Category Archives: cemetery

What I’ve Learnt as a Taphophile.

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A what, I hear you ask? Put simply, a taphophile is someone who takes a keen interest in visiting cemeteries, looking at gravestones, who spends time recording epitaphs and taking photos. As a relatively new family historian of just over 5 years I have definitely become an avid taphophile visiting close to 40 cemeteries so far here and overseas in an effort to trace family, husband in tow to take photos, hold back long grass so I could record details … Continue reading

Achieving celebrity status – even if it is in a cemetery!

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Most of us go through life hoping that, after our death, we will be remembered in some way, even if only by our children and grandchildren. Some of us may achieve celebrity status or notoriety and buildings, memorials, parks or streets may be named in our honour to acknowledge those achievements, in our lifetime or perhaps shortly after our death. For others, the recognition may take even longer and the form it takes may not be quite what you would … Continue reading

Grave and Memorial Location Search

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by Sharyn Merkley Following your ancestor from cradle to grave inevitably ends in the search for their last resting place. Cemeteries also have stories to tell family historians. Visiting the grave or memorial of an ancestor you have spent days, or even years, researching can be an emotional experience. Historical cemeteries such as Toowong, South Brisbane and Lutwyche are quite large and, in the case of Toowong, very hilly! Don’t go on a hot day without a plan. I went … Continue reading

Genealogy Found Me

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“This reads well”, she said and I felt I should fill the ensuing pause with an intelligent, perhaps even witty, comment.  “Let’s do it”, I replied.  Okay, not really intelligent or even witty, but as a result I found myself sailing with my mother and 140 others, along the Rhine and Danube Rivers, through Eastern Europe recently.  While the focus of this journey was not my family history, there were several experiences, genealogical by nature, that I very much want … Continue reading