ALEXANDRINA LIBRARY SERVICES
news
No 17 by Dawn Juers
I’M BACK!! Yes I’m back from the bit that dropped off the mainland – Tassie. It’s a place especially interesting for those of us that have a historic bent. We travelled almost 5000kms in our campervan, touring almost all the island, in mostly unmentionable weather, visiting the usual historic sites, such as – Pt Arthur, Sarah Island, Island of the Dead, Hobart, Female Factory, Ross, Richmond. Also gaols, churches, cemeteries, museums (until it got that I didn’t want to set foot in another museum). I’m not going to bore you with it all but may put in a snippet or two every now and again.
I must say though, that we are so lucky, with our Library & History Room in Goolwa. I found that the libraries were very small with limited choice of books. Anything to do with local history was usually contained in a separate building; entry to which entailed a fee, and the collections were zealously guarded. I found the most basic query was met with almost a fear that I may be poaching information.
Before I continue, a heartfelt thankyou to Frodo for compiling HR News 15 & 16. (I think? he enjoyed the experience and his comic expressions must have brought a smile to your face). Also, a big thanks to Helen for monitoring our history room email.
New Books in the History Room-
Digging for Diggers by Graeme Hosken A929.1072HOS
Port Elliot; pioneers and shipwrecks A994.232 WEB
Murray Darling Paddleboats – by Peter Plowman AR386.2243 PLO
60 years in Strathalbyn – by Nancy Gemmell A994.232 GEM
Cruising from Goolwa – by David Brook
I recently borrowed two books, not new to the History Room, but I have found interesting reading. Murray Water is Thicker than Blood by Rob Linn, the stories of the families who made the River Murray locks and barrages; and A Child of the Times by George McKenzie an Autobiography. (An account of his childhood in Goolwa in the 1930 – 40s).
There are so many interesting local history books on the shelves in the History Room, so next time you’re in the Library, have a browse. Many are for loan, so if you have an Alexandrina Library Card you can borrow and read it at home at your leisure. (If not, that’s a good time to join).
A reminder that the Goolwa Library will be closed Monday 26th, Tuesday 27th December, and Monday 2nd January 2006.
Twelve Days of a Genealogy Christmas
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me,
Twelve census searches,
Eleven printer ribbons,
Ten e-mail contacts,
Nine headstone rubbings,
Eight birth and death dates,
Seven town clerks sighing,
Six second cousins,
Five coats of arms,
Four GEDCOM files,
Three old wills,
Two CD-ROMS,
And a branch in my family tree!
(Thanks to Helen Halm for this contribution)
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There are a few Family History courses starting in February at the State Library of SA –
8th Feb – Cops, crooks and victims 1840’s style with Graham Jaunay.
7th Feb – Introduction to the Family search Website.
21st Feb – Useful websites for Family History.
16,23 Feb & 2nd Mar – Introduction to Family History research with Graham Jaunay.
25th Feb – Meet the Specialists Day. These are free and each class lasts approx. 45minutes.
For information and bookings -
www.slsa.sa.gov.au
bookings@slsa.sa.gov.au
Tours of the Family History Area are taken every Thursday morning, 10.30 – 12noon. Meet in the glass foyer on the ground floor.
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Sue Sautter the Local History Officer, Mt Barker Community Library advised in the November issue of The South Australian Genealogist that volunteers have been indexing the Courier newspaper. The years 1880-1965 are available to be searched in their Local History Database.
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The SA Genealogy & Heraldry Society Library at Unley will be closed from 17th December until Tuesday 10th January 2006 (closed Sundays until February).
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NSW BDM’s – Marriages up to 1954 and Deaths up to 1974 can be searched online, but Births are only to 1905.
www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/
While I was in Tassie, Frodo made a few joking remarks about whether they had anything more than a wind-up computer. Well it so happens that now there is such an invention as reported in The Age 22nd Nov 2005 when UN chief Kofi Annan demonstrated in Tunisia the windup notebook PC costing $130.
A big thankyou to the other volunteers in the History Room – Frodo, Bill, Helen, Elaine, Barbara, Judy, Shirley, Pam and Ian. (My apologies if I’ve forgotten someone)
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Genealogy help is available by appointment on Thursdays, to guide you through your research. Please phone the Library on 8555-7000 to make an appointment.
For comments, suggestions or to receive this newsletter – phone me, Dawn Juers on 8555-2885 or email historyroom2004@yahoo.com.au
Seasons Greetings to you all, Dawn December 2005
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