Thanks for the feedback on last month’s Australian Genealogy and History Snippets post. I’m glad you liked it, and that you found it informative.

So, that brings us to my second Australian Genealogy and History Snippets post. This one covering news etc from February 2012.  It’s not meant to be comprehensive in anyway, but rather it is bits that I’ve recently come across and would like to share with you.

If you have any news that you’d like to share, please do so by emailing Alona at inquiries@gould.com.au, or your can phone (08) 8396 1110 M-F 9am-4pm.

GENERAL NEWS
Darwin Opens a Military Museum on the 70th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin

Sunday 19 February 2012 marked 70 years since the Japanese bombed Darwin. To coincide with this major event, the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce has opened a new museum dedicated to the bombing of Darwin, remembering the suffering and sacrifice of those who witnessed the event. You can read more about it, and see the video on the ABC News website.

First Fleet Memorial Gardens, Wallabadah, New South Wales
While the First Fleet Memorial Gardens is not new, and I’m sure of you have visited it, the existence of the First Fleet Memorial Gardens was news to me. It was brought to my attention by fellow Aussie geneablogger Sharn, on her Family History 4 U blog, detailing her latest visit to the Gardens. The First Fleet Memorial Garden is open seven days a week and a gold coin donation helps to maintain this beautiful and historically important tribute which Ray Collins single handedly erected. You can find more photos of the Garden on the Fellowship of First Fleeters website.

History of Soldiers from Colac, Victoria Preserved
Colac’s Shirley Anderson has spent two decades collecting records of Colac’s war veterans. She has placed hundreds of old war photographs and records in neat folders with the hope of continuing the soldiers’ legacies. Mrs Anderson will move her war veteran files from Colac’s Family History Group headquarters to the Colac RSL club on Anzac Day. “Everybody can then come and have a look at the folders at the RSL, and they can see the soldiers in their families,” she said. You can read the full story on the Colac Herald website.

Queensland BDMs Project
News on the GSQ website mentioned that the Queensland Registrar-General is planning to have death indexes to 1980 online by April 2012. Also a gradual increase in online content is planned until around 2015 when a high percentage of paper records should be available through the Queensland BDM website.  Currently the deaths online go up to 1964, while the births are up to 1914, and marriages 1934.

West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide Turns 175
West Terrace is the final resting place for thousands of South Australians, but the historic West Terrace Cemetery has also been responsible for several firsts in its 175 years of operation. It was the first cemetery in the state, established just six weeks after the proclamation was read at Glenelg in December 1836. In 1920 the first Australian Imperial Forces Cemetery in the Commonwealth was opened in the south western corner along with the first Cross of Sacrifice in an Australian cemetery. There are 4,155 defence force personnel buried in the lawn complex including four recipients of the Victoria Cross. And the West Terrace Cemetery also pioneered cremation in Australia, opening the first modern crematorium in the southern hemisphere in 1903. You can read more about this historic cemetery on the ABC Adelaide website.

PROJECTS
Australian Dress Register
The Powerhouse Museum has started a project to create an Australian Dress Register. The Register will document significant and well provenanced men’s, women’s and children’s dress in New South Wales dating up to 1945. It aims to assist museums and private collectors to recognise and research their dress collections and support better care and management. Created as a collaborative project, you can be involved as an individual if you feel you have a significant example of Australian dress which is pre 1945. Organisations can become involved and register objects in their collections. Further details can be found on the Powerhouse Museum’s website.

Orange Family History Group WWI Project Begins
The call has gone out to families with connections to Orange to help find the names of all Orange’s ex-services personnel from World War I. Orange City Council has formed a Community Working Party in the lead up to plans to mark the 100 year anniversary of the 1914 start of WWI. If you have information to share please contact Orange City Council’s Community Liaison Adviser Alison Russell or Orange City Library. The response so far has been wonderful after articles appeared in the Central Western Daily. Read more about it in the Central Western Daily.

Whitehorse Historical Society’s “Suburban Backyard” Project
Did you grow up in the city of Whitehorse in the 1950s and 1960s? The Whitehorse Historical Society is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Schwerkolt’s purchase of land by remembering ‘Suburban Backyard’, and a seeking photos and memories of your backyard to be used in an exhibition. If you can donate photos, or for more information contact: whitehorsehistory@hotmail.com or phone (03) 9873 4946.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Adelaide Family Tree Maker User Group
Created as a place for members of the Adelaide Family Tree Maker Users Group to correspond and share news – this group is open to FTM Users worldwide, not just those in Adelaide. So jump on, Like, and ask yur question, or share your FTM experience with others.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Family-Tree-Maker-FTM-Adelaide-User-Group/130167707058063

Kindle for Genealogy
A new group that I’ve just come across on Facebook, is the Kindle for Genealogy group. This is pretty self-explanatory, as  it’s designed as a place to share thoughts and experiences relating to using a Kindle for genealogy purposes.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/351158218238516/

Unidentified Photos Australia
Another group that has just started up on Facebook is ‘Unidentified Photos Australia’. Upload your own unidentified photos to it, and see if anyone else knows who they are or can gives you clues as to when and where.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/263643847036979/

Whitehorse Historical Society
I love finding Societies and Groups on Facebook, and I’ve just found another one. The Whitehorse Historical Society from Victoria now has a Facebook page. Follow them to keep up with their latest happenings and news.
http://www.facebook.com/whitehorsehistory

NEW RELEASES
The Bodalla Estate from 1860 to 1989 – BOOK
New from the Moruya & District Historical Society is that they’ve just released their latest book ‘The Bodalla Estate’. Written to honour Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, his descendants, his Bodalla farm workers and all who continue to farm in the Bodalla area, the story begins back in 1860. Copies are available for $25.00 (+$10 p/h) from the Moruya & District Historical Society. More details can be found on their website.

In Sickness and in Health: How Medicine Helped Shape Orange’s History – BOOK (Pre-Order)
Elisabeth Edwards takes an original approach in exploring how medicine shaped the history of Orange and its surrounding districts from the earliest days of settlement. In over 350 pages she tells of the hardships experiences by settlers before there were doctors, dentists or hospitals, and the evolution of the public hospital. Most importantly it tells the stories of doctors, nurses, ancillary staff, volunteers and benefactors who have collectively ensured the very best care for patients over many years. Now available for pre-order, the price is $49.50 (+$10 p/h), and can be ordered from the Orange City Library, 147 Byng Street, Orange, NSW 2800. Or you can printout an order form from the Orange Family History Group website.

WEBSITES
Times Past – Old Time Radio
I have to thank one of my Facebook friends for coming across this site. The Times Past website is a place for old time radio and nostalgia. On this site you’ll find a variety of nostalgic content from old radio shows of the golden era, as well as photos, video and much more. All the content on this site is contributed by the members of the community and is free to listen to.
Website: http://timespast.ning.com/
Blog:  http://otrarchive.blogspot.com.au/