This is very sad but good lesson for all. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/bayswater-fire-destroys-genealogist-horst-blaichs-lifetime-of-work/story-fngnvlxu-1226773412995?sv=ff975feb5f10 This loss needed not to happen if just a little thought ( all right, a lot of thought) and effort had been put into placing your research some where safe and making sure that it will be preserved for future generations. A recent death of a fellow researcher and what happened to her research made me think. When you think about the hours, and in some cases, years, you put into gathering your research would you like to lose it suddenly? Have you thought about what will happen to your research if, heaven forbid, you fall of your twig unexpectedly? Will your heirs treasure your work and place it where it will be appreciated?....... Or will they just send it to the dump as rubbish, as hers did, along with all those precious, but uncatalogued and unidentified family photos simply because you hadn't thought about it or, worse, not got around to it? Have you made duplicates of your current research and backed it up? I use Dropbox at present but am open to any better suggestions. This is what I have put in place in case I drop off my twig, and as I am now considered to be elderly having been born during WW2, this is a real possibilty. My fellow researcher was 10 years younger than me! Genealogical Codicil to My Last Will and Testament: My Genealogical Will For Preserving My Family History To my spouse, children and/or heirs, guardian, administrator or executor: Upon my death, it is requested that you DO NOT dispose of any or all of my genealogical records, both those prepared personally by me and those prepared by others, which may be in my possession. This includes but is not limited to books, paper and/or computer files, notebooks, correspondence, audio/visual items, photographs, and documents, for a period of two years. During this two-year period, please attempt to identify one or more persons who would be willing to take custody of said materials and the responsibility of maintaining and continuing the family histories. Parties to contact regarding the assumption of the custody of these items include but are not limited to: Name Address Telephone In the event that you find no one to accept these materials, please contact the institutions listed below, in order, and determine if they will accept part or all of my genealogical materials. Institution Name Address (Contact Person) Telephone Please remember that my family history studies consumed a great deal of time, travel, and money. Therefore it is my strong desire that the product of these efforts be preserved and allowed to continue in a manner that will make them available to others in the future. Signature Date Witness Date _ Regards Mike Harvey Merewether NSW mj_harvey@dodo.com.au "Teachers open the door, but you must enter yourself." -Ancient Chinese Proverb

Hi Mike. Thanks for posting this. A very timely warning to all of us, regardless of our age. The article mentions that he has written about the Templer Society in Australia. As such, at least the bare basics of his genealogies will still be safe for future generations; even though his research notes, documents and photos will be lost. I have recently had cause to undertake a steep learning curve on this incredible Society; having discovered that our eldest grandchild is now descended from them; and recently spent a couple of weeks in Bayswater in their midst. The stories of their formation in Germany in the 1800s as a breakaway from the Lutherans, and later migrations to pre-partition Palestine, later to be dispersed again to Germany and Russia and elsewhere, including East Africa where this man's ancestors I believe were one time located; and eventually many were brought to Australia and placed in internment camps; are a tribute to their commitment and social cohesion. I was told that one of their members in Germany has documented all of the family genealogies for all of the dozens of families involved; so ALL is not lost. Thanks again for posting it. Thanks also for adding in your well-constructed wording for a Clause in a Will -- or a codicil as stated -- to cover our research papers etc. "One day" I must get around to safeguarding my own papers in the suggested ways. Happy New Year to you, and to Listers. ray in oz On 01/01/2014, at 1:11 PM, Mike Harvey <mj_harvey@dodo.com.au> wrote: This is very sad but good lesson for all. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/bayswater-fire-destroys-genealogist-horst-blaichs-lifetime-of-work/story-fngnvlxu-1226773412995?sv=ff975feb5f10 …