Norman Clark in the news

My great uncle Norman Clark died at the age of 18 when he was taken by a shark off Middle Brighton Pier on Feb15th 1930.  He was the first swimmer to be killed by a shark in the bay for over 50 years, and was killed in full view of hundreds of people as there was a boating regatta taking place at the time.  The incident was reported in numerous papers around Australia - not just the Melbourne Argus but papers like the Rockhampton News, Launceston Times, Adelaide Advertiser, Brisbane Courier and Western Australian Mail.

Just looking at the language is fascinating - I doubt it would be allowed today to describe a young man's death in a shark attack as a "thrilling struggle".

I have over 20 newspaper articles reporting the attack and subsequent hunt for the shark, which was never found.  All the articles were found in about an hour while searching Trove, the website of the National Library of Australia, which has been busily digitizing newspapers for some time now.  What will you find there?

National Family History Week

National Family History Week is held from 2nd - 11th August this year.  During the week events will be conducted across the country that focus on genealogy, family history, heraldry and related subjects including family reunions, seminars, talks, open days, history walks, book launches, film evening and expos. Check your state on the website for details of local events.
Campaspe Regional Library will hold a series of Family History talks.  Bookings are essential for all sessions and can be made on 5482 1997 or by contacting your local branch library.
Sessions times and topics
Fri 2nd - Intro. to online resources.  Echuca Branch Library, 2-4pm
Sat 3rd - Intro to online resources.  Kyabram Branch Library, 10.30am-12noon
Mon 5th - Using Trove.  Echuca Branch Library, 2-3pm
Tues 6th - Ancestry.com.  Echuca Branch Library, 12-1pm
Tues 6th - Intro. to online resources.  Tongala Branch Library, 4-6pm
Wed 7th - Famliysearch.  Echuca Branch Library, 12-1pm
Thurs 8th - National Archives of Australia.  Echuca Branch Library, 12-1pm
Fri 9th - Victorian Public Records Office.  Echuca Branch Library, 2-3pm

Now and Then Newsletter

Now&Then provides up-to-date information about new research tools and resources, services and seminars, exhibitions and other activities taking place at the State Records of New South Wales. Now & Then is distributed every two months.
Articles from the latest issue include : Online News - 2012 Christmas Competition Winners! - 2012 Satisfaction Survey Results - Probate and Divorce transfers from the NSW Supreme Court update - Sentenced beyond the Seas update - Probate and the Divorce transfers from the Supreme Court update - Archives Outside blog update - Flickr update - Treasures in the records - Spotlight on Surveyors' Sketch Books - Stay up-to-date with State Records - Upcoming talks and tours.

The will of David Mulholland

This is the handwritten will of my great-grandfather David Mulholland, found on the Public Records Office of Victoria website.  This fascinating document not only gives the names of David's wife and surviving children, it gives the married surnames of his daughters, plus an insight into the family dynamics.  David's wife Eliza can live in the house for her lifetime (and can do as she likes with the furniture upon her death) and the two sons who have worked the land with their father share the land and stock and pay their mother 5 shillings a week to live on.  The son who has his own business receives 50 pounds cash, the unmarried daughter living at home 20 pounds - and spends the rest of her life living on her brothers' charity.  Of the 3 married daughters my grandmother Pricilla (Mrs Clark) is clearly the favourite - she receives 10 pounds from her father while her two other married sisters get a shilling each!

Irish Lives Remembered

Irish Lives Remembered is a free online genealogy magazine focusing on Irish research and resources.  Issue 10 of the magazine, the March 2013 edition, is currently online and features a 16 page special Irish-Australian supplement along with a number of other articles on Irish genealogy research.  Through the website Issuu - also free - you can also view back issues of the magazine.

RootsTech

RootsTech is an opportunity to discover the latest family history tools and techniques, connect with experts to help you in your research, and be inspired in the pursuit of your ancestors. It is a conference with a unique emphasis on helping individuals learn and use the latest technology to get started or accelerate their efforts to find, organize, preserve and share their family’s connections and history. Workshops and interactive presentations are aimed at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced level.

The conference took place in Salt Lake City, Utah from March 21-23, and many of the presentations can be viewed onlint via the RootsTech website.

The Forgotten Times

Australia's first FREE digital-only online history magazine, The Forgotten Times is a history magazine with stories for those interested in all issues relating to genealogy, Australian history or researching a family tree.

The Forgotten Times is produced by a team of journalists keen to provide the very best history and family tree stories - ones that are really worth reading. If you ever asked What is History? well here it is in its most readable form.

Their list of expert writers continues to grow and includes : Christine Yeats, Australian History Society; Zoe D'Arcy, National Archives of Australia, Australian National Maritime Museum with more to come...