Our annual Geneagala Day will be held on 26th August 2023 at the main branch of Hornbsy Library. There will be two presentations, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Assistance with your research is available during the day. Bookings are essential and there is a cost of only ten dollars for the presentations. See the following flyer for full details
Some of you would know that we have been looking to determine if Geneagala Day would go ahead, given that Carol Baxter was not able to be here in person. Thank you to those people who did get on line and put in their registration in the past few days. Unfortunately, we still had insufficient numbers to cover the costs involved. For that reason we have cancelled the event. Those who did register will be contacted by the Library concerning a refund.
Anyone who was hoping to get some help on that day is invited to our monthly informal meeting which will be held on Wednesday 24th August 2022 at 10am to noon in Hornsby Library.
Geneagala day at Hornsby Library is fast approaching. If you were planning to attend on Saturday 13 August and haven’t registered as yet, please do so ASAP. It can be done online through the Library’s website or in person at a counter in the Library.
More detail is available on the library’s website https://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/lifestyle/events/library-events/Geneagala-Day
Geneagala Day is Saturday 13 August 2022 and replaces our usual monthly meeting. However, our Research/Discussion meeting will still occur on 24 August 10am-12.30pm.
There is a $10 charge to attend Geneagala Day and these funds will go towards the cost to have Carol Baxter as our guest speaker. You will need to book a seat before the day. For more information or to book your place follow this link: Geneagala Day | Hornsby Shire Council (nsw.gov.au) or (if the link doesn’t work) go to the Library home page, select What’s on at the Library, and then Events, scroll down until you get to Geneagala Day. You can book your seat by clicking the Book Now button.
Alternatively, you should be able to organise a seat in person by going into the Library.
The day is open to members of the public as well as HSFHG members so do not leave booking to the last minute!
We have been unable to meet since March 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions imposed on Hornsby Library, our normal meeting place. As we approach Christmas restrictions are being re-imposed due to a fresh outbreak of the virus on the Northern Beaches. Plans to re-start our meeting schedule, starting in February, were agreed recently when, at the time, the regulations permitted such gatherings. Time will tell whether those plans are able to be fulfilled. See the meetings section of this website for further details.
Jan Cole and the education team are trying to re-schedule those speakers who were cancelled in 2020 as well as find other interesting speakers.
The Library itself has its own plans and will be reburbishing, probably starting in the early part of 2021. Our usual meeting rooms will be unavailable during this time. A local alternative venue for our meetings has been arranged and details are available in the meetings section of this website.
Our Geneagala Day on August 10 with guest speaker Emily Hanna from NSW State Records was an outstanding success. Thanks to our volunteers and members and Sue and Karen from Hornsby Library for all their efforts prior to and on the day.
Here are a few snaps from the Geneagala
Limited places available. If you intend joining us please book NOW.
FREE SEMINAR 10 AUG: “The Colonial Secretary – the family historian’s friend” @ Hornsby Shire Family History Group Geneagala Day. We are presenting 2 talks on how the Colonial Secretary’s papers can be used to trace your family history.
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL (link: http://ow.ly/NRc650uT4pk)ow.ly/NRc650uT4pk
One of Australia’s leading professional genealogists, Kerry Farmer, is returning to Hornsby Shire Family History Group next week to talk to us about Scottish Research. Kerry has previously visited Hornsby to speak about DNA and Immigration.
Kerry Farmer (R) with Jill Ball at Hornsby Shire FHG in 2016
Kerry, who has been teaching family history classes since 1997, chairs the Education Committee of the Society of Australian Genealogists, and presents seminars and classes there as well as at other organisations in Australia and overseas.. She currently teaches online courses in “Australian and New Zealand Genealogy” through the National Institute of Genealogical Studies. Kerry will be representing Australia as a presenter at Rootstech London in 2019.
You are invited to join us at Hornsby Central Library next Wednesday, July 17 at 2:00pm to hear Kerry’s presentation. Entry is by Gold coin donation.
At our meeting yesterday our member Jan Brady, Historian and Publisher, gave our attendees a history lesson with her presentation ” A brief history of Australia 1850-1901 – Gold rush to Federation – the third in a series of talks about the 18th and 19th century history of Australia for Family Historians.” It was a lively talk injected with humour as Jan, who was once a teacher, involved the audience in her presentation. Everyone was kept on their toes as Jan regularly stopped her presentation to seek opinions from audience members, Jan challenged us to think about the times in which our ancestors lived and how these impacted on their lives.
Jan generously shared her notes and Powerpoint presentation which are available as .pdf files from the links below. Please remember that Jan owns the copyright on these items, they are shared here for your reference and personal use.
Our members gathered at our home, Hornsby Central Library, to celebrate a successful year of learning, research and friendship at their end of year function in December 2018. After chatting and partaking of the Christmas fare several members (see picture below) lead the group in a “12 Days of Christmas Singalong”.
Now we are turning our minds to a New Year of geneadiscoveries. Since they surveyed our members on their preferences Jan Cole and her Education Committee have been planning our program for 2019 which is now available on our Events Page.
Our year kicks off with an informal meeting on January 23rd in the Main Meeting Room at Hornsby Library so there is plenty of space for you to come along and share your questions and stories.
Please take a look and mark your diaries with the dates of presentations that may interest you. If you have any further suggestions of speakers or topics please contact Jan by email or in person.
Hornsby Shire Family History Group 