Geneabloggers tells us that today is Bagpipe Appreciation Day so with bagpipes in my blood stream how could I let this go. I’ve posted before about my McCorkindale pipers, my grandmother’s brothers ..if you missed that post please have a look at the photos which I think are so evocative. But to branch out today … More Bagpipe Appreciation Day
I think this image speak volumes of the march of the cane toad into the Northern Territory (apart from all those shades of brown). We stopped to look at some brolgas near a waterway on our drive home from down south, and happened to see this tableau. It may not be the case, but it … More Beauty & the Beast, united in death
The topic for Week 30 in Amy Coffin’s and Geneablogger’s 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History series is Employment. Describe your first job. What did you do? Were you saving for something in particular, or just trying to make a living? Did that first job provide skills and make an impact on your life … More 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History for Week 30 is Employment – working at Pellegrini’s Bookstore
This weekend my Alma Mater, All Hallows’ School (AHS), has celebrated its 150th anniversary. This may not seem much to those in the northern hemisphere but it remains one of Queensland’s oldest schools. The school was established by the Sisters of Mercy, led by Mother Vincent Whitty and five young nuns, who arrived on the … More Happy 150th Birthday, All Hallows’ School
One of the joys of the Top End in the Dry Season is the array of gardens which are open and visiting them is part of our “social” agenda. Unfortunately due to our interstate trip we’ve missed a few but last week’s garden and this week’s have been delightful. I loved the intimacy of last … More Top End Open Gardens: Jade Vine is this week’s star
Randy Seaver’s Saturday Night Genealogy Fun included making a “Heritage Pie” chart for the country of origin (birth place) for these 16 ancestors. [Hint: you could use the chart generator from Kid Zone for this.] [Note: Thank you to Sheri Fenley for the “Heritage Pie” chart idea.] For a bit of light relief I thought I’d bake … More Heritage Pie: a slice or two of ancestral places
Last night most of us slept peacefully in our beds, but ninety-five years ago a fierce and bloody battle was raging in France. That night Australia suffered a truly terrible loss of its young men akin to that at Gallipoli. Among the Australians readying for action on the evening of 19 July 1916 were my … More Battle of Fromelles: In Memoriam L/Cpl James Augustus Gavin KIA
One of Richard Reid’s comments during Shamrock was to the effect that family historians search for meaning and information on their ancestors among the documents held in various repositories but ignore the things or objects that may tell us more about their lives. In his paper presented to the 2009 Irish Conference, hosted by the Irish … More An Object-ive view of family history: It’s not just “stuff” or junk
The topic for Week 29 in Amy Coffin’s and Geneablogger’s 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History series is: Water. Do you have any memories of the sea or another body of water? Did you live there or just visit? What did you do there? You can also describe a body of water by which you … More 52 weeks of Personal Genealogy and History: Week 29: Water and Hastings Point holidays
The topic for Week 28 in Amy Coffin’s and Geneablogger’s 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History series is: Summer. What was summer like where and when you grew up? Describe not only the climate, but how the season influenced your activities, food choices, etc. How ironic that this blog topic arrived just as we left … More 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History: Week 28: Summer Down Under
Family history across the seas 