Family History Down Under goes Virtual

Yet another genealogy conference has made the decision to 'go virtual' as the Covid-19 pandemic and accompanying travel restrictions continue to impact our daily lives.  This time it is the Family History Down Under conference, scheduled for the Sunshine Coast next month.

Now completely online, the conference is split into 4 streams - DNA ; Researching abroad ; Australia and New Zealand ; Methodology / General.  Attendees can book either for particular streams at $145 each or all 4 for $375.

So what does you money get for you?  According to the conference website, the following is included

• Access to presentations during the conference

        - 6 presentations for each track / day booked
        - 24 presentations for the whole conference - if booked

• Access to the conference recordings - until 31 July 2021

        - 20-25 for each track booked
        - 70+ for megabundle (all 4 tracks) - if booked

• Entitlement to join the digital hubs (Facebook groups) for tracks you have booked for - for Q&A and with speakers and other experts for a limited time after the conference,

• FHDU special offers for our sponsors

• Inclusion in the prize draw (all who pre-book) - expected to be over $10,000 in value

• Ehandouts (notes) from speakers

• A (real) conference kit posted to those who pre-book by 9 March, with

        - printed conference program and guide
        - printed discount coupons booklet - with a variety of sponsor discounts and special offers
        - printed conference bookshop catalogue - hundreds of products with discounts up to 50%
        - other items offered by sponsors (bulky items may be excluded from kits posted outside Australia)

• Discount vouchers towards FHDU Online events

        - one coupon valued at AU$49 - with a single track booking
        - two coupons, value totalling $98 - with a megabundle booking (or two or more tracks)

• Genealogy ebooks discount voucher

        - AU$50 - with a single track booking
        - AU$100 - with a megabundle booking (or two or more tracks)

 

While nothing beats the atmosphere and networking of a live conference, having so many conferences and classes going virtual over the past year has prompted a dramatic rise in the number I have actually attended, as usually for many I cannot afford overseas travel or cannot take the time off work.  Now I attend from the comfort of home, usually at my own pace, and often revisit particularly interesting talks to take more notes.  It is great for my learning and research.

So have a look at the topics and speakers for FHDU, and see if it is a conference you might like to attend.  From the comfort of home.