FHWA regrets that commencing Thursday May 5, Library and Research Centre on Thursdays, effective immediately aswe are experiencing volunteer shortages after some long standing volunteers have recently retired.

If you are interested in volunteering at our fabulous society, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator.
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We would love to have you and there are many and varied roles available.

FHWA Management Committee

Wednesday, 1 June 2022, 10:00 - 12:00

Online

WRITERS GROUP

Are you writing your family history or don't know where to start? Join this group of family historians who go beyond names and dates to flesh out the stories behind their ancestors. Monthly meetings include presentations and discussions to aid our writing. We have optional writing assignments and in small groups we positively critique our submitted stories.

Brief AGM.

Topic at the meeting: Your Questions. Writing topic: Food / Chapter of Your Life / Free Choice

Thursday, 2 June 2022, 19:00 - 21:00

Online

FAMILY TREE MAKER USER GROUP

Sources and Citations - our most requested topic!!

Friday, 3 June 2022, 14:45 - 17:30

FHWA Library and Research Centre, 48 May St, Bayswater

SCOTTISH SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP RESEARCH SESSION

The regular research session of the Scottish SIG of FamilyHistoryWA

 Please visit www.fhwa.org.au  and click on the Events Tab for all the details 

**All times are Western Australian Standard Time

**If your meeting is online, the link to join the meetings will be included in your confirmation email from Trybooking. Please keep it somewhere safe.

All meeting details were correct at the time of publication. Please refer to the booking link for any changes. 

Please note: The location is stated on the event.

A family of no fortune, a tale of redemption after a convict past and and a story of hidden family truths lead the pack in a jam packed first edition not only for 2022 but for our new editor.

All the regular features are here, but you will notice some small changes.

If you are a member of FHWA you can get reading here. If not Join Here

PROOF OF DOUBLE VACCINATION STATUS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY TO MAY STREET EFFECTIVE 22 JAN 2022

 With the WA borders reopening on February 5^th 2022, the Management Committee has given careful consideration to what measures should be implemented to protect our volunteers and members attending May Street and in particular our library volunteers that staff the front desk, library and research areas.

In the Perth region, masks are already required at all public indoor settings and proof of vaccination is required at certain venues. The State Government has stated that further requirements will be expanded on 31 January state-wide. A number of large companies have already mandated proof of vaccination for entry to their premises even though they are not included in the Government’s list.

In coming to our decision we have considered the conditions in Unit 4 when it is operating at capacity, that our members come from a wide area of the Perth region (thus increasing the chance of virus spread), and that the majority of our members are in the so called “vulnerable” group.  With this in mind the Management Committee has resolved that in, addition to any Government mandate at the time, from Saturday 22^nd January 2022, the following COVID-19 measures will be put in place

1. All people who attend the FHWA premises at 48 May Street Bayswater, for any purpose must, show proof of double vaccination, and

2. Those that have an exemption from vaccination, you must show a valid medical certificate to that effect when you attend our premises AND wear a mask.

As we will not be recording vaccination status (only asking to sight vaccination proof or exemption status), it will be necessary for you to bring the proof with you and produce it EVERY time you visit.  The current government requirement to register for SafeWA (either by scanning the GR Code or by signing in) is still in place and the additional requirements for vaccination status are in addition to SafeWA.  For further information about acceptable forms of proof of vaccination please visit the government's information website.

Note that currently it is a government requirement for everyone to wear a mask indoors and that it is likely that this requirement will be in place for some time to come.

Please remember to be kind to our volunteers when they ask you about these requirements when you enter FHWA.

Lockdown is not all dismal, there's plenty to enjoy in your July Western Ancestor

While the world pandemic continues to serve up challenging curve balls, the FHWA goes from strength to strength.

The July Western Ancestor reports on the special recognition for the FHWA as it is made a Fellow of the Library Board of Western Australia, in recognition of more than three decades of collaboration.

The launch of the Military SIG new website also features on the front page.

Inside there is something for everyone, so members, read your new edition here, or await its arrival in your letterbox.

Feature Articles
The Bowens – ‘Home Children’ of Canada Gail Thomas 38
Continuing her research into more distant relatives, Gail has uncovered what happened to the five
children of Ebenezer Bowen after he died in Liverpool in 1892.

Elizabeth Sarah Money Marcia Watson 42
Marcia originally wrote an article about a convict, Joseph Gray, escaping back to England, but (she
writes) ‘I decided it was more interesting to write about his wife, Elizabeth.’ A strong woman.

Who was John Molloy? Peter Conole 45
Peter examines the ancestry and early life of Georgiana Molloy’s husband and demolishes the myth
of his royal connections.

Convicts came only after June 1850? Think again. Bevan Carter 47
It’s common knowledge that the first convicts were sent to WA in 1850. But were they really the
first? Convict expert Bevan has found at least one who was sent here some years earlier, and told to
keep quiet about his conviction. Were there more?

A Case of Monomania Robin Robinson 50
Robin writes: ‘I don’t recall articles covering USA forebears much so this might reveal something of
the American psyche.’ Another strong woman.

Halley’s Comet – Government House Life Part Three AND a 100th Birthday Celebration Ruth Amelia Reid 53
The third instalment of former FHWA Patron Ruth Reid’s memories of her life in Government House,
together with a report on her 100th birthday celebrations. Yet another strong woman.

Their Words, Their Stories – The Western Australian Military Digital Library Angela Heymans 56
The launch of an important initiative to salvage and digitise military material held in the Army
Museum and elsewhere, which will be of great benefit to family historians.

Search: www.wamdl.com.au

Not a member yet? You can Join here.

Want a Journal Only Subscription?

Subscribe to Western Ancestor, journal of the FHWA without becoming a member.

This final edition of Western Ancestor for 2021 is a tribute to FamilyHistoryWA foundation member, life member, long serving President and dedicated genealogist Brian Crocker. Brian's extraordinary contribution to FHWA is detailed in Liana Fitzpatrick's moving obituary.

You will also see some new layouts and features in this Western Ancestor, marking the last edition of Mike Murray and Dr Lesley Sylvestor as they hand over to new editor Peter Forrestal after six years of hard work.

FHWA Members can read the 2021 November Western Ancestor here.

 New Year tributes to old friends and more

A New Year and a new volume packed full of fascinating stories, useful research strategies and uptodate information about FHWA.

Tributes flow as well for some long serving and much appreciated members who passed away recently.

FHWA members can read their online version of the March 2021 edition of Western Ancestor here  Western Ancestor March 2021

Vol 14 No 12

At the end of a year of disruption and change, one thing is certain.  Western Ancestor appears on time, and full of interesting reading.  The fruits of Members researches tells of work as usual, and the activities of the Society, while much online, is as vibrant and challenging as ever.

This month there are features on random acts of kindness, when a postcard was returned to its family, personal reflections of long standing former Patron Ruth Reid about life a Government House and the last in our convict series, from Dr Bill Edgar.

Plenty of reading for the coming Christmas break.

Regular features outline what's on in the coming months.

Members can read Western Ancestor December 2020 here.

All new stories and news in the spring Western Ancestor

We know spring is on the way when the September edition of Western Ancestor hits our mailboxes full of fantastic family history features and the regular items covering all our FHWA activities.  And this edition does not disappoint.

Women take centre stage this month with stories which are often hidden from history and difficult to find. They tell of female characters of grit and gumption, intrigue and inspiration.

Why was the young woman in our cover cartoon depicted exhibiting such seemingly unseemly behaviour.  And why did a young Liverpool woman end up on the other side of the world, apparently very reluctantly?  Elizabeth Robinson's tale took much unravelling, but well worth the effort.

You will need to read on to find out.  There is much more besides. Such as the concluding chapter of the convict series, celebrating 35 years of volunteering.

Check the What's On for some great new online offerings, as well as the usual Interest Group meetings and information sessions.

Members can read Western Ancestor June 2020.

New resource for FHWA members

Many Western Australians succumbed to the Spanish flu in 1919.  This appendix to Ruth Johnson thesis "Unshed tears and stilled suffering" has been kindly offered to members of FamilyHistoryWA.

She says "This list is in no way definitive but lists the known victims from the remaining public records whose cause of death is stated as pneumonic influenza, Spanish influenza, influenza or pneumonia."

Members can login to see the alphabetical listing here.