News from MyHeritage Australia – 16 November 2011

This is a guest post by Shauna Hicks.

Shauna is a professional genealogist, former archivist and librarian who has been researching her own family history since 1977.

She is also a MyHeritage member.

—

Genealogists for Families

The Genealogists for Families project established by Brisbane genealogist Judy Webster in October, is big news in Australian genealogy circles.

Since first gaining popularity in Australia, genealogists from around the world have joined the project and are helping to further publicise it.

What’s it all about? In a nutshell, a team of genealogists and their families have joined together to help families in low-income areas. The project slogan is We care about families (past, present and future).

At this writing, the project numbers 64 members in eight countries helping 93 small family businesses around the globe; the number increases daily.

Through the non-profit organization Kiva , the project members provide $25 loans that enable borrowers to expand their businesses, support their families and raise themselves out of poverty. When the loan is repaid, the lender can withdraw the money or lend it again.

In my blog – Diary of an Australian Genealogist – I outlined, on 29 October 2011, how I became involved with the project. Click here to view that post

Currently, I have made four loans; three are completed, but the fourth is only 70% filled.

To find out about team activities, follow this blog or subscribe to posts and comments. Join Genealogists for Families and make a difference by helping families now and in the future!

AFFHO early bird registration

A reminder: Early discounted registration for the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations (AFFHO) Congress in Adelaide (March 2012) ends November 30.

Click here to find out more about the event and to register with the discount.

Genealogy Cruise and Onshore Seminars

If you live in New Zealand (various cities), or Burnie, Melbourne or Sydney, check out the onshore seminars being held by speakers on the Unlock the Past history and genealogy cruise. Scotland’s Chris Paton seems to be speaking everywhere!

For more information on the cruise and seminars, click here.

Some cruise cabins may still be available for the Scottish and Irish genealogy cruise. Click here for more information.

Eden Valley Genealogy Society

Last weekend, I traveled to Pambula, New South Wales (NSW) to join Christine Yeats (State Records NSW) at the annual Bega Valley Genealogy Society (BVGS) seminar. It was a great event and I’ve posted my wrapup from it here.

Bega Valley is a historical part of southern NSW and the BVGS does some great work in the local area.  Click here for information about the society and their activities.

—–

That’s it for this edition of News from Australia. As always, if you have any upcoming news or events you’d like to have included in the next edition we’d love to hear about it in the comments below