Dear Listers Can you please include the email address of the person you got the virus attachment from when you notify me privately, as I only have access to people's email addresses. Out of interest, I have had 4 emails from people notifying me that they have received virus attachments from Listers, so make sure you update your virus protection at least every other day. I received 7 attachments last night. If you're looking for a good virus protection check out http://antivirus.cai.com If all else fails, keep smiling. Cheers Beryl O'Gorman Greensborough Victoria Australia List Admin

Hullo all, I am searching for descendants of James Frederick Hill[married Jane McGregor, at Golfhill Station. Shelford 1856] He was the proprieter of the Carngham Hotel, and then selected land near Hopetoun, but bad seasons etc forced him off the land and he returned to the Ballarat area. Am keen to contact any descendants. Also would like to contact descendants of James McGregor[married Margaret Peacock, Selkirk 1830] came to Australia abt 1840[daughter Jane married James Hill] And also any descendants of Henry and Sarah[nee Gagen] Holland, came to Aust, 1864, eventually farmed near Dimboola, retired and died in Ballarat. Please contact Lyn

Hi All I don't want to start a discussion about viruses, but there's a new one just hit that sends out an empty email with an attachment often from someone on a mailing list, so that it looks as if it could be a reply to one of your messages. Its Win32 Badtrans.29020 worm. The safest bet is to keep your virus protection updated weekly or even more often and NEVER OPEN AN ATTACHMENT YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING. If you receive such an email from anyone on either of these lists please let me know privately so I can let the person know and unsub them till their computer is virus-free. If you want to discuss this further please email me privately. Cheers for now. Beryl O'Gorman Greensborough Victoria Australia List Admin

Many Thanks to all who replied regarding Dr Peter Fairbairn. I am still waiting to received the West Wimmera Mail from the NLA it has been longer than expected. Regards, Daryl

Hi All, could sks help with death index listing on cd for this chap. I would like to know his parents names, I am trying to trace him in Scotland. Regards, Daryl Crabtree Gladstone C.Qld THE WEST WIMMERA MAIL Friday March 13 1903 DEATH OF DR. FAIRBAIRN The Booroopki district has lost by death a very old resident in Peter Fairbairn, M.D. L.R.C.S. His end was painfully sudden. At about midnight on Friday last he rose from his bed and with lighted candle in hand went to the room of Mrs. Smith, sister-in-law of Mr. A Crabtree, at whose place he resided. He complained of pain in the region of the heart and asked for some stimulant. This was given him, and he lay down and shortly afterwards expired. Information was at once sent to constable Sargeant, of Goroke, and a magisterial enquiry was on Saturday conducted by Thos. Jelbart, J.P. who returned a verdict of death from natural causes. Deceased was born in Edinburgh 73 years ago, and took his diploma in 1856. He than served in the navy and subsequently in the army as surgeon, a post which he occupied on the man-of-war "Indus" in the West Indies in 1870. About 30 years ago he voyaged to Australia as a Doctor on a sailing vessel. For a time he was employed on Mount Elgin Station, near Nhill, and afterwards practised his profession at Lochiel, and subsequently at lawloit, Goroke and Apsley, finally settling at Booroopki 11 years ago, where the residents subsidised him. He was an excellent surgeon, and especially skilled in childrens ailments. To those unable to pay for medical assistance he was ever ready to make allowance, and but for a failing which has brought about the downfall of so many gifted men would have become eminent in his profession. The death will prove a great loss to his people of Booroopki, who will now be compelled to travel long distances for medical aid. Deceased's remains were interred in the Minimay cemetery on Saturday last, the funeral arrangements being in the hands or Mr.T Jelbart........END

Hello Beverley, May I ask re your Weymouths? My grandfather's sister, Barbara Thompson, married an Ephriam Weymouth ...... please let me know if there is a connection as I have researched Barbara's mother's family back to the 1600 in Sussex. WEYMOUTH - THOMPSON On the 25th December in the Wesleyan Chapel, Nairne by the Rev Thomas Lloyd, Mr Ephraim, son of Mr Ephraim Weymouth of Port Elliott to Miss Barbara, second daughter of Mr John Thompson of Woodside. (29th. December 1865 ...... from the Register personal notice books Volume 2, page 221) Barbara and Ephriam later moved to Echuca ...... and both died there. Barbara THOMPSON and Ephriam WEYMOUTH are buried together in the Echuca Cemetery, in a grave next to Barbara's parents ...... there is a headstone. WAYMOUTH In / Loving memory / of / Barbara / beloved wife of / E WEYMOUTH / died 23rd Sept. 1898 aged 50 years / also the above / Ephraim WEYMOUTH / died 13th Sept. 1900 aged 63years / Erected by their loving sons. Kindest Regards ...... Corinne. > Hello Listers, > > Does anyone out there know when the Presbyterian Church building at Swan Hill > was completed? The website says that the Church has been in existence since > the mid 1860's but I'm not sure it it is referring to the Church building, or > when the first congregation came into being. > > My GGrandparents were married by a minister of the Presbyterian Church at a > private home in Swan Hill in 1875 and there does not seem to be any connection > to the home owners. > > I would appreciate any comments. > > Kind regards, > Beverley > NSW > > > ==== AUS-VIC-NORTHWEST Mailing List ==== > Genealogical & Historical Societies for Northern & Western Victoria > (Ballarat & District Genealogical Society) > http://www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/society.htm >

Hello Listers, Does anyone out there know when the Presbyterian Church building at Swan Hill was completed? The website says that the Church has been in existence since the mid 1860's but I'm not sure it it is referring to the Church building, or when the first congregation came into being. My GGrandparents were married by a minister of the Presbyterian Church at a private home in Swan Hill in 1875 and there does not seem to be any connection to the home owners. I would appreciate any comments. Kind regards, Beverley NSW

As requested I will share some of my experiences. I have been involved in a number of family reunions over the last few years. Two of which I was heavily involved. It is important to delegate to share the load - catering, mementoes, events, displays, inputing data onto the family tree programme etc. We found having a donation tin did help costs, although that was discreetly placed and not actually mentioned. Mugs are particularly popular, although some like to have wine glasses and fridge magnets - keeping the costs reasonable is important. Activities have included displays of family photos with the relevant descendants charts, accessing the database with family member, irish dancing, mass or a church service held in the family church or in the open air if a large gathering, visiting the ancestor's grave and having a plaque placed on it relating to the anniversary i.e. 150th anniversary since arrival of the family to South Australia - similar to that on the mugs and fridge magnets. Catering for the group over 100 helped kee! p the group together within an area to mix and converse more. Two days works well for a large gathering with a mix of planned and unplanned activities as other listers have mentioned, but allow time for all to talk amongst themselves - often there is so much to catch up on. We found family members discovering local people were their relatives ..with comments such as 'I didn't know he was one of our family!' and my own father just so rapt to catch up with family members who had moved away long ago to WA. Denis Spielvogel spoke to the Geelong Family History Group some time ago - he is a professional photographer based in Ballarat who will travel with in Victoria to take photos for any type of reunion and is quite experienced in the field. In regard to organising mementoes - choose someone local to yourself or the person delegated to reduce costs and cartage problems etc. i.e I had someone in Leopold who was able to small runs and individual mugs as needed (1999). I have found in each instance of holding or being involved in a reunion we look back and say 'We should have done this or that' and consider improvements for the future, but really all that counts is the faces and voices of the older family members as they remember and share experiences and the lovely thank yous received afterwards

URL's 20th November If you would like to know how to get the previous 3000 URL's Please email me privately Tall_Trees@Bigpond.com Thanks to Raymond Henderson for contributing American Military Resources http://www.nara.gov/alic/rayd/military.html Assisted Immigrants Indexes http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/publications/immigration/introduction.htm Astrolabe Booksellers http://www.astrolabebooks.com.au/ Australian Suffragettes http://www.abc.net.au/ola/citizen/women/women-home-vote.htm BENSON http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/gsb/ British BMD's and Burials at Sea http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~nzbound/nzbound/bdm.htm#British%20D eaths%20At%20Sea British Library Online Newspaper Archive http://www.uk.olivesoftware.com Charlemagne's Descendents http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Cottage/3610/Charlemagne/Charlemagne.htm Chronicles of the Great Rebellion http://www.bitsofblueandgray.com/chronicles.htm Genealogists Internet http://www.spub.co.uk/protgi/links.html Heraldry Clipart http://www.heraldryclipart.com Historical Manuscripts Commission http://www.hmc.gov.uk Images of Yesteryear http://www.imagesofyesteryear.com/index.htm Internet Medieval Source Book http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook1n.html JANKE http://home.iprimus.com.au/gjanke/ Lancaster Castle http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/resources/ps/castle/index.htm McCartan of Kinelarty http://www.smccartan.utvinternet.com Mennonite Genealogy Data Index http://www.mennonites.ca Museum of Funeral Customs http://www.funeralmuseum.org Online English Names Research Directory http://www.users.on.net/proformat/engnames.html Phobia List http://www.phobialist.com/ Royal Rifles of Canada http://www.geocities.com/rcwpca/ Second Texas Cavalry Company K http://freepages.military.rootsweb.com/~yarbrough/ The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/interviews/atkinson1.html Tower of London http://www.tower-of-london.com/ Vestfold-slekt http://www.vestfold-slekt.net/ Victorian Villains & Victims http://www.lightage.demon.co.uk/index.htm WING Family History http://www.wingfamilyhistory.com Cheers, Carolyn Harris - nee Johnson (Victorian in exile) PO Box 4157, Myaree Business Centre, Myaree 6960, Western Australia Tall_Trees@Bigpond.com Tall Trees Family History http://www.users.bigpond.com/Tall_Trees/ Perth Dead Person's Society http://www.perthdps.com/research/har02.html (Please note that large attachments (over 500kb) will automatically be deleted) ============================================================== Always willing to share my ignorance...

Hi all In 2000 I was the organizer of two Family Reunions in Queensland. The Dionysius Reunion was held at the Gatton Showgrounds because it was likely to attract about 1000 people. Obviously the task was too much for one person. We had formed a Committtee in order to finance and publish our own Family History Book, thus another sub-committeee was formed to organize the Reunion under my direction. These people were mostly volunteers willing to take on various tasks to report progress at the next meeting. Each facet of the Reunion was discussed, direction given to volunteers, and decisions made as reports came in. Each person had an area to organize and be responsible for on the day. This Reunion was a weekend affair. Quite a few actually camped on site. Others booked in at local hotels, motels, homes of relatives, or caravan parks. Friday was mainly for setting up. As we had German visitors, also Dionysius descendants of another branch attending, they were billeted out with two families. The Program started 9.00a.m. Saturday, with people socializing and picking up orders of Books, Mugs, glasses, Coat of Arms keyrings, Bottles of Wine (Dionysos - God of wine), Reunion Video, and Music tapes or CD's. mostly all pre-ordered and paid for. This was some task to undertake. Three quiet rooms in the Arts Gallery were filled with family displays of 20 Branches for descendents to inspect. Some musical entertainment, balloons and face painting was organized for the children. An Old Time Band played in the background in the stadium until the official opening and release of Book. The Lord Mayor opened the Reunion. Channel 9 arrived in a helicopter to televise our Reunion as did Channel 7 and local newspapers. Lunch followed with a canteen open (Local Church School catering) at the showgrounds as special guests and german visitors were catered for at a sit down luncheon. The local Club opened up their bar facilities - it was a very hot day. (they shared the profits with us) After lunch about 20 Family Group photos were taken by a local photographer.(That was some task getting everyone organized) This was followed by a presentation to the youngest Dionysius descendant present and the oldest. Then the oldest was asked to cut the Reunion Cake The rest of the day people were free to play cricket on the oval, sit under tents and chat, or be entertained in the hall. A Barbeque tea followed and that evening there was a concert - our own. A German lass was an opera singer and our MC was a country singer. - this was the highligh. Even a live rock band played to entertain the young at heart early in the evening. Next day started with a special church service with descendants taking part. The rest of the day was taken up with chatting and entertainment, or a car rally - about 4 groups leaving the grounds to visit all the Dionysius sights of the Lockyer including the original first land selections. The day finished with barbeque lunch, yarns and stories and final farewell and packup. There was no entry fee, only a donation box. The cost of the Reunion was covered mainly by sales on the day and Fund raising social events held during the time it took for the book to be written - 4 years in the making. Future Reunions will be much smaller and more casual and less organized. e.g. BYO. It was a time to remember and we had special fond memories of our newly found German distant relatives. I hope that one day a BATESON Reunion maybe organized at Kaniva or Miram. But I live in Queensland and descendants are scattered all over Australia, few still in the West Wimmera. Any ideas? Lyn Bateson Near Brisbane

Listers, Would some kind person that has access to old papers at Horsham, copy the obit for W.T. Inglis that I believe appeared in Horsham Mail Times17/9/1982 and send it on to me. Many thanks, Joyce at Terang.

----- Original Message ----- From: Gregory Kraus <greliz@bigpond.com> To: <AUS-VIC-Norwest@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 12:40 PM Subject: Fw: [AUS-VIC-NorWest] Family reunion > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Beryl OGorman <beryl@wordweavers.net> > To: Gregory Kraus <greliz@bigpond.com> > Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 12:16 PM > Subject: Re: [AUS-VIC-NorWest] Family reunion > > > > Hi Elizabeth > > > > That sounds fantastic. Unfortunately I can't see any of my fusty old mob > > agreeing to anything as exciting as that! > > Would you post it to the list for the benefit of others please? > > > > My g grandfather was Frederick Montague Seymour Holmes. He emigrated in > > 1852. After much research and money spending I discovered his family on > the > > 1841 and 1851 censuses. His father, Henry Holmes, was a hairdresser in > > Hanover Square, London. We believe Fred had a falling out with the family. > > His passage was paid for him and he was dismissed from his job with the > > Great Western Railway. Mother was Mary born Kingsbury Green MLX but we > have > > been unable to find a surname for her. None of the children were > registered, > > nor was the marriage as far as we can tell. His father gave Great Yarmouth > > Norfolk as his birthplace. The only Henry I can find that remotely fits > the > > bill was born in Norwich Norfolk. > > Any connection? > > Cheers > > > > Beryl O'Gorman > > Greensborough Victoria Australia > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Gregory Kraus" <greliz@bigpond.com> > > To: "Beryl OGorman" <beryl@wordweavers.net> > > Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 11:53 AM > > Subject: Re: [AUS-VIC-NorWest] Family reunion > > > > > > > Dear Beryl, > > > I'm interested in your Holmes connections. Where did they originate > from? > > I > > > have ancestry in Massachusetts. Have you been in contact with Jan > McCawley > > > of Leopold? She organised a most successful Holmes reunion about 3 years > > ago > > > at Batesford. > > > > >

Hi Beryl & List As you suggested I have posted my initial reply to you on the list and thought I would also send this reply to the list as it may be valid to someone else as well. I paid for everything (had been saving for several years prior!!) and kept the fingers crossed I would recoup some of the costs. Much to my surprise I broke very close to even by having a donation tin available, the sale of the mugs and by having some 'fun & mystery' raffles over the course of the weekend (tickets were 20c each or 5 for $1!!!). Kind Regards Roz Voullaire rvoull@hotkey.net.au ----- Original Message ----- From: "Beryl OGorman" <beryl@wordweavers.net> To: "Rod Voullaire" <rvoull@hotkey.net.au> Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 9:36 AM Subject: Re: [AUS-VIC-NorWest] Family reunion > Hi Roz > Thanks for that. Sounds like a wonderful weekend. I wonder if you'd like to > post your reply to the List, as I was hoping to get a bit of a discussion > going. Hadn't thought of the Public Liability Insurance. Did you pay for all > that yourself or did you ask people for so much towards costs? > Cheers > > Beryl O'Gorman > Greensborough Victoria Australia > > What's your story? > Wordweavers > Weaving your memories > Weaving your stories > http://www.wordweavers.net

Hi Beryl I organised and held my first family reunion at the Creswick Primary School (marking 150 years since the LAMPRELL family arrived in Australia) at the end of September which was held over a weekend and was very successful. As it was our first reunion for this branch of the family I didn't make it too structured. As the family had settled in the Creswick area I organised a visit to the local Museum for those interested on the Saturday, a visit to the Gold Battery on the Sunday and as the Museum was open for normal trading on the Sunday afternoon the option was open to those interested in doing the Museum on the Sunday as well. I had marked family plots in the cemetery and made a mud map of the cemetery which was available for people to take at the Reunion. The main costs were public liability insurance, venue hire, postage, photocopying, stationery and mugs commemorating the Reunion. The mugs went well paying for themselves and a good proportion of the insurance. I didn't charge an admission fee, however suggested people make a donation. To keep the costs down I asked people BYO their lunch and a plate if possible for morning & afternoon teas. We were very fortunate to be situated a block away from the town centre so those wishing for a pub lunch, takeaway etc had the facility to do so. I didn't organise anything for Saturday night as I thought people may wish to do their own thing. Those that were at a bit of a loose end I invited out to tea with us - had pre-booked a large table at one of the local pubs! About 150 people attended and the weekend just flew and we all had a ball! Mind you I was very glad to put my feet up on Sunday night!!! I was very lucky to have a friend who has organised a number of Reunions as my sounding board. As I came up with ideas I would run them by her for her thoughts which worked very well. Hoping this is of some help. Kind Regards Roz Voullaire rvoull@hotkey.net.au > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Beryl OGorman" <beryl@wordweavers.net> > To: <AUS-VIC-NORTHWEST-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 4:26 PM > Subject: [AUS-VIC-NorWest] Family reunion > > > > Anyone got any great ideas to share on organising a family reunion? Is a > whole week-end too long for a big one? What kind of activities can we have? > How can the poor old organiser cut costs and get everyone else enthused? > Help! Next year it will be 150 years since our HOLMES ancestor hit these > shores and Muggins feels that she should organise something special. > Estimating about 100 people at this stage, and thinking of Hamilton as the > most central spot to where they settled. > > > > Over to you. > > > > Beryl O'Gorman > > Greensborough Victoria Australia > > List Admin > > > > > > > > ==== AUS-VIC-NORTHWEST Mailing List ==== > > Genealogical & Historical Societies for Northern & Western Victoria > > (Ballarat & District Genealogical Society) > > http://www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/society.htm > > > > > > >

Hi Folks I'm getting some wonderful feedback about reunions. Thank you to those who have replied to me personally, but could I ask anyone who has info or comments about your experience with reunions to make them to the List please, so we can all gain valuable information for the future? Many thanks all Beryl O'Gorman Greensborough Victoria Australia List Admin

> Anyone got any great ideas to share on organising a family reunion? Is a whole week-end too long for a big one? What kind of >activities can we have? How can the poor old organiser cut costs and get everyone else enthused? Help! Next year it will be 150 years since our HOLMES ancestor hit these shores and Muggins feels that she should organise something special. Estimating about 100 people at this stage, and thinking of Hamilton as the most central spot to where they settled. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Of course, you could always have a look at the DPS website! Though the page on organizing a reunion is really aimed at a one day event.......it "may" give you an idea or two. cheers, Leone http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dpsoc/reunion.htm

Hello Beryl, I have been keeping info re re-unions ...... have pasted some info below ...... and have a look at the websites. Kindest Regards ...... Corinne. http://www.genealogy.com/32_reunion.html?Welcome=1006151816 http://family-reunion.com/organize.htm http://www.learn2.com/06/0662/0662.asp =================================================================== It's that time of year again--time for the commencement of summer family reunions. While not every family converges for their reunion in the summertime, this time of year seems to be the most popular. Children are out of school and families can more readily plan vacation time. The weather tends to be more reliable too. In recalling family reunions in decades past and comparing them with contemporary ones, I realize that some things stay the same while others are very different. In "Along Those Lines . . ." this week, let's talk about family reunions old and new, and some items that have changed. SOMETHING OLD . . . I ran across a letter the other night from one of my great-aunts to her last surviving brother. The letter is dated 23 July 1954, and talks about the family reunion held a short time before. In part, it reads: "We missed you and Emma so very much at our reunion in Burlington weekend before last. There are only the seven of the twelve children left and, as our only living brother and the only one of the group missing, we had quite a hen party! I know it was difficult for us all to coordinate schedules, but we did so long to have you and Emma there. Emma Dale, Pardner and I took the train, and Elizabeth met us at the station. Wyatt, Nita, and Ella drove, and the trip took them two days. We all stayed with Elizabeth and Walt as they had plenty of room for the seven of us. "We had a wonderful outing in the park in Burlington. We had a gorgeous day on Sunday, not too hot, and a lovely picnic lunch under the trees. All of Elizabeth's children and their families came, and we got to see Edith's baby son. We all enjoyed siding the carousel and the children loved the miniature train. It was a lovely time and am so sorry you missed it. We want to see you both very soon. Why not consider a visit this fall to visit us?" This reunion, held almost half a century ago, is little different in some ways than one which might be held in a park this summer. The park mentioned, with its carousel and miniature train ride, still exists in Burlington, NC, and is as lovely now as it was in the summer of 1954. I have photographs from that reunion and was, in fact, the baby referred to in the letter. If you look at the pictures, you will note that not much has changed apart from the clothing styles (the ladies wearing dresses and hats to a picnic in the park!) and the automobiles. However, in other ways, life was quite different fifty years ago. The letter discusses how people traveled to the reunion. Few people would travel by passenger train these days, and air travel was certainly less common than it is today. People might well have traveled by car but, with the improvements in highways and higher speed limits, a two-day trip might be shortened. Accommodations might well be different, too. Welcoming seven relatives to stay in my home for several days, feeding them, and otherwise accommodating them would be a tight and daunting affair these days. Coordinating a family reunion a half-century ago probably was a different job. It involved writing letters and making telephone calls. Meal planning and coordination may have been different too. While people lived in a supposedly "simpler time," the process of planning and organizing a large family reunion was still a chore. Let's move ahead in time to the 21st Century. SOMETHING NEW . . . Planning and organizing a family reunion today is certainly more involved than it would have been fifty years ago. Family members are more widely scattered, their schedules are more frenetic, and travel can be a real coordination challenge. People need more advance notice in order to make arrangements to attend a reunion. One of our family reunions this year was announced in March and was tentatively scheduled for June but, because of many people's schedule conflicts, the event has been pushed back to September. Communicating with people is certainly different today. Not only can you reach people by mail and telephone, you can now communicate via e-mail. In compiling a family address book, it becomes a challenge to gather all the e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, cell phone numbers, and fax numbers for all the family members. (I have one family of four in my address book who, between them, have six telephone numbers and eight e-mail addresses! Which one(s) should I be using?) In 1954, a family could probably have just arrived at the park and picked a place to set up their picnic. Today, a park picnic permit might be required for a large family group. If you are planning a reunion at a hotel, you might have to reserve space a year in advance and sign contracts to reserve a block of sleeping rooms and banquet room space, as well as with caterers, florists, entertainers, and a professional photographer. It is also common to order and sell reunion T-shirts or some other commemorative items. All of these require planning, communication with family members, and lead time. One person definitely cannot handle all the responsibility for planning, organizing, and staging a family reunion. GETTING A HANDLE ON THE REUNION Even though staging a family reunion involves a lot of work and coordination of details, it doesn't have to be a daunting task. Here are some suggestions for success: START EARLY!--Start brainstorming and planning as early as possible. If there are a lot of tasks to be accomplish, they need to be scheduled. RECRUIT A TEAM--Solicit dedicated members of the family to help plan and organize the reunion. Assign responsibilities to them and ask for regular follow-up status reports. Make sure the same people help coordinate the activities on-site at the reunion to make sure they run smoothly. DEVELOP A PLAN--Start with basic concept of the reunion and involve your team members in developing and refining the plan. DEVELOP A BUDGET--Get estimates for everything and develop a budget. This will provide you with a realistic price to charge family members for their attendance and for all incidental costs. WORK PROFESSIONALLY--Deal with hotels, caterers, and other professional vendors. Meet the contactors face to face and establish a professional relationship. Work as a professional yourself. Contact several vendors in each category. If you have a large group, you have negotiation power. Ask questions, demand written estimates, and get every arrangement in writing in a contract. DOUBLE-CHECK EVERYTHING--Don't assume that everything will flow flawlessly. Double-check all arrangements by making confirmation telephone calls and, if necessary, meet with the vendor again. A final walk-through of the facility is not uncommon. You want everything to be perfect. ENLIST ON-SITE HELP--Ask family members to commit to help in small ways at the reunion. Delegate responsibility for small items they can handle without interrupting their enjoyment of the reunion. ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION AND INTERACTION--Create opportunities for people of all ages to interact and get to know one another. This will foster important relationships that will last a lifetime. GATHER GENEALOGICAL INFORMATION--Arrange easy ways to gather family information at the reunion. While you have all these people in one place, determine methods for mining these wonderful resources. ENJOY THE REUNION YOURSELF!--Don't work yourself to pieces so that you can't enjoy the wonderful event you have planned. Make sure you have time to be a part of the event, and not just an event organizer. Remember, you're part of the family, too. GIVE ME AN OLD-TIME REUNION! A contemporary family reunion can and should have the friendly charm of an old time reunion. People should enjoy themselves in a leisurely way. Chatting, eating, playing games, exchanging stories, and information--all of these activities are conducive to building strong, lasting relationships with one another. If you are attending a family reunion this year, think about the work that goes into planning and organizing it. Maybe you'd like to call your reunion coordinator and volunteer a little time and energy to help make the reunion a success. ENJOY. Happy Hunting! George EDITOR'S NOTE: George's new book, "Your Family Reunion: How To Plan It, Organize It and Enjoy It," is now available in The Shops @ Ancestry.com at: http://shops.ancestry.com/product.asp?productid=2460 Order your copy now for the low introductory price of only $14.95. __________________________________________________________________ George G. Morgan is a proud member of the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors, Inc. (ISFHWE) at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~cgc/cgc2.htm. He would like to hear from you at atl@ahaseminars.com but, due to the volume of e-mail, he is unable to answer every e-mail message received. Please note that he cannot assist you with your individual research. Visit George's Web site at http://ahaseminars.com/atl for information about speaking engagements. Copyright 2001, MyFamily.com. All rights reserved. > > Anyone got any great ideas to share on organising a family reunion? Is a whole > week-end too long for a big one? What kind of activities can we have? How can > the poor old organiser cut costs and get everyone else enthused? Help! Next > year it will be 150 years since our HOLMES ancestor hit these shores and > Muggins feels that she should organise something special. Estimating about 100 > people at this stage, and thinking of Hamilton as the most central spot to > where they settled. > > Over to you. > > Beryl O'Gorman > Greensborough Victoria Australia > List Admin >

Anyone got any great ideas to share on organising a family reunion? Is a whole week-end too long for a big one? What kind of activities can we have? How can the poor old organiser cut costs and get everyone else enthused? Help! Next year it will be 150 years since our HOLMES ancestor hit these shores and Muggins feels that she should organise something special. Estimating about 100 people at this stage, and thinking of Hamilton as the most central spot to where they settled. Over to you. Beryl O'Gorman Greensborough Victoria Australia List Admin

Hi Folks Re the Muntham petition which I posted recently it has been pointed out to me by Kate Boyce that the letter to Hon W Slater MLC could not have been 1915, as indeed he was away at war in that year and was not a Member until a few years later. There's a website about his life at > http://members.ozemail.com.au/~astrovis/WilliamSlater.html As the petition had no year on it, only a date and a month, I believed from ongoing correspondence about the renovation that the year was approximately 1915, but obviously, in typical Education Department style of the time, the residents went on asking for a long, long time. Just thought I'd better make this known in case it was crucial to anyone's family tree. When I get the chance I'll search the PRO files for more clues to the year. Cheers Beryl O'Gorman Greensborough Victoria Australia List Admin

Hello Friends, This is a very valuable site for those of us researching our ancestors in the U.K. URL: http://www.hmc.gov.uk 1. Click on National Register of Archives. This opens a page which allows you to search. 2. Click on Simple Search. 3. Click on Place Name. This brings up a Search Box. I searched for my Parish, so entered the name of the Parish (for Town) and on the drop down menu I entered the name of the County (for County) and clicked on search. This will bring up any available records. To search these individual records, click on each in turn. Details will be given of type of record, dates and where they are held. I also tried a Family Name search. Click on Family Name. Screen allows search by entering Surname. I have no doubt that *none* of the entries are related to my line. <vbg> Kindest Regards ...... Corinne.