GCFHS Newsletter

Gold Coast Family History Society Inc.

Saplings

April, 2013

Scottish Group: The next meeting for the Scottish Group will be on Sunday 19^th May 2013 at 1pm. Margaret Shand & Margaret Collins are on hand to assist you with your Scottish research and both are extremely knowledgeable on this subject. For further information please contact Margaret Shand on 5538 1423 or Margaret Collins on 5593 1773.

Irish Group: The Irish group is run by Julian van der Veer, a qualified researcher specialising in Irish research. Most of us find Irish research difficult so come along and find expert help on Monday 20^th May 2013 at 9am. If you need more information about the group contact Julian at genfindit@gmail.com

Introduction to Family History Class: The next beginners’ class will be held on Friday 24^th May 2013 at 9am to 11am. These classes are free to our members with non-members paying $10. This $10 will be deducted from the membership fee if they join on the day.

Come along and brush up on the basics of family history research. The class is held in our rooms and numbers are limited so please make a booking by phoning Pam Oldham on 5594 0610 or Karen Hartley on 5533 3693.

Evening sessions are informal and one on one with Fay Carbis. Phone Fay on 5532 8100 to arrange a meeting.

Computer Group: Always a great evening, this month promises to be the same. We will be finding out all about our convicts on Wednesday evening 15^th May 2013 at 7pm.

Please come early to secure a seat and wear your membership badge as these special interest groups are for members only. The cost is $1 and we have a cup of tea and a chat at the end of the evening. If you would like more information about this group contact Ann Metcher at metcher@bigpond.com.au

Welsh Newspapers online:

You may be interested in knowing that the Welsh Newspapers can be searched online for 1844-1910 at http://papuraunewyddcymru.llgc.org.uk/en/home? We do however have the British Newspaper Archives site free to members on our No.3 Internet computer. Just phone the rooms on 5582 8855 and book a time to explore them.

Easter Raffle: The winners of the Easter Raffle were John Criddle and Margaret Huth. Congratulations to both those members.

Email addresses: Beverley Dwyer and I are constantly dealing with emails that bounce for one reason or another. It has been brought to our attention that ‘Winshop’ has gone out of business. Some of our members used this server and to date only one has contacted us. If you have used ‘Winshop’ and have had to change your server please notify either Beverley or myself. You can contact Beverley at beverleydwyer@bigpond.com or contact me at eunson5253@optusnet.com.au

The National Archives of Australia: Found in the March issue of ‘Your Family History’ in our rooms was this article about the National Archives of Australia.

The NAA has launched a new initiative called arcHIVE to get records transcribed and made available to search in its online database.

RecordSearch Registered users will be able to earn points as they transcribe records which can then be redeemed for research credits in the NAA’s database or copies of files from the archives.

If you have a little spare time and would like to take part in this important project:

Visit the project’s website http://transcribe.naa.gov.au for details on how to register and begin transcribing.

Members’ Interest List: Most members will be aware that we have a Members’ Interest List on our website. As a member of the society you are invited to add ten names to that list in the hope that someone in the world or even here on the Gold Coast may see your entry and connect. Just recently there was a general connection which may be of interest to more than just the member posting the name. I have included part of the email received in case there are others interested in this name.

Name of interest is Neville

My name: Guy Nevill

My email address: guynevill40@btinternet.com

I have an index of Nevill (various spellings) of some 8,000 plus references b.m.d’s etc mainly in the UK and tending to be in southern England where my ancestors come from. If you have a specific first name and event you are looking for then maybe it is in the index and I will check it for you. Any extra information such as time period and possible area might narrow down the search. I should say that there is no charge – it’s a case of one Nevill family historian helping out another.

That seems to be all for this month, please consider joining the Seminar Steering Committee on Sunday and see what you may be able to contribute.

Happy researching

Gay Eunson eunson5253@optusnet.com.au

GOLD COAST FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY INC.

formerly Gold Coast and Albert Genealogical Society Inc.