By Joan Riek. This is my first blog for GSQ. So I thought I would get my frustrations out in the first blog. I have been researching my family history for over 30 years. It was time consuming at first, sitting for hours in front of microfiche readers, but I knew the information was as near to being correct as was possible, allowing only for human error. However, today with the internet, each day I find mistakes in my ancestors’ information … Continue reading
1914-15 England and France are in conflict against Germany and Austria in northern France and Belgium – the Western Front. The war is deadlocked. The Gallipoli campaign, conceived by Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, is an attempt to break the deadlock by invading Turkey through the Dardanelles to reach Constantinople (Istanbul), establish a supply route to Russian troops fighting the Germans on the Eastern Front. 1915-1916 The Gallipoli campaign fails – poorly executed, the defensive capabilities and determination of … Continue reading
I have read many books in my search for information about my ancestors and the history of the times in which they lived. However, there are some that stand out and that I have found myself referring to again and again. Here are 5 of those books. We Should Have Listened to Grandma – Women and Family History by Noeline Kyle. Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1988. This book was written in 1988 and given to me by my sister as … Continue reading
Are you planning to write a family history or the life story of an ancestor? GSQs Library has a range of books related to writing, which are catalogued under AUS306. These are not restricted to the Writing Group; they are accessible to all GSQ members. Two Writing Group members each ‘borrowed’ a book in order to prepare a review for discussion at our April meeting. The books in question were: Sophie King How to write your life story in 10 … Continue reading
Working to provide money for food, a home and the essentials of life is something we all do as did our ancestors. However working conditions in the past were very different to today. Very few of our ancestors had permanent jobs. Most were on casual labour, without holiday or sick pay. They worked six days a week for up to, depending on occupation, 12-14 hours a day. Stonemasons and builders in Melbourne on the 21 April 1856 downed tools and … Continue reading
