One hundred years ago Australians woke to the news that the Britain had declared war on Germany. In 2014 it’s difficult to appreciate how enmeshed Australia’s politics and life was with Britain’s, but the summary on the front page of The Sydney Morning Herald gives us a retrospective glimpse: “An unparalleled scene in the history … More 100 years ago: Declaration of War
In the early months of 1915, two young brothers enlisted to serve their country in the First World War. It’s unlikely they felt they were going to fight to defend “home” and the “motherland” as their grandparents and uncles were German-born, not unlike my own Kunkel relatives. Perhaps they felt they needed to defend their … More Two brothers go to war: Les and Fred Fisher
Shauna Hicks has set us all a goal of 52 weeks of Genealogical Records. The topic for Week 11 (how did that happen?!) is Newspapers. Now, like most genies I love newspapers and being a bit of an old fogey I’ve used them extensively over the years. Once upon a time it was only possible … More 52 weeks of Genealogical Records: Newspapers
In my previous post I mentioned the newspaper remarks of problems on board the barque Florentia, and my hopes of getting to the bottom of the mystery…and finding reference to Mary O’Brien. Only a matter of hours after disembarking from Voyager of the Seas in Sydney I was ensconced in the reading room at State … More Was it all fun and games on Florentia?
My East Clare Emigrants blog has been neglected since the cruise but today I was determined to add a story, and the one I’d selected was about Mary Ann Morton, nee Massy. One thing led to another, as it does, and eventually I also followed up her husband, James Morton. An Irishman born in Ballymena, … More Trove Tuesday: James Morton of Ballymena, County Antrim and Grafton, NSW.
For Remembrance Day 2013, I’m going to share with you the brief story of a man who has no family connection to me whatsoever. He made himself known through a photograph found in my cousin’s extensive photo collection. My 4th cousin in Sydney is one of those people who has myriad photographs stored in suitcases … More Remembrance Day 2013: Erle Victor Weiss
Prompt 9 for the Book of Me is all about Halloween, which is appropriate given that it occurs in week 9 of our project. This will be a traditional event for many of my fellow bloggers, however Down Under it’s been a non-event until quite recent years: another commercial opportunity or just fun for the kids? I’m … More Book of Me: Prompt 9 -Halloween/Hallowian
This week is the 71st anniversary of the Battle of Milne Bay. Far less known to the average Aussie than Kokoda in the annals of our military history, it was a vitally important victory against the Japanese Forces. You can read what I wrote about it for last Remembrance Day, not long after we returned … More Anniversary of Battle of Milne Bay
It seems that my uncle Pat Farraher is determined to have his moment in the Sepia Saturday sun. Pat appeared back in Sepia Saturday 166 and today’s topic is tailor-made for him. The World War II nominal roll only gives bare details but it lists Patrick Joseph Farraher enlisting on 15 September 1942 in Enoggera, Brisbane at the … More An army marches on its stomach
The Dry Season in Darwin brings interstate visitors with family links to the Territory and one of the bonuses is that some of them are expert family history presenters. Today we had the privilege of once again hearing Susie Zada, a dynamic and experienced family historian and professional researcher. I first heard Susie speak a … More Visiting speaker to Darwin: Susie Zada. What did I learn?
Family history across the seas 