Thursday, October 31, 2013

Irish Event in Hornsby

Members with Irish ancestry or a fascination with Ireland may be interested interested in this event in Hornsby. (Snipped from Library website) - http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/library/activities-and-events/creative-writing-workshops

Ireland - What's the Craic?

Presented by Keith Whelan

Photograph of four leaf clovers
Irishman Keith Whelan will guide you through Ireland’s story and the influence of Irish culture that can be felt far and wide and is historically evident in Australia.
This 3 hour session will look at:
  • When and how Ireland became Celtic
  • Why Ireland and Britain’s relationship is so complex
  • How Irish culture has evolved
  • The global impact of Irish migration
  • Northern Ireland’s rocky road to peace
  • The history of the Irish in Australia
  • Profile prominent figures like Brian Boru, Wolfe Tone, Daniel O’Connell, Eamon De Valera, Michael Collins and WB Yeats.
Keith will also look at the funnier side of Irish Culture – the craic (fun), from shamrocks to shillelagh. So join Keith and visit a land of saints and scholars and find out how the Irish influenced Australia and how the two countries are inherently linked.
When: Thursday 14 November, 5.45pm to 8.45pm (registration at 5.30pm)
Where: Hornsby Central Library,
            28-44 George Street, Hornsby
Cost: $7.00 per person
Bookings: Bookings essential. Please call 9847 6614 or email library@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Family History Meeting

Our next family history meeting is on Saturday 2 November.
The 11am session will be in the research rooms and is titled: Where will I find...??

After a break for lunch we will reconvene at 2pm.

The 2pm session will be the General Meeting followed by guest speaker Greg de Moore with Tom Wills: an Australian story.
Greg de Moore is a psychiatrist at Sydney's Westmead Hospital.

Greg's book. Tom Wills: first wild man of Australian sport, is the bittersweet story of Thomas Wentworth Wills who became the first captain and coach of the famous aboriginal cricket team that later toured England, and was the founder of the Melbourne Football Club (AFL).
This book has been short-listed for numerous awards, including the National Biography Award.

The afternoon meeting will be held in the Gordon Library meeting rooms.
The speaker will be followed by afternoon tea.
Visitors are most welcome.


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Trove Tuesday - Local boys respond to the Empire's Call

As our WWI biography project marches on, we find more articles in the newspapers of our local boys marching off to the Great War.
We found these recently in the Sydney Morning Herald:

- one a Barker College Roll of Honour,

- another from the Ku-ring-gai Recreation Club at Turramurra (now the Warrawee Club)

These are from quite early in the war, 1915 and 1916, so obviously the impact was already being felt back home.

These gems provide a great list of names for us but sometimes create more questions as no first names are given.

If you know any of these names, we would love to hear from you.

If you would like to join our very worthy project - researching and writing biographies of all those on local memorials, please contact us via khs@khs.org.au

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Shakin' the world over


The guest speaker, Leonard Janiszewski, gave an enthralling lecture on the history of milk bars in Australia at our General Meeting last Saturday. 


Leonard Janiszewski shares his stories

Leonard illustrated his talk with an amazing set of historical images of milk bars and cafes from Australia and abroad 


Our wonderful catering team lead by Jill Nicholson prepared an afternoon tea in keeping with the theme of the talk. There were lots of "Do you remembers?" and "Do they taste the sames?" overheard in conversations over tea.


The mini hamburgers were a big hit.

Thank you to Beverley Dunstan for her efforts in procuring such an interesting speaker for us.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Trove Tuesday - Miss Dunlop of Turramurra

As there are copyright restrictions on the Treasures from Trove found this morning an image of the resources found will not be pasted here.

Before copying photos from Trove or anywhere one should check on their copyright status.The Trove search this morning for Turramurra October returned two photographs from TV Times issue 6 October 1962. On checking this copyright notice was found:

Copyright status: Taken by Australian Photographic Agency for account: TV Times 621536. Reproduction for purposes other than private study or research will require permission.

The images are of Miss Dunlop, fiancee of Frank Partridge, VC, winner on Bob Dyer's television quiz program Pick-a-box preparing for her marriage at her parents' Turramurra house. You can view the photos here: http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/15504759?q=turramurra+october&l-availability=y&l-australian=y&c=picture.

Another photo with similar copyright restrictions shows Frank Partridge VC, BP Pick-a-Box champion and just married, with his nursing sister wife Barbara Dunlop, in their Turramurra house. The photo can be viewed online here : http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=91228.

Sadly Frank and Barbara's marriage was short as Frank was killed in an accident in 1964.






Thursday, October 17, 2013

Technology SIG 10 October 2013 - Notes

It is an absolute delight to work with the members who have attended our first two Technology Special Interest Group meetings. Their thirst for learning about technology and their enthusiasm is infectious.

For our second meeting we met with members of the Mac Special Interest Group with our main topic of discussion being Tech Gadgets. We endeavoured to look at and discuss a range of tech gadgets but our discussions often meandered to other Tech subjects. We agreed that these diversions were good because they discussed items of interest to those in attendance.

As promised I am circulating some notes with tips, resources and links discussed at our meeting last week. These items may be of interest to other members who could not join us.


All members are welcome to join us for our monthly meeting on the second Thursday at 1:30pm in the Society rooms.

1. Answers to questions  from previous meeting
A free tool that will allow one to clip part of a screen on a PC running Windows XP is http://www.screenclipper.com/

The site where the Mac Group's gadget man buys many of his tech toys is


2. Main Topic: Gadgets
We looked at gadgets in a number of categories and discussed how we use them:

Cameras

Members use these types of cameras for taking photos of people, headstones and artifacts. They are also used to photograph documents and books in repositories.
  • Point and Shoot - Advantages - light, easy to use, idiot proof, and many have image stabilisers
  • Camcorder
  • SLR - Heavy and cumbersome but with great image quality
  • 4/3 - A bit smaller than an SLR, has good image quality.

    TIP: When purchasing cameras buy one which allows use of the Macro feature (super close up for small items) without a flash.

Phones and Accessories
Members wanted to know what differentiates a smartphone from a tablet.

Phones have screens up to about 5 inches in size.  Tablets have screens from 7 inches up in size.

Tablets and phones can be used for similar functions although size will influence how easy it is to use them.

Members suggested that a free Mirror app and a free Torch app are useful additions to one's collection of apps.


The iPhone to iPad connector kit ($39 Apple store) facilitates transferring photos.

Battery extenders, available for iPhones and Androids help you use your device longer and extend the time until you have to connect to your battery charger.

The Camscanner app (for iDevice or Android) enables one to scan images to one's phone or tablet and was highly recommended. https://www.camscanner.net/


Never pay full price for a iTunes Card. Jackie suggests using  giftcardsonsale.com.au to search for bargain iTunes cards.


Tablets
If you want to get the maximum life out of your tablet get biggest capacity you can afford when you buy a new one.


Printers
Members discussed the pros and cons of using non-branded ink cartridges. The Kiosk outside Kmart in Hornsby has good prices on cartridges and is prepared to give a discount when asked.


Recording Devices
We looked at two small battery operated recorders for interviewing relatives or recording talks (but ask the presenter's permission first). 
A tablet or phone's recording app can be used for this purpose or one can record into the Evernote app. http://evernote.com


Scanners
We discussed the various types of scanners: Flatbed, Sheet feed, Wand, Flip-Pal, Slide Scanners and their uses for various purposes. Those who had used the Flip-Pal mibile scanner sang it's praises. members were reminded that the Society has a Flip-Pal. /http://flip-pal.com/


Storage Devices
Various storage devices were discussed with members being reminded about the frailty of USB sticks. The purchase of a portable hard drive was recommended as a good investment. This blog post from James Tanner was mentioned as suggested reading for those wanting to get value for money.
Western Digital and Seagate were mentioned as reliable brands.


3. New resources/sites
Biographical Database of Australia http://www.bda-online.org.au/
The new Australian publication Family Tree Tracker Magazine (available from newsagents) has articles on software, hardware and howtos
Family Tree Maker User Blog has useful tips for FTM users ftmuser.blogspot.com


4.Topic for next meeting
Favourite Apps  14th November 2013 at 1:30pm

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

The Birth of Milk Bars

Come and join us at our next General Meeting to hear the "foremost milk bar historian", Leonard Janiszewski speak on Shakin' the world over: the Greek-Australian Milk Bar.

Did you know that the world's first "American-style" milk bar opened in Martin Place, Sydney in 1932?

It was the brainchild of a Greek known as Mick Adams (Joachim Tavlaridis).

The milk bar, the Black and White, attracted over 27,000 customers in the first week alone!

Come along and hear more.


Our meeting starts at 2pm in the Gordon Library Meeting room - please note access is not available through the library, you need to enter and exit through the door from the driveway.

Afternoon tea is available after the speaker and visitors are all welcome.


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Trove Tuesday - Birdlover

Wahroonga resident, Harry Wolstonholme, passed away in October 1930. This obituary from the Sydney Morning Herald tells of his connections with the world of ornithology.

1930 'A LOVER OF NATURE.', The Sydney Morning Herald(NSW : 1842 - 1954), 17 October, p. 10, viewed 15 October, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16723258

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Trove Tuesday - Identifying WWI Soldiers

Trove comes good again.

Ku-ring-gai Historical Society is undertaking a large WWI project: to identify and write biographies of all the soldiers on memorials in the Ku-ring-gai area, and others with strong wartime links to the area that may have been missed off memorials.

Some of the memorials aren't easy to find or to visit as they are in private clubs or even from defunct clubs.

Most of the memorials only give initials and these can at times be very difficult to identify with certainty.

So, off to Trove and look at this goldmine:
An article about the effect of the Great War on golf clubs, in particular a local club, Killara.

The article is really interesting in itself but provided us with full names, ranks and battalions (in most cases) of the men on the Killara Golf Club memorial.

Scroll down and look at the names.
Do you know any of them?
Are you related?
Do you have any photos you would be prepared to share with us?
Perhaps you would like to join our writer's group?


KILLARA GOLF CLUB ROLL OF HONOR.
Lieut. Burdett Philip Nettleton, 1st A.L.H.;
Surgeon Richard Prevost, R.A.N.R. ;
Major Clarence Read, A.M.C.;
Capt. Edward Maxwell Ramsden, A.M.C.;
Lieut. Mordaunt Lindsay Clarke, 13th Batt.;
Pte. Ralph Stanley Northcott, A.M.C.;
Driver William Douglas Wilson Walker, A.S.C.;
Driver Halse Millett, A.F.A.;
Lance-Corp. Adrian Morley Epps, A.M.C.;  
Driver William Alan Maschwitz, A.F.A.;
Capt. John Lloyd Evans, R.H.A.;
Capt. John Oberlin Harris, 4th Batt.;
Driver Edward Sydney Watkins, A.F.A.;
Private Percy Walker, A.I.F.;
Lieut. Horace Stanley Bagshaw, Manchester Reigment ;
Private Claudius Rolleston Gant, A.L.H.;
2nd-Lieut. R. J. York, R.G.A. Sons of members :
Capt. Cecil Arthur Callaghan, A.F.A.;
Corp. Cecil Robert Callaghan, A.M.C.;
Surgeon James Whitson Kemp Bruce, R.N.;
John Netherby Graham;
Private Reginald Hastings Cook, 1st Batt.;
Corp. Cecil Gilbert Reading, 1st L.H.;
Trooper William Edwin Penfold,
1st L.H.; Lieut. George Webster Binnie, 13th Batt;
Driver William Gould Balcombe, A.F.A. ;
Corp. Thomas Christian Boehme, A.S.C.;
2nd-Lieut; Henry Theodore Thumpson, 18th Hussars;
2nd-Lieut. James Gilbert Kidd, 10th Hussars;
Private Raymond Up ward, A.S.C.;
Sub-Lieut. Frederick Edmond Sargood, R.F.C.;
Sub-Lieut. Mervyn Minter, R.F.C.;
Sergt. Bruce Minter, A.F.A.;
Capt. Nowell Johnstone Sievers, 9th Essex;
Sapper Alan Alexander Wilson Walker, 1st F.C. Engineers;
Trooper Tom Vernon Garrett, A.L.H.;
Lieut. William Angwin Edwards, R.A.M.C.;
Trooper Jack Compton Bradford, 2nd A.L.H.;
Gunner Harold Palmer Bradford, A.F.A.;
Lieut Dudley Adams, R.F.C;
Lieut. Barton Adams, R.F.C.;
Sergt. John Duncan Carson, 2nd Batt.;
Lieut Arthur Lancelot Rickard, A.F.A.;
Private Dudley Palmer Braddon, A.S.C.;
Alan Shepherd Milward, R.F.C.;
Lieut. Reginald Empson, R.F.C.;
Major William Henry Read, A.M.C.;
Sergt. Sydney Clark Irving, 3rd Batt;
Private George Cameron Ferguson, 13th Batt;
Lieut. Charles Willoughby Lee Pulling, 13th Batt;
Lieut. Hugh Douglas Pulling, 13th Batt;
Sergt. Guy Harris Pulling, 17th. Batt;
Gunner Hubert John Curtis, A.F.A.;
Private Charles Stanley Davenport Adamson, A.S.C.;
Private Stuart Courtenay Gaden, 11th Batt;
Lance Corp. Charles Robert Windeyer, A.L.H. 

Monday, October 7, 2013

A busy week coming up!

Special Interest Groups have really taken off in our Society.
They have increased the numbers of members and non-members alike joining in Society activities and using the wonderful resources available in our research rooms. Friendships have been formed and brick walls broken down.

This week is particularly busy:
The Mac group usually meet on the first Monday of each month but as it is a public holiday this month have decided to join with the fledgling Technology group for a gadget day.
This meeting will be on Thursday 10 October at 1.30pm in the rooms.
Come along and see who has the most gadgets and all the amazing things ways they can help your research, or just be fun!

The Irish group meet on the second Fridays and are never short on topics and stories to share. There are always brick walls to chip away at and new resources to help.
This meeting will be on Friday 11 October at 1.30pm.

The German group meet on the second Mondays. They are always well attended and attendees are active in finding new websites, books and resources to further their research.
There meeting this month is on Monday 14 October at 1.30pm.

Soon there will be a New Zealand special interest group. If you are interest in this one, please email your details to kkhs@khs.org.au to be passed on to the co-ordinator.

Hope to see you at one of these meetings soon.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Family History Meeting - Saturday 5 October

11.00 am “London Research” with Jenny Joyce
Louise Wilson

2.00 pm General Meeting followed by Guest Speaker:

“Story-telling: Disinterring Early Convict Settlers of the Hawkesbury”.

Speaker: Louise Wilson who was the winner of the Alexander Henderson Award 2012, for her family history book 'Southwark Luck - the story of Charles Homer Martin, Ann Forrester and their children'. 

Her books include “Robert Forrester – First Fleeter”,
“Paul Bushell – Second Fleeter” and
“Southwark Luck”.

Read all about Louise at her website, http://www.louisewilson.com.au/index.html.

Afternoon Tea will be available.
Visitors welcome.