Dear Diane, I suspect that the first two refer to degrees or awards from what once was "Sydney Technical College"..... google for more info. It would appear that your man may have been some kind of engineer or architect HSTC ASTC is "associate Sydney Technical College FSTC Fellow Sydney Technical College. If the headstone was worn perhaps the H could be understood as A or F MIE(Aust) Member of the Institution of Engineers, Australia J.P. Justice of the Peace Knowing the years when the person would have been between, say, 20 and 40, when he most likely did his studies would help narrow the possibilities. If he indeed was an engineer /architect/similar you might like to send an e-mail to http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/about-us/contact-us The long ago "Sydney Technical College" is now the University of Technology, Sydney. I would suggest you use the "ask a librarian" service and hope that someone can pass on the message to the correct department.: http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/students/need-help http://uts.altarama.com/reft100.aspx?key=Ref Cheers, Tony Moore (Castle Hill, NSW) @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ On 12 Dec 2011 at 22:30, Diane Wilson wrote: From: "Diane Wilson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Subject: Abbreviations on headstone Date sent: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:30:42 +1300 Send reply to: [email protected] > > On a headstone at Forster General Cemetery are the following abbreviations > > Can someone please transcribe > > H.S.T.C M.I.E.A L.G.E H.D.J. D J.P > > The later I am familiar with but the others HELP > > Diane Wilson