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| Miegunyah, Bowen Hills |
So some unexpected free time to catch up on things neglected by my single focus on my PhD now called Women of Bad Character: insights into the lives of incarcerated women in colonial Queensland.
Books
I'm still enjoying my way through Tea Cooper's books which throw insights into early colonial New South Wales. A nice break from my academic readings.
Plus the last week or so I have been blitzing all the genie society journals I haven't read this year. When I see the notice that the June journal is out, I realise I haven't even read March yet.
So many good tips and news of interesting record releases by the various companies. Torn between delving into my family history or continuing my PhD journey.
Conferences
I'm excited to be heading to Port Macquarie, New South Wales in September for the annual NSW & ACT conference. The theme is The Paper Trail & Beyond: Family History in the Digital Age. My session is on Finding your way on digital trails in the archives. We will be driving down and back so another road trip for my little car and a few pit stops on the way.
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| Child's bedroom |
AFFHO Congress, Wellington New Zealand 11-14 February 20207 theme Across the Tasman: Natural Allies and Strong Connections. This one is for the calendar if you feel like a trip to New Zealand next year. I try to attend most AFFHO congresses so I have put this one into my calendar. We might even combine it with a short holiday on the North Island as it is a few years since we have been there.
Decluttering
Cold weather is always a good time to clean out cuboards, wardrobes and even the freezer. What usually is a quick drop off of donations to the local op shops often turns into a mini shopping spree bringing home more books or interesting finds.
New Resources
I am a member of Genealogy SA and excited that they have just added another 1.2 million records to their online database including a totally new record set. When you can't easily get to a research centre, it pays to be a member of the local society especially when they have lots to search online.
The shipping departures index is from 1836 to 1940.
- Shipping Passenger Departures from SA – brand new dataset!
- Newspaper Births – massive update!
- BDM Registrations: Deaths & Marriages
- All Other Records: Nurses & Magazines
- South Australian Church records: Baptisms, Marriages, Burials & Other
- School Admissions
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| Dining room Miegunyah |
As a patron of History Queensland, I gave a talk on Finding women: tips and tricks at the AGM in May. It was to be in person but with the fuel crisis at the time it was decided to make it a Zoom meeting instead to save those travelling from regional areas.
My presentation on how I am trying to identify the women in my PhD case studies is freely available if you want to have a look. https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/
Talks
I have seriously cut back on giving talks this year due to more travel and also the need to start writing my thesis. No more talks until Spring.
Visits
Went on a tour of Miegunyah House Museum with the Professional Historians Association Queensland last weekend and the Museum has some amazing collections. It is the home of the Queensland Women's History Association and run by volunteers. A guided tour of the house is definitely a highlight although the fresh scones, jam and cream was a very close second.
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| No air fryer back then! |
What's Coming Up? or is that Walking in Ancestral Footsteps?
We can't get to England and Scotland now but we can get out to Thargomindah and Eulo where my GG Grandmother Ellen Ferguson lived in the 1890s. She was an opal miner and her husband a jeweller in Eulo.
Also having a look around Charleville and Cunnamulla while we are out that way.
Happy searching and safe travels this winter. Take care until next time, Shauna
