MEETING DATES 2011

Meeting held 2nd Wednesday of the month at 10am in the Tebbutt Room, Windsor Library

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INFORMATION

FAMILY HISTORY CLASSES

The Hawkesbury Library will be holding the following family history classes at the Hawkesbury Central Library. Classes are suitable for beginners or persons wanting a refresher course.

• Family History for beginners ~ 19 April 2011 (6pm-8pm)
• ‘Ancestry’ & ‘Find My Past’ DATABASES ~ 3 May 2011 (6.30pm-8.30pm)

All classes are $10 bookings essential ~ T: 4560 4466 E: history@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

WRITING WORKSHOP

To celebrate the National Trust Heritage Festival (2 – 17 April) theme of ‘Amazing stories’ - Hawkesbury Library Service is holding a Writing Competition. The community is invited to participate by writing a story about a business or industry operating in the Hawkesbury from the 19th century to 1980. The story can focus on a local business or the business person operating it or an employee. The story should be between 600 to 1200 words and can be illustrated with the closing date is 2 May. A selection of the stories will be published in print and online and all of the articles will be added to the Local Studies Collection. Entries are free and a prize will be awarded for the entry judged the most engaging. Forms are available at both Windsor & Richmond libraries or from Council’s website at http://www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/services/hawkesbury-city-council-library/planned-activities-at-your-library Enquiries please contact the Library on 4560 4460 or email history@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

WALTON FAMILY REUNION

Family Reunion is planned for James Walton and his wife Johanna McCanna. It will be held at Wollombi hall at Wollombi 2011 Easter weekend. The associated families. James Walton married Alice Ockwell—Charlotte Walton married Alfred Bowman—Robert Walton married Amelia Mason—Elizabeth Walton (Not Married) Catherine Walton married Edward Cullen--- Joseph Cullen (no further info) John Walton married Catherine Pinchen—William (no further info) Matilda Alice Walton married Francis Charles Russell—Ann Walton (no further info) Mary Ann Walton (no info) Johanna Walton married John Moore--- Sarah Sophia Walton married Denis Michael McCormack. Further details email Grahame James grahjam5@bigpond.net.au

CENSUS NIGHT 2011

The Australian census will be taken on Tuesday 9 August 2011. Australians will again have the choice to have their personal information stored for 99 years. To have your information saved you must say yes to question 60. Please promote this wherever possible, with friends, associates, workmates, by email – family historians can make a difference!

Be part of history
Say yes to question 60
Census night 9 August 2011

VICTORIAN VOYAGE PROJECT

An artist and PhD student in the UK is working on a project to re-photograph the voyage of HMS Challenger, a British ship that visited Australia 1874 as part of its global voyage. They took 500 pictures in their whole journey around the world, and a number of them were taken around Sydney, Melbourne and Cape York . He is seeking volunteers around Australia who would be interested in searching for the locations in the original pictures, and re-photographing them from the same position. Gary McLeod www.snschallenger.org and www.indiegogo.com/SNS-Challenger-1

REGISTER OF SILENT FILM ACCOMPANISTS IN AUSTRALIA

Following a number of requests the not for profit group that presents restored classic silent film with live music, have decided in recognition of the significant contributions to film of these individuals to commence a Register of silent film accompanists in Australia initially covering the period 1896 to 1930. Information required includes: name of musician; years active; cinemas and locations if possible; types of instruments; films accompanied; any memorabilia eg types of music, cue sheets, photos. Contact info@ozsilentfilmfestival.com.au or PO 3424 Sydney NSW 2001. This index shall be posted to their website www.ozsilentfilmfestival.com.au and updated. Could you spread the word to your supporters and if you can direct them to people and sources that can assist.

NEW LOCAL STUDIES ITEMS

Below are new items available to consult in the Local Studies Collection at Hawkesbury Library. To check the Library catalogue online go to http://catalogue.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/amlibweb/ The following are a few of the new pamphlet files added to the Local Studies Collection over the last few weeks:

• The dark mountain / Catherine Jink. Shelved at F JINK
  About a mother and daughter and a notorious serial killer. Based on true events from Southern Highlands in the 1830s.
• Death and the running Patterer – a curious murder mystery / Robin Adair. Shelved at F ADI
  A murder mystery set in the 1820s. A soldier was murdered in Sydney and Governor Darling obtains the help of a Bow Street Runner, who was transported to Australia to assist with the investigations.

Surfing the internet……. Sites for family historians

Members with internet access should check out the following interesting sites. The Library has free access to the internet, contact 4560 4460 for bookings at Windsor & 4578 2002 for Richmond bookings. If you have your own laptop we also have free wireless. The password is available from the Information Desk.

• St. Josephs near St Albans restoration blog http://stjosephsrestorationstalbans.blogspot.com/
• Industry & Perseverance - history of David Brown (1750-1836) http://www.davidbrown1801nsw.info/
• In Victoria before 1848 http://www.oocities.org/vic1847/index.html
• Families In British India Society (FIBIS) http://www.new.fibis.org/
• Papers Past New Zealand papers 1839-1945 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/
• Māori Niupepa Collection Māori newspapers 1842 to 1932 http://www.nzdl.org/
• “Chronicling America” newspapers 1860-1922 http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
• NewspaperSG (Singapore & Malaya English language newspapers 1831-2006) http://newspapers.nl.sg/
• Historic Houses Trust http://www.hht.net.au/research/picture_collection

~ Let us know of sites, that you have tried with (or without) success ~