The Newsletter
Te Awamutu
Branch
NZ Society of
Genealogists
No 184
June 2008
Convenor: John Graham 871 8986
Email: jmrg@xtra.co.nz
Secretary: Karen Glew 871 7778
Email: kglew@xtra.co.nz
Treasurer: Sandra Metcalfe 871 3250
Email: Metcalfe@wave.co.nz
Editor at large: John Graham
Te Awamutu Website:
Email: jmrg@xtra.co.nz
www.teawamutu.net/genealogy
New Zealand Society of Genealogists Inc. www.genealogy.org.nz
Meetings are held in the Parish Lounge at St John's Anglican Church, Arawata Street
(parking off George Street), Te Awamutu, at 7.30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each
month – February to December. Visitors are most welcome.
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Next Meeting: Tuesday 3 June 2008 – This will be an in house session whereby
members can help one another out. Laptops will be available to look up information
from our extensive CD library. Also a short session on accessories, on the computer, to
aid your research and computer genealogy program e.g. TreePad, Legacy Charts.
Saturday 21 June - We will be holding a workshop day. Pauline Coman is coming over
from Whakatane to run a series of workshops which will include:
 Accurate Sourcing & File Management combined with Now you have it, what do
you do with it?
 How can Maps help in research (includes use of Directories & Gazetteers)
 Census & their usefulness (includes where to find them free & pay per view)
 In depth look at the GENUKI website.
Timings & more details see poster on final page. A $5 meeting attendance fee for
branch members.
We intend to have a 'Grocery Raffle' on this day, so if members could contribute, it
would be much appreciated – non perishables can be brought to the next meeting.
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Convenor’s Corner: Well folks, for those of you who couldn't make Geoff Lawn's
presentation on the 6th of May certainly missed a most informative and simple to
understand 'Aspects of Writing Family Histories / Biographies'. The central message that
came through for me was 'it is better to write something than nothing at all' and 'to keep
the language simple so that your target audience understand what you are trying to
convey'. An extract of Geoff's notes can be found on page 3.
The 21st of June will be a big day for the branch so please come and support it.
Te Awamutu Branch NZSG # 184 – June 2008
Disclaimer: All efforts are made to ensure the information published is accurate
Page: 1
Received from the NZSG librarian
Remote Access to the Gale Digital Newspaper Collection for all NZSG Members
The FRC Operations Committee is pleased to announce that the Society has taken out a
one year subscription to the "Gale Digital Newspaper Collection" website, giving remote
access to all NZSG members, wherever they live, for the following collections.
1. Times Digital Archive - 200 years of The London Times
2. 17th & 18th Century Burney British Newspapers
3. 19th Century British Library Newspapers
4. 19th Century US Newspapers
To access the collection
* Go on the NZSG Website http://www.genealogy.org.nz/
* Logon, entering your membership number & password
* Click on Go
* Click on Member Services
* On the drop-down menu select Online Newspapers
* The newspapers are searchable and printable
Alison Glenie, Librarian, New Zealand Society of Genealogists
PO Box 14036, Panmure, Auckland 1741
New Zealand
Phone: (09) 5704248
Email: library@genealogy.org.nz
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Smile a While
Wife: 'What are you doing?'
Husband: Nothing.
Wife: 'Nothing...? You've been reading our marriage certificate for an hour.'
Husband: 'I was looking for the expiry date.'
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Charities Commission:
The NZSG was registered as a Charity on 26 March 2008. Our registration number is
CC22120.
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Australian Certificate Purchasing Service:
This service has a low level of use and we were unable to find a suitable officer to
operate it. Therefore Council, reluctantly, closed the service down. Thanks to Carole
Ann Mason for her long and excellent service.
Te Awamutu Branch NZSG # 184 – June 2008
Disclaimer: All efforts are made to ensure the information published is accurate
Page: 2
ASPECTS OF WRITING FAMILY HISTORIES / BIOGRAPHIES
– GEOFF LAWN -REASONS FOR WRITING:There are several reasons why people write things down. They include • To preserve a permanent record of certain events.
• To set down an accurate record whilst the memory has the material to record.
• To record ones personal views on an issue.
• To provide entertainment for those who will/may read it later.
Of these, it will be noted that only the last one is intended to be widely read. The first
three are simply to record "facts" without any intent to please future readers.
The first three are all aspects of "keeping a diary", and I would emphasise that
"keeping a diary" is the beginning of writing family history. Beyond that, it also can
form the basis of all fictional writing, as it trains one to observe "life".
This talk is aimed at the requirements for making the writing entertaining to the point
that future readers will actually enjoy reading it and will come back for more.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FAMILY HISTORY:The "beginning" is lost in the mists of time.
The end is never reached and is the ever-changing "now."
The number of characters involved can be enormous.
Detailed information on these characters and times can vary from a minimum of a
"name and a few dates and place-names" through to a fully detailed auto-biography.
Accuracy of information is always "suspect", as it usually depends on the
recollections and interpretations of third parties. Even the recollections of the first
party can become suspect as they age and/or as selective memory takes over. In any
case, it will be "their" version of events, and by definition, will be biased.
For this reason, any attempt at a "history" will be your version and will be subject to
your bias. This can cause a writer to feel inhibited, BUT my experience has been that
it is better to have "a version" than to have nothing at all. (Three brothers have
differing view points. Conflicting views. Who is "right?" Probably all are equally
valid.)
ASPECTS OF WRITING:Theory of communication: (see diagram on next page)
Problem areas:- Language encodement - media - barriers - ambiguity –
Thank you to Geoff Lawn for allowing his notes to be reproduced
Te Awamutu Branch NZSG # 184 – June 2008
Disclaimer: All efforts are made to ensure the information published is accurate
Page: 3
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Hamilton City Library – There is an opportunity to arrange a group visit the library. A
Thursday has been suggested as a member of the Hamilton branch is in attendance. If
anyone is interested please let Karen or one of the committee know.
University of Waikato Library – A visit to visit this library has been arranged for
Saturday 5 July commencing at 10am. They have an extensive collection of information
useful to genealogists. If you have an interest in going along please contact Karen or one
of the committee members.
National Archives, Auckland – A member suggested a visit to the Archives in
Auckland. No dates have been set, so this is an exploratory notice to assess whether it is
worth pursuing. Expressions of interest, suggesting dates should be forwarded to Karen
or one of the committee.
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Members are encouraged to come forward with ideas for meetings and potential visits
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Te Awamutu Branch NZSG # 184 – June 2008
Disclaimer: All efforts are made to ensure the information published is accurate
Page: 4
A Workshop for People Researching their
Family History
The Te Awamutu Branch of the New Zealand Society
of
Genealogists warmly invites you a workshop run by
Pauline Cowan, an experienced family researcher,
on:
Saturday 21 June 2008
at
St John’s Anglican Church Hall
George Street, Te Awamutu
Off street parking available
Programme:
9.30 am – 10.00
10.00 - 12 noon
12.00 - 12.30
12.30 - 1.30
1.30 - 2.20
2.30 to 3.00
3.00 – 4.00 pm
Registration and a cup of tea.
Accurate Sourcing & File Management
combined with
Now you have it, what do you do with it?
Lunch
How can Maps help in research (includes use of
Directories & Gazetteers)
Census & their usefulness (includes where to find them
free & pay per view)
Afternoon tea
In depth look at the GENUKI website.
Bring your own lunch. Tea, coffee, water etc supplied.
There will be a $10 meeting entrance fee
Please ring Karen 07 871 7778 for further information and to express
your interest.
You are welcome to attend any of our regular meetings on the 1st Tuesday of the month,
7.30 pm, in St John’s Anglican Church lounge
(more details on our website www.teawamutu.net/genealogy )
Te Awamutu Branch NZSG # 184 – June 2008
Disclaimer: All efforts are made to ensure the information published is accurate
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