Yes, I read it this morning in the SMH...... and have a few thoughts that I will keep to myself for the present. One error in the report and written by someone who obviously has not researched convicts... "A great missing link in Australian history, however, is what came after many convicts received their "tickets of leave" from penal servitude" In my opinion that should read Certificates of Freedom and not tickets of leave. As you are all aware a TOL only gave you a certain amount of freedom but you had to stay in the district noted on the TOL and were mustered on a regular basis and were still classified as a convict. regards Lesley Uebel mailto:ckennedy@bigpond.net.au CLAIM A CONVICT http://users.bigpond.net.au/convicts/index.html -----Original Message----- From: aus-pt-jackson-convicts-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:aus-pt-jackson-convicts-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Grahame & Rosslyn Thom Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 2:54 PM To: aus-pt-jackson-convicts@rootsweb.com Subject: [PJ] Today's Age Hi all I hope everyone is enjoying Australia Day. On page 3 of today's Age there is an article about "Proud convict past an evoluntionary lesson for savory Darwin. The bottom line of this story is that the University of Tasmania, together with the University of Melbourne will be collecting stories as they "want to uncover these rich personal stories and migrate them into the historical record." At the end of the article it state "Visit www.foundersandsurvivors.org - details of "your convict" can be registered on the site from February 10." It looks like a good project, but the one thing that annoys me is the comment "Their post-convict lives are not part of the public record. Instead, they are hidden away in private family archives - a secret history." Have they not heard of Lesley and all the listers on this mailing list???? Have a read of the article at http://www.theage.com.au/national/proud-convict-past-an-evolutionary- lesson-for-snooty-darwin-20090125-7pgq.html cheers Grahame