FTM leavesFamily Tree Maker is one of the world’s most popular genealogy software programs, and does have a large following of users in Australia.

While for most Family Tree Maker is an easy program to get into, interacting with a User Group will enable you learn more about the program, including new ways of doing things from interaction with others. There are always lots of tips and tricks to pick up and you will learn creative ways of using Family Tree Maker. If you are new to Family Tree Maker (or new to a newer version), attending a User Group meeting will help you get started, both in finding out what you can do in Family Tree Maker, and how to how to use it efficiently.

Australian Capital Territory – Canberra
Meetings:
2nd Tuesday of each month
Where:
HAGSOC, Unit 7, 41 Templeton Street, Cook, ACT
When:
10.00am-12.00pm
Contact:
Barbara Board hagsoc@hagsoc.org.au
Website:
http://www.hagsoc.org.au
Organised by the Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra

New South Wales – Botany Bay
Meetings: 3 times a year, on a Thursday night
Where: Port Hacking Community Centre, 184 Gannons Road (south), Caringbah
When: 7.00pm-8.30pm
Cost: $3.00 for members, $5.00 for non-members
Contact: Web http://www.botanybayfhs.org.au/ Email: botanybayfhs@yahoo.com.au

New South Wales – Sydney
Meetings:
once a quarter
Where: 120 Kent Street, Sydney
When: need to check the SAG website for details
Cost: $8.00 for members, $12.00 for non-members
Contact: http://www.sag.org.au/
Organised by the Society of Australian Genealogists, they also have an online forum for FTM Users
http://www.sag.org.au/helping-you/research-groups/family-tree-maker-forum/form/4.html

New South Wales – Wyong
Meetings:
3rd Thursday of each month
Where: “The Cottage”, Wyong Community Cultural Centre, 6 Rankens Court, Wyong, NSW
When: 1.00pm-3.00pm
Contact: http://www.wyongfamilyhistory.com.au/
This is a special interest group (SIG) within the Wyong Family History Group.

Queensland – Brisbane
Meetings:
1st Friday of every month, and the last Sat of each even numbered month
Where: 58 Bellevue Avenue, Gaythorne
When: starts 10.00am
Cost: free (and non-members are welcome)
Contact: Kerri Kleidon familytree@qfhs.org.au or http://www.qfhs.org.au/
Organised by the Queensland Family History Society

Queensland – East Brisbane
Meetings: 2nd Sunday of odd months of the year
Where:  38 Fisher Street, East Brisbane
When:  10:30am to 12:00pm
Contact:  The Genealogical Society of Queensland on (07) 3891 5085 or at info@gsq.org.au
Website:  www.gsq.org.au

Queensland – Redland
Meetings: 3rd Wednesday each month
Where: 6 Ackworth Place, Alexandra Hills
Starts: 1.30pm
Cost: free (and non-members are welcome)
Contact: mcfadzen@bigpond.net.au
Organised by the Redland Genealogical Society to assist both new and experienced users.

South Australia – Salisbury
Meetings:
3rd Saturday of each month
Where: Salisbury TAFE Heritage Centre, 3 Ann Street, Salisbury
When: from 1.30pm-3.30pm
Contact: info@andfhg.org
Organised by Adelaide Family Tree Maker User Group, in association with the Adelaide Northern Districts Family History Group

South Australia – South East
Meetings:
no meetings
Contact: http://www.sefhg.org/index_files/membership.htm
The South East Family History Group don’t hold regular Family Tree Maker User Group meetings, but they do have an online forum where you can post queries. Their Membership Page has information about how to do so.

Victoria – Geelong
Meetings:
2 nd Monday of each month
Where: South Barwon Cummunity Centre, Mount Pleasant Road, Belmont
When: 5.30pm-7.00pm
Contact: Cathy Carman carmancp@bigpond.com
held in association with VicGUM http://vicgum.asn.au or on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/VicGUM/193869012290

Victoria – Melbourne (night)
Meetings:
3rd Monday of each month (not December or January)
Where: Wadham House, 52 Wadham Parade, Mount Waverley
When: doors open 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start
Cost: $2.00
Contact: ftmusers@vicgum.asn.au
held in association with VicGUM http://vicgum.asn.au or on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/VicGUM/193869012290

Victoria – Melbourne (day)
Meetings:
1st Friday of each month
Where: Wadham House, 52 Wadham Parade, Mount Waverley
When: 2.00pm-4.00pm
Cost: $2.00
Contact: info@vicgum.asn.au
held in association with VicGUM http://vicgum.asn.au or on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/VicGUM/193869012290

***************************************************************

Other useful FTM tools

Family Tree Maker User blog
Russ Worthington had lots of great tips here for users.
http://ftmuser.blogspot.com

Ancestry’s YouTube Channel
Ancestry has lots of helpful videos on different aspects of FTM.
https://www.youtube.com/user/AncestryCom

Ancestry’s Tech Support
If you need further help with your program, you can call Ancestry’s Tech Support number: 1800 251 838 (for those in Australia)

  ***************************************************************

If you have details of further FTM User Groups in Australia, or changes to those already listed, please feel free to send me an email, and I shall get it updated. (inquiries@gould.com.au)

FTM2014 all as a set #2