WAGS

August is National Family History Month! 
This is a great time to start your family history or learn more about how to further your research. The Western Australian Genealogical Society (WAGS) has a feast of events during the month.

Family History Research Centre Open Day on Sunday 26 August (10am to 4pm).  Explore the vast resources of our IT records and book stock covering countries around the world. WAGS can provide assistance to people researching in most regions of the world. Don’t worry if you don’t know where to begin - WAGS volunteers are available to help. You will be amazed by the huge amount of worldwide information you can access here in Perth.

Grow Your Family Tree at the State Library, Francis St, Perth on Tuesday 7 August (9:30am - 3pm) and Wednesday 8 August (9-30am - 3pm).  Two days of free talks (10 sessions) Topics cover: Getting Started, Oral Histories, DNA for Genealogists, Overseas Research, UK Tithes,  National Archives, Q & A forum, WA Convicts  plus lots more. WAGS volunteers will be available to assist you with your research on the 3rd floor. (Sessions are free but you need to book).

Program and more details427.46 KB

  WAGS will have more FREE events throughout August at its Research Centre, Units 4-6, 48 May St in Bayswater

GREAT NEWS from the new WAGS IT Manager, Christine Harris.  The eight computers that were damaged during the recent electrical storm have now all been replaced and have joined the five new computers that were purchased earlier in the year. We now have a full suite of fast computers to help WAGS members with their research!

All time restrictions on computer use have been lifted. We look forward to seeing you back at WAGS during our Research Room opening hours.

Getting your affairs in order - your 2018  challenge

You've made your Will, you say.  The house, the car, the books, the family albums are all clearly designated for distribution.  Your executors are chosen, your Will is in a safe place.

But what about your online presence? 

"We all have one these days," said Jenni Ibrahim, Convenor of WAGS Irish SIG.  "Email accounts, Facebook, photos on your phone.  Have you made provision for them? Who will responsible for closing them down?  What about your online family tree comprising years of hard work?"

The arrival in Western Australia of the Hougoumont, with its cargo of convicts and Pensioner Guards, marked the end of transportation worldwide. The 9 January 2018 will mark the 150th Anniversary of this event and so the WA Genealogical Society and the Royal WA Historical Society will be holding a series of Joint Presentations and Displays of Artefacts and Photographs of the men who came to the Swan River Colony, both in chains and in Uniform, during the convict era.  Both societies will have two events.

The WA SIG is planning a few exciting changes for 2018.

 We will now cover all people who have settled and lived in this State, and their descendants. 

The Convicts and Enrolled Pensioner Guards are comprehensively covered by their own Special Interest Groups but may also have connections to our group.

We have new dates and times for our quarterly meetings, which are now on the 3rd Sunday in January, April, July and October – Please check the Events Calendar for more details or contact the WA SIG convenor.