Guess who’s coming to Australia? Audrey is … that’s right, Audrey Collins from The National Archives in the UK is coming out to Australia in June and July 2012.
We’re super excited to have Audrey come to Australia to be a special guest presenter at the Unlock The Past Queensland Expo coming up in June, and she’s extending her trip to also visit Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. (We do apologise to the rest of Australia, as time wouldn’t permit her to stay longer to do every state).
For those who aren’t familiar with Audrey Collins, here’s a little background info: Audrey’s heritage is Scottish and Irish with no English ancestry. She has however lived in England for 50 years, and has been researching English genealogy for the last 25 years. The history of the General Register Office of England and Wales, newspapers and periodicals, and the history of the retail trade are among her research interests.
Prior to joining The National Archives in 2002, Audrey gained a degree in history and politics, was a freelance researcher, speaker, teacher and writer on family history. She started at the now defunct Family Records Centre, then worked as an editor on research guidance and online tutorials, and has has held the position of Records Specialist – Family History since February 2010.
Having spoken at many genealogy events and conferences around the world, it’s now Australia’s turn to learn from the knowledge that Audrey brings.
Said to be a completely riveting speaker by those who have had the chance to hear her speak, now is your chance to come and hear one of the top authorities from England’s largest archives, The National Archives (TNA).
You’ll be able to catch Audrey at the following places:
Brisbane
When: Mon 25-Wed 27 June (Queensland Expo)
Where: Centenary State High School, 1 Moolanda Street,Jindalee, Brisbane
Cost: $10 per talk
Topics:
– (Monday) The Making of the GRO indexes for England and Wales
– (Monday) Scandals in the family: A case study
– (Tuesday) Online newspapers and periodicals for family history
– (Tuesday) The London Gazette: not just the brave and bankrupt
– (Wednesday) England and Wales census
– (Wednesday) The will forgeries: organised crime, identity theft and wrongful conviction in the 1840s
Info: Go to the Expo web site with full details and bookings
Sydney
When: Fri 29 June, 9.00am-4.30pm
Where: Parramatta RSL Club, Cnr Macquarie and O’Connell Streets, Parramatta
Cost: $50 if pre-booked, $60 on the day
Talk topics:
– Tracing your Irish ancestors in The National Archives
– England and Wales: nonconformist records
– The making of the GRO indexes for England and Wales
Further Info & Booking: visit the Audrey Collins Australian Tour page for more info
Canberra
When: Sat 30 June, 9.30am-4.30pm
Where: Hellenic Club in the City, 13 Moore Street Canberra City
Cost: $50 if pre-booked, $60 on the day
Talk Topics:
– Online newspapers and periodicals for family history
– Lesser-known sources for Births, marriages and deaths
– The London Gazette: not just the brave and bankrupt
Further Info & Booking: visit the Audrey Collins Australian Tour page for more info
Melbourne
When: Mon 2 July, 9.00am-4.30pm
Where: State Library of Victoria Conference Centre, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne, on the corner of La Trobe Street, Click here for directions
Cost: $50 if pre-booked, $60 on the day
Talk Topics:
– Tracing your Irish ancestors in The National Archives
– England and Wales: nonconformist records
– The will forgeries: organised crime, identity theft and wrongful conviction in the 1840s
Further Info & Booking: visit the Audrey Collins Australian Tour page for more info
As a taster of what’s to come, you can listen to several podcasts of her talks on The National Archives media player http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Audrey also has an interest in social media. You can keep up with her news on her blog, The Family Recorder, and she is a regular contributor to The National Archives blog http://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk. If you’re on Twitter, you might like to follow her at @audreycollins23.
Don’t miss this chance, which for most will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see and hear Audrey, face-to-face.
