U3A Benalla and District Inc.
  • Home
  • Benalla
    • Benalla
    • Benalla District
    • Who, What and Where? - Benalla Rural City
  • About
    • Our U3A
    • President's Page
    • Executive Committee
    • Convenors >
      • Convenors
      • Convenors A - Z 2022
    • Program Suggestions
    • Newsletter
    • Website
  • Groups
    • Groups A - Z
    • Recent Groups >
      • Armchair History
      • German - Beginners
      • Meditation
      • Russian Literature
      • Hot Topics/The News - Fact or Fiction?
    • Archived Groups >
      • A - M >
        • A Different View Of German History
        • Armchair Traveller
        • Booker Reading Group
        • Bushwalking - Mid-week Walks
        • Comparative Religion
        • Facebook for Mentors
        • Google Apps/TS Plus
        • History - An Introduction to Western Civilization
        • History - Moments in Australian History
        • Investment I (1996 -2015)
        • Legal Matters (Short Course)
        • Making the Most of the Internet
      • O - Z >
        • On Target - Learning to Shop Online
        • Opera
        • 'Over There'
        • Rail and Tourism
        • Tech Savvy Apple Devices - Intermediate
        • Tech Savvy Community Projects
        • Travel Group
        • Zoom Short Course
  • A-Col
    • A - COL
    • 'A Taste of Art'
    • Art Appreciation
    • Australian History
    • 'As Time Goes By' >
      • Home
      • Our Stories - by topic
    • 'Be Connected'
    • Birdwatching
    • Brain Games
    • Bushwalking - Easy Walks
    • Cards '500'
    • Chat n' Chew
    • Coin Collectors
    • Collectors
  • Col-G
    • COM - G
    • Community Singing
    • Creative Writing
    • Demystifying Psychology
    • Enjoying the Internet
    • Exercises for Fun
    • Exploring the Universe
    • Family Research - Advanced >
      • Home
      • Family Stories
    • Family Research - Beginners
    • Film Discussion Group
    • Garden Appreciation
    • Garden Team
    • German >
      • Home
      • Lessons
  • I - R
    • I - R
    • 'In the Lap of the Gods'
    • Investment
    • Jane Austen Book Club
    • Let's Talk Books
    • Lifeball
    • Meet and Mingle
    • Music Appreciation
    • Page Turners
    • Patchwork and Craft
    • Photography
    • Play Reading
    • Politics & Current Affairs
    • Recorder Group
  • S - Z
    • S -Z
    • Singing for Fun
    • Sky's the Limit
    • Stock and Land
    • Sustainability
    • Tech Advice
    • Tech Savvy Apple - 'Pages'
    • Tech Savvy Beginners - Android
    • Tech Talks
    • Ukes4Fun
    • Wine Appreciation
    • Wise Guys Book Group
  • Join
    • Join Us
    • Membership Application/Renewal Form
    • Program Guide 2023
    • Timetable - Month Overview
    • Full Timetable with Dates
    • New Courses 2023
    • Venues and Maps
  • News
    • News - General
    • February Newsletter
    • Calendar 2022
    • Monthly Calendar
    • Website & Facebook
  • FB
  • Gallery
    • Gallery 2022
    • Gallery 2021
    • Gallery 2020
    • Gallery 2019
    • Gallery 2018
    • Gallery 2017
    • Gallery 2016 >
      • + Christmas Lunch 2016
    • Gallery 2015 >
      • Christmas Lunch 2015
    • Gallery 2014
    • Lifeball Video
  • Links
    • Resources and References
    • U3A Network Victoria
    • Seniors Online Victoria
    • U3A Albury Wodonga
    • U3A Beechworth (Indigo U3A)
    • U3A Bright
    • U3A Wangaratta
    • U3A Goulburn Valley
  • Contact

October - 'From the Bookshelves' & 'Ethics in Geneology'

28/10/2022

0 Comments

 
We began the session with October’s ‘Family Stories’ topic – ‘From the Bookshelves’. Margaret shared delightful reflections on the poetry of John O’Brien, alias of  Catholic priest Patrick Joseph Hartigan, writer of ‘Around the Boree Log’, ‘Said Hanrahan’ and ‘The Trimmin’s on the Rosary’, highly valuing the way in which he incorporated “the everyday lives of his parishioners many Irish phrases with an Australian bush setting”. 

On reading ‘The Ballad of Abdul Wade’, purchased recently, David found that it included a famous, or perhaps infamous family connection.  As well as recounting this, David shared the contribution the book made to his understanding of the role of Afghan cameleers in the development of Australia, also showing us a photograph of pioneering family members with a camel train near Coolgardie, WA in 1898.  

Bev spoke about memorable books on her grandparents’ and parents’ bookshelves, from her great grandfather’s three volume set of Shakespeare and her parents’ ‘Rubayait of Omar Khayam’ , to her siblings ‘Famous Five’, ‘Secret Seven’ and ‘Biggles’ books.  

Barry described four books ‘Time,Tide and the Tyrell’, ‘A Land Worth Saving’, ‘A history of the Shire of Swan Hill’ and ’Lalor: the Peter Lalor Hume Building Cooperative 1946-2012’, which have added value to his family research. 

Jane described being fascinated by poetry book of her fathers, one of few belongings from his English boyhood, titled ‘There’s a Famous Seaside Place Called Blackpool’. We all encouraged her to search it out on the internet! 

​New member Dawn Stephens reflected on the way in which family bookshelves often included books with beautifully illustrated plates; books received as presents and as awards by Sunday Schools and schools.  Sharing stories on a theme nearly always results in moments of shared memories.  ‘From the Bookshelves’ was no exception!
​
A member story about ethical issues faced when working on records involving a murder and mental health issues set the scene for Jane’s presentation “Some ethical issues which can arise during family research”.  
A deepening discussion of a range of ethical issues ensued, with class members adding the dilemmas faced when venereal disease-based hospitalization is revealed in war records or when it appears possible that forebears have been slave traders; culpable landlords during the Irish famine, or have treated indigenous workers badly. (We always hope our ancestors are good people!)

Gains described this month included Graeme’s “I’ve finally completed my family tree!  8,600 people and I’ve finished!”  He explained that he’s been totally absorbed, for hours at a time, for over six months, on researching and writing up his family tree.  Another highpoint - received with spontaneous applause – Marg has finally received her grandfather Percy Watkinson’s death certificate from France!  We were fascinated by this document, which was written in beautifully handwritten French. 

Next month’s topic ‘Heroes, Villains, Leaders, Visionaries, Eccentrics, Victims, Survivors’*  The brief:  “Somewhere in our family tree is a person of some fame or infamy!  They are the person often first identifiable in discussions with people also working on your family tree.  Choose such a person from your family tree and share their story with the group. (*Used in the modern gender-neutral sense, as in ‘Actor’, for both males and female protagonists.”)  Graeme’s October story, ‘Shades of Altruism’ led the way, describing a ‘visionary’ relative, Sarah Daniels, who showed foresight and fortitude in bequeathing her property in Merrylands, Sydney to Holroyd Municipal Council to be used as an open space for the elderly.  Now a functional rest area in the middle of a shopping precinct, it is known as Sarah Daniels Court. 
​

Beverley Lee and Jane Rushworth
​
0 Comments
    Family Stories

    Family Research

    ​Family Research is a guided self-help group for members who are already working on their family tree.  Sessions commence with report backs on ‘pains and gains’ during research over the previous month accompanied by shared problem solving,  encourage-ment and ideas for next steps.  Presentations by group members and guest speakers provide inspiration and suggestions of different approaches and resources.  Stories are also shared each month on topics designed to encourage deeper reflection on our research.  

    Convenor/s Contact Details

    Bev Lee
    ​0478 607 838

    Barry O'Connor
    ​0407 266 688

    Jane Rushworth
    ​0437 621 575

    Meeting Times

    4th Thursday 1 to 4 pm
    Family Research Course Information 2022

    ​List of Topics - 2022

    List of Topics - 2021

    Finding the Alphabetical List of Names on Ancestry.com (Barry O'Connor)
    Graeme's Glossary - idea under construction 

    Links

    Benalla Family Research Group 
    Trove
    'More on Trove'
    Everyone Loves Trove (Podcast)
    'Lee Devitt Family History Blog' Bev Lee
    Digby Family Stories - Penny Bristol Jones
    DNA Detectives and the End of Family Secrets

    Hands on...

    Program to convert PDF files to Word –https://www.pdf2go.com/pdf-to-word

    Photo restoration - simple projects - 
    https://hotpot.ai/restore-picture

    ​HEREDIS 

    ancestry.com.au

    myheritage.com

    ​Scotland's People 

    findpenguins.com
    ​

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay our respects to their elders - past, present and emerging.
Picture
News
​Newsletter
Facebook Page
​
Program Suggestions
​CO-VID Safety

U3A Benalla & District Flier 2023
​Membership Application/Renewal Form 
​
Program Guide 2023
Semester 1 Timetable with Dates 2023
Semester 1 Timetable Month Overview 2023
Developed and maintained by members, this website showcases U3A Benalla & District. 
​Photographs - U3A members; Benalla Art Gallery website; ​Weebly 'Free' images;Travel Victoria and State Library of Victoria