Family history across the seas

It’s finally here – the event Down Under Genies have been excitedly anticipating – the AFFHO Congress 2018. And it’s going to be huge with 600 attendees – the largest ever held. I guess that reflects the pulling power of Sydney and the growth of our obsession hobby.

This will be my 5th Congress (Brisbane ’94, Melbourne ’03, Darwin ’06, Canberra ’15) and I’m looking forward to seeing my many genimates whom I’ve come to know in the online world and in person. There’s often years between catch-ups but it always feels like old mates meeting again.

Around half of the attendees will be newbies to Congress so we “old-timers” will need to make them welcome, introduce them to mates, and generally help them to enjoy Congress as much as we do. GeniAus has done a fantastic job keeping everyone in the loop with the Facebook group, Genimates @ #Congress_2018. It’s also been helpful for those who are unfamiliar with Sydney.

GeniAus and Alona from Lone Tester blog are providing blogger beads for the Geneabloggers Tribe members. I will have “Blogging Down Under” ribbons as well as “Kiva Genealogists for Families” for those who are members of those groups. I aim to be at the reception desk at the International Convention Centre at opening time to hand out ribbons and chat to people.

Our overseas visitors have been flying in over the past days, and some have been visiting our Aussie wildlife, to the envy of their American mates.

Like other speakers I have long since submitted handouts (available from 7th March) and my slide presentation. I have my speaking notes prepared as well, so now I’m in full Irish mode: my two talks are Uncovering Your Irish Roots and Parallel Lives: Irish Kin Down Under and Abroad. I am super-excited that I’ll have two sessions to learn from my genea-heroes Richard Reid, Perry McIntyre and Liz Rushen! Other Irish researchers will have the chance to hear Paul Milner on the wonderful Griffith Valuations, but I’ll be hanging out with my genimate Shelley Crawford who’s talking about Visualising DNA Matches. I’m sure DNA is going to be a hot topic at Congress given how keen people are about testing.

I’ve got my Congress kit ready: Whitelines notebook (thanks Shelley for the tip), Genealogists for Families flyers, Opal card, USB memory stick, blogger beads, conference ribbons to share, pencils, multi-coloured pens, my own notes, contact cards, and my promotional bag for the Waves in Time Conference to be held on the Sunshine Coast 24-26 May 2019.

I suppose it’s time to sort out my clothes for the trip and hope the weather doesn’t play havoc with my wardrobe planning.

Look forward to seeing you there! And if you can’t make it, remember there’ll be lots of chatter on Twitter using #Congress_2018.