Social media seems to be the dominant theme through the latest news, with new new blogs, Twitter accounts and Facebook pages from groups. It is great to see them embracing the newer means of communications that people are wanting (and sometimes expecting).

Some of the following news articles have been submitted to us, while others have been found from websites, newspapers and other articles.

We love promoting genealogy and history throughout Australia and the smaller groups are just as important as the big state societies. So if you have news, events, need for help or donations, or have a request – please advise, we’d love to hear.

Campbells in Australia – Forum
I’ve been notified of the Campbell’s in Australia Group. This is a Forum and Network for those who are seeking genealogical and family tree information about the Campbell surname in Australia/New Zealand and their ties and roots to the surname “Campbell”. To subscribe, send an email to CampbellsAustralia-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or subscribe directly off the web-site at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CampbellsAustralia

Johnston/e’s in Australia/NZ – Forum
As the search for surnames is popular in a global sense many would like to niche their research to a Country or indeed a Province or County, the newly created Group of “Johnston’s in Australia” is a Forum and Network for those who are seeking genealogical and family tree information about their Johnston/e [and all derivatives] surname in Australia/New Zealand and their ties and roots to the surname Johnston/e. To subscribe, send an email to JohnstonAustralia-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or subscribe directly off the web-site at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JohnstonAustralia

New South Wales

Hawkesbury – Hawkesbury Family History Group on Facebook
For Facebookers, you may be interested to hear that the Hawkesbury Family History Group have made the jump into social media, and now have a Facebook page. Become a fan of their page by clicking on the “Like” button.
South Australia

Burra – Heritage Threat
How ironic it is that the heart of the Burra heritage story is the historic Monster Mine, and that the State Government is now deciding whether to overturn the mine’s heritage listing. It seems nothing is sacred in this state when it comes to mining. Phoenix Copper company wants to dig down below the mine in search of more copper, and possibly gold. Phoenix applied for a “variation of proclaimed area” which basically means getting rid of the heritage protection that so many people spent so long putting in place. The Burra copper discovery changed copper mining in the 1840s and 1850s just as Roxby is changing copper mining today. So even if something is “heritage protected” that seems to be meaning less and less these days. The full article can be read on the AdelaideNow website.

Glandore – Adelaide Proformat and social media
While not news to do with a Society or Group, this is still related to genealogy. Adelaide Proformat, business of professional genealogist Graham Jaunay, is moving with the times. You can keep now up with news not only from his email newsletters, but also through his blog, on Twitter and on Facebook.

Hamley Bridge – Past and Present Website and Facebook
The small town of Hamley Bridge, north of Adelaide is a community located at the junction of the Gilbert and Light rivers, as well as the site of a former railway junction. With no local history group in the area, local resident Sharon Norman, became engrossed in the history of the town, and began collecting all information to do with the town’s history. In a bid to make her information readily available to all, she has created her own Hamley Bridge website, and Facebook page. If you have any information or photos relating to Hamley Bridge, Sharon would love to hear from you.

Victoria

Bendigo – Cornish Association of Bendigo and District
The Cornish Association of Bendigo and District have ventured into the world on social media, and can now be found of Facebook. Become a fan of the Cornish Association of Bendigo and District by clicking on the ‘Like” button.

Echuca – Echuca-Moama Family History Group
Another place you find on Facebook, is the Echuca-Moama Family History Group. So if you wish to keep up with their news and happenings, become a fan of their Facebook page.

Marysville – Marysville Historical Society and Marysville Museum
A new museum is to open in Marysville north-east of Melbourne to replace the one burnt down by bushfires on Black Saturday in 2009. This is welcome news for the local Historical Society who have had thousands of items donated to them since the fire. You can watch the news report on the ABC website online.

It has been a long time coming – but we can now say that Family Historian 4 Australian & New Zealand Edition is now in stock.

Containing the same program that comes in the Family Historian 4 (UK version), the extras that come it make it “Australasian-ised”.

WHAT COMES IN THE AUSTRALIAN/NEW ZEALAND EDITION?

• Family Historian 4 program CD
• Australian Shipping 1788-1968 (CD) – $59.95 A collection of over 240,000 arrivals and departures of ships at Australian ports between 1788 and 1968
• Australian Dictionary of Dates and Men of the Time (CD) – $39.50
• New Zealand Directory 1866-67 (Stevens and Bartholomew) (CD) – $34.50
• 90 day subscription to WorldVitalRecords.com.au

The publisher’s offer a free trial of the program:
- if you DON’T already have a previous version of it installed click here
- if you DO already have a previous version of Family Historian installed read this first