Hi Listers Congratulations to Debbie for commencing this Western Victorian genealogy and local history list. I have particular interests in the Glenelg River basin areas of Carapook, Dartmoor, Digby, Hotspur, Merino, Sandford and Casterton. I have started a simple website related to the genealogy and local history of some of these areas at - http://www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/digby/ and will happy to assist where possible with research into pioneers from these areas. I would be happy to publish stories, etc on this website related to families, properties, events, etc., related to these areas on this website. If some of you also have interests as far east as the Ballarat Goldfields then I publish the Ballarat & District Genealogy website at - http://www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/ . Both of these sites are aimed at helping to spread the interest in genealogy and local history and to be a part of the development of the internet as a wonderful communication tool to help interested researchers share their information so that our children and grandchildren may have a growing opportunity to understand some aspects of the lives of their ancestors. I have a vision that we may be able to develop a virtual network of internet sites to tell some of the stories associated with the settlement of Western Victoria and the role of ordinary folk in this wonderful story. It would be great to have a map of western Victoria on the Internet and to be able to click on any hamlet or area and locate information from the earliest settlements - photos, biographies, stories, house histories, soldiers, etc, etc..... I see the internet of the future almost becoming the storyteller of old, and helping to pass on the stories from the older generation. This is a little philosophical but it certainly opens wonderful opportunities. Many of you could start websites related to your family, town, property, hobby, ..... and then we link then into one large Western Victorian mosaic. Have you recorded your elderly relatives stories, thoughts, impressions, visions for the future? Later it will be too late !!! A few thoughts, Daryl Povey, Ballarat, Vic (ex Carapook, Casterton with ancestors from Dartmoor, Digby, Hotspur & Sandford) Ballarat Genealogy - http://www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/