Lilian's Tree

Standing on my local train station, in the coolness of a late autumn morning I watched a very cheeky sulphur-crested cockatoo, harass two magpies. Where they went, it would follow, this happened several times and then my train arrived for my day of Irish Genealogy. Hosted by The Society of Australian Genealogists, Fintan Mullan and Gillian Hunt,  below, presented five wonderful talks on Irish Family History.     Held in Glover Cottage , adjacent to Richmond Villa (home to SAG), the day was an Irish researchers dream.                               A different view of Richmond Villa, from Glover Cottage.     The range of talks covered everything from an Introduction to Irish Family Research, Using land records, Census substitutes and Different Church records. It was information overload and I came away with my head spinning and my notes dotted with comments like, look for Samuel, check Tithe records for Thomas and work out the correct townland for my family.

This is a puzzling question and I'd like to know your thoughts. Several years ago I found my Mum and Dad on someone's family tree and was surprised/annoyed/angry that this person had them there. The person was not related to me, or if they were it was very distant. As both Mum and Dad had passed and their death notices are indexed on Ryerson or can be found on Trove, I suppose that in order to keep his tree up to date he added them. I contacted him and asked if he would remove them, he did but was surprised by my reaction. So here are the questions;  As they were my parents, do I 'own' them? Can I suggest to non family members that they either ask me , to add them to their tree or not put them there, in the first place? While Mum has been gone 11 years, Dad has been gone 59 years, so anyone could get his death certificate, now.  Thoughts please. Bye for now, Lilian.

It's been a busy week with lost of small things happening, car was due for it's annual service, lunch with friends, spending time with the Grandies, catching up with friends and knitting group and now it is Saturday! Last night I signed the amended quote and should have a proof copy of the book, this coming week. As several more people are interested I increased the run to 30 books, from the original 20. I'm getting a bit excited to see an actual copy. The research for the Galbraith book is rolling along. Still no reply from the Victorian BDM's, so I wrote a letter to them and posted it off. Waiting, waiting, waiting.  I think I have taken the Cameron side back two more generations, from Ann Cameron, my ancestor. Now I need to find her arrival, as a child into what was Port Phillip, in the late 1840's. [ Ann Cameron married Simon Grant, their daughter, Maryann  married Arthur Galbraith.] Minded James and Hannah on Wednesday and took them to the local park, for

Last night I sent the cover and full book to the printer. Now will wait for a new quote, as I increased the number of books in the original print and a proof copy to check. Feeling excited. The second book, this time on the Galbraith side is in the research stage. I'm still waiting on permission from the Victorian BDM's to maybe use some certificates, everywhere else has got back to me, with permission. Have a good weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the Mums. Lilian x

Today, being the second Thursday of the month, is Writing Group Day. Now into our fourth year, this group of like minded people are close. (new comers are made very welcome) Today was tinged with sadness as our oldest member, Ben Price, aged 98, passed away in April. Ben would travel by public transport, with his walker to make our meetings. Two years ago, when he was 96, I photographed him with our youngest member, aged just 9months. He told such wonderful stories of his ancestors, that we enjoyed. He continued to live on his own, cooking his meals until the end. His death notice read, 'Not ready yet!'. We will miss you Ben. Ben's Order of Service. Ann Beaumont and Sue Stenning. Sue is the "boss" of the group. Our speaker today was Ann Beaumont. In a previous life she was a journalist in all three areas, print, radio and television. She covered such things as the Vietnam War and the break up of the former Yugoslavia and was also a member of t

Those of you who attend the SAG Writers Group, know that I have given a talk on copyright and what you can and can’t do. Sooooo, yesterday, (Tuesday 9 th ) I posted this query on a Facebook group I belong to. Has anyone used any certificates, in a book etc., from the Victorian BDM's? If so did you get permission and how long did it take? Their website doesn't cover this and when I emailed them I got an automated reply, say to use my receipt number to check my progress. Haven't got a receipt was I already have the certificates. Should add that I spent 30mins on the phone, today only to be told re-send the email and mark it urgent! Thanks in advance. This is part of a reply I received;   “Author -   I have reproduced certificates. Never have needed permission.” This was my reply; “Certificates are copyrighted by their design, not the facts and you should obtain permission.” Then they replied; “ Author -   That's new to me.” I am a firm believer

                                          I am now at the pointy end of the book. All edits have been done and a couple of last minute changes done. It wasn't good to say she had nine children, when she had 10. I also added two more photos, my editor does like me. Today I went and has some professional photos taken, as I will need one on the back of the book. It was so not me to have full make-up on, I usually do lipstick and eye-shadow. I saw some of them on the camera and am thrilled. Rachel did an amazing job and once I have her website details they will be on both my blog and my  website. Knowing her as a friend made the session fun and when her 2year old wandered in and gave me a cuddle, it was lovely. I have designed the cover, added a blurb and the ISBN and once I select a photo it will be done. I have decided not to use Lulu, even though it now means that I will have to purchase the books and send them out, the price Lulu wanted wasn't what I thought people woul