planned as noone has said they will host! Someone needs to!!!!
• The ICC at Darling Harbour make a great morning/afternoon tea!
• Doing a course online does not mean you do not connect to other students! I met up with fellow UTAS and NGIS students.
• Geneabloggers are a great bunch of people!
• In the US you can collect ribbons on your name tag - some lovely Genies had some organised for Congress here - it was fun and has made a lovely keepsake of my first Congress

But what did I learn in relation to the nuts and bolts of genealogy??

• Phillimores Atlas is a must use tool (if I can get a hard copy I will, but it is also available through Ancestry)
• Understand the people who were writing the legal 'stuff' at the time it was written. Find out what the legal 'stuff' meant at the time it was written!
• Google Earth Pro is a wonderful tool and I need to download it 
• Family search is free and has a great app for finding relatives that are near you (within 100mtrs I think) as long as they too have it turned on! Family search has a lot of records you can utilise! We are matter! We want to matter! We do matter! 
• Make your blog a beaut one! Don't post after everyone else has (well I am not keeping that part of my blog up with this post lol). I also learned I need to work a little on the look of my blog!
• DNA should supplement your research and you need to link the DNA back to your research to see where matches really fit in.
• Read other Genies blogs! There are a heap of them out there!!
• Dusty Docs is a great site that I need to explore!
• Meeting up with people I have seen on facebook for a long time can mean that you become real friends! (Hence my facebook friends number has grown a little since the Congress)
• I am blessed and thankful to all the Genies I have met during the last 10 years and now call friends!

Life Gets In The Way....

Let's admit it, when you have a young family time flies...
Last year began so well..and then I dropped off the blog earth! The reason was due in part to my children, one headed overseas mid year for 3 months and the prep assisting in the departure took a bit of time...but simultaneously an elderly cousin died. The cousin had no spouse, no children...just my parents...so I supported them...and time just got away...
Here we are nearly a whole year since my blog post and feeling very down that I never shared what I had learned at Congress....which in all honesty seems almost a lifetime ago..I will see if I can share some notes about that this year.
BUT..this year I have an ambition ... to do more family history wise..to research; blog and be involved...
So to begin I have finally joined a family history society...and now school is underway and programs etc are in place and I know what time I have....I am determined to schedule research and blogging into my time...
Oh and I intended on attending the 3 Day DNA Conference at Castle Hill in August and the 35th Annual Conference NSW & AFHS too!
If you do not know about these 2 exciting events, click on the links!! They are both sure to be exceptional!!
Fingers crossed this is the year I get into gear!
For those who have stayed subscribed - thankyou for your patience...I will get there!!

15th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldy

Six years of anticipation led to the most unbelievable gathering in Sydney at the International Convention Centre! 

I first learned of Congress the year it was held in South Australia, it was too short notice to save and pay for an interstate holiday, I would wait to the next one which was in Canberra, but circumstances were that I could not get to that one either! My family were warned - the next one was going to be in Sydney and I WAS attending!

Last year as soon as registrations were opened I registered and booked my accommodation - I let the family know - I was busy March 8th - March 12th inclusive 2018! They would need to sort out how to get the youngest to and from school because I would simply be away!!

I decided to go down the day before it began so I could check in, not be rushed or late for Day One!
What a good decision that was because they had pre registration up at Glover Cottages on the Wednesday and Thursday!! 

Now I realised in the days leading up to the Thursday that I had no real dinner plans and really did not want to eat alone, so I used the Facebook page "Genimates at Congress 2018" to see if others were interested in coming out for dinner - and there were!
Pancakes at the Rocks at Darling Harbour was decided as the place to go and we ended up with about 25 people attend - what a great start to Congress!
The following days did not disappoint, the topics spoken about were informative and interesting, new friends were made and it was lovely catching up in person with those I have met up with before (even though we do chat on facebook)!

The dinner at Rydges on Saturday night was lovely and we had a 'challenge' to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge from a kit! Our table were first to complete it and I will have it up on a shelf once I get my office in my home!

Ribbons were given out during Congress and I was lucky enough to obtain quite a few! A great idea from the US that will make a lovely keepsake of my first Congress!

So what did I learn? - watch this blog, I shall share in the next day or two!!

Surprises! A lesson learned!

I have researched my various lines of family ancestry now for over 27 years. The whole extended family are aware of this.
Recently a close family member came and spoke to me at a family function and showed me a newspaper article relating to an award my Grandmother was given. I had never read the article but was aware of the award. They then continued to share with me details of a collection of things they had from my Great Grandfather, war items like medals, coins, bullet cartridges. I was very thankful as I did not know these existed, they went home and emailed me photos which was wonderful within the email there was a photo of my Great Grandparents I had not seen. You can imagine my happiness. BUT then came the Surprises!!
In the emails that followed they sent me photos of my Grandfather as a child, my other Great Grandparents, at various ages and of a wedding gift my Great Grandfather received from the officers of the ship he had been on in 1902! To say my weekend was made is an understatement.
But it has reminded me that as the ones in the family researching we need to continuously be vocal, especially with the older members of family. Be vocal in what you would love to have - photos, mementos - not to keep but to photograph and/or scan! You never know what is hiding in biscuit tins and cupboards!

Music!

Music is usually passed down the generations, favourtie songs, music etc...it has been part of human existence for all time.
In my family it was a big part of my childhood. Family holidays were full of a car filled with music! When tape players were included in a car our lives were changed! Disney songs were often a favourite!
But singing was important at home too, listened to records, then tapes then CD's we sang along but as a family we would sing together. My family once sang together at church, my sisters and I sang at a couple of school functions and as individuals we took part in school musicals and performances, choirs and vocal groups, I was fortunate to even sing at a wedding service.

For me I loved to perform in the mass choirs, the MetWest festival and the Combined Choir at the Sydney Opera House - for me one of these sticks in my memory as we sang Handel's Messiah and Zadok the Priest - it was fantastic being a part of such an event and then I was fortunate enough to be in a 12 piece vocal group who sang two items arcapella on the stage of the Sydney Opera House during the Combined Instrumental performance.It was a daunting but incredible moment in my life.

Fast forward to having children and I continued to enjoy music and sing, needless to say my children sing. My eldest daughter has enjoyed time with the Australian Youth Choir and in a selective choir at our local school area level. She was able to perform a few times at the Sydney Town Hall.  The youngest daughter is now in her second year with the local selective choir and I am involved in assisting!

I have run a choir at my children's school as noone else was willing, took a group to perform in Starstruck so they had that experience and am now back assisting the current teacher who was willing.

For as long as I can remember the Sydney Conservatorium of Music has been a bit of a 'holy grail' if only I could go there...perform there. The castle built in 1915 has been one of those places I have passed during my life and longed for....well it happened... They ran a course which I could attend because of the selective choir I now assist with....I was excited as I would get to go beyond those hallowed doors finally....BUT it got better....the workshop required us to sing!!  Well the bucket list is ticked off - I have sung at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music!

I know this is a small thing...but to me it solidifies a lifetime so far of singing, connecting with my parents, my grandfather who was a conductor of Leichhardt's Municipal Band - linking the generations to music!!

Click on the link to view the Castle that is The Sydney Conservatorium of Music