~8th October 2003 ~  

MEETING DATES 2003

VANDALS DESTROY HEADSTONES AT WILBERFORCE CEMETERY

Vandals destroyed or severely damaged headstones in mid September 2003 at the historic Wilberforce Cemetery. About 25 headstones recording about 50 names were affected. Some of the headstones were smashed into pieces whilst others, pushed over. Wilberforce is one of the oldest surviving cemeteries in Australia with many pioneering families including 3 First Fleet arrivals. Fortunately the information has been transcribed by local historian, Cathy McHardy and most of the headstones photographed. Check the full list of names of the damaged graves below.

http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/cemetery/wilberforce/newsflash_sep03.html

The newly formed Friends of Wilberforce Cemetery are keen to make contact with descendants or families connected to the damaged graves. Send your contact details to the following :

Friends of Wilberforce Cemetery
PO Box 7154
Wilberforce 2756 NSW

NSW REGISTRY OF BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES - NEW SERVICES!

The NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages will be launching an exciting new website on the 13 October 2003. Apparently family historians will notice significant improvements to the online family history services. The Historical Indexes search page will now be more user-friendly and easier for first time users. At present, searches can only be performed in 10 year periods. To help reduce research time, there will no longer be any limits on the number of years you can search at any one time. They have also improved the search results page to provide up to 20 records per page. New family historians will find it much easier to start their research using the new step-by-step search tutorial and the updated searching tips. Web address is http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/Index/IndexSrch.cgi and remember, searches can only be made during the following years:

• Births from 1788 to 1905
• Deaths from 1788 to 1945
• Marriages 1788 to 1945

175TH ANNIVERSARY OF JURD'S CHAPEL - SUNDAY 26TH OCTOBER 2003, 11AM

Come to Vision Valley, Arcadia and Celebrate with a Simple Thanksgiving Service & Picnic. Built on a small parcel of land donated by Elizabeth Jurd, on the western side of The Branch a little unimposing structure was built for a Methodist Chapel. It was to become the focal point of worship for the Macdonald Valley for quite some years. "It was built by the people for the accommodation of all Protestant Denominations. This church throughout the early history of the circuit was known as 'Jurd's Chapel' and was shown as such on the preaching plan." The chapel could accommodate around 30 - 40 people. It was rectangular in shape measuring about 30' x 15' built of rough-hewn stone with a shingled roof, later replaced by iron sheeting. The internal walls were white-washed. Family picnic lunch BYO EVERYTHING. RSVP Peter Stewart - ph 02 4629 4264 or 0417 292245 Email petrusfms@hotmail.com

LAUNCH OF NEW COLO HISTORY BOOK

Colo River Valley Historical Society invites interested persons to attend the launch of the "The Coloites : an illustrated history of the Colo River Valley 1789-1945" compiled by Diana Hazard at "Somerset", 411 River Road (Gate 6) Upper Colo on Sunday 26th October 2003 at 11am. RSVP Wanda Deacon 4729-2034. The book is also available for sale for for $28 each + P & H through Wanda Deacon, 6 Callisto Drive, Cranebrook 2750.

REMINDERS

ROOKWOOD CEMETERY OPEN DAY 2003

Open day will be held on Sunday 19th October 2003 between 9am & 4pm. The theme is "More than 135 years of history at Rookwood" Enquiries to Friends of Rookwood Inc. (02) 9499-2415.

HAWKESBURY HOMECOMING - HAWKESBURY PIONEER FAMILIES REUNION

Will be held on the weekend of 29th & 30th November 2003, from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm at Windsor High School Hall, Mulgrave Road, McGraths Hill. The reunion is being organised by Lesley Uebel ckennedy@bigpond.net.au Norma & Ian McLean and Coralie Hird. Entrance Fee is $5, Children under 16 Free (Fee covers a person attending either one day or both days) 

For more information see http://users.bigpond.net.au/convicts/page154.html or phone Lesley (02) 9498 7786.

THE SAG GOES WEST! SEMINARS

Family History Seminars at State Records O'Connell Street, Kingswood. Presented by Martyn Killion & Heather Garnsey & the Society of Australian Genealogists. Contact SAG ph (02) 9247 3953 or email info@sag.org.au 

• Saturday 15 Nov. 
  (10.30-12.30) Everything you need to know about NSW shipping 
  (1.30-3.30) Sources for NSW BDMs
• Saturday 29 Nov. 
  (10.30-12.30) Successful surfing - Websites of archives & libraries in Australia 
  (1.30-3.30) Successful surfing - Websites of archives & libraries overseas. 

Cost: $20 per lecture ($15 SAG members) or 4 for $70 ($50 for SAG members)

SURFING THE INTERNET**. SITES FOR FAMILY HISTORIANS

Members with internet access should check out the following interesting sites. The Library has free access to the internet, contact 4560 4460 for bookings. Richmond also has access, for bookings phone 4578 2002.

Fellowship of the First Fleeters http://www.geocities.com/fellowship_of_first_fleeters/

Fellowship of the First Fleeters (Vic) http://home.vicnet.net.au/~firstff/

First Fleet online http://cedir.uow.edu.au/programs/FirstFleet/

Norfolk Online Access to Heritage (UK) http://www.noah.norfolk.gov.uk/

Genealogy related software links www.afhs.ab.ca/aids/software

~ Let us know of sites, that you have tried with (or without) success ~