 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group LDS and Genie Gary Taylor |
It was 12 August and a fine Saturday in Melbourne's eastern suburb of
Wantirna. Three trusty Melb PC members had inveigled their way into the hearts of the LDS and had set up two
computers within the Church building. Yet another Genealogical Open Day? No - a scribe toughened in the fires
of doubt captured this image of the proceedings! So what goes on at these open days and what is the LDS?
The LDS means the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a Christian denomination that has an extensive
"presence" on the Internet and in Australia. They have massive databases of births, deaths and associated
documents and freely give of their time and knowledge to everyone. There is no fear of being proselytised or
brain-washed into joining their religion - it seems to be that the LDS sets such a high standard in general
life that people are attracted and desire to be a member of this reputable group. The LDS has smiled upon the
Melb PC Genealogical SIG over the last two years and there is great rapport and empathy between these Groups.
The open days are free of admission charges. One of their newest sites is http://www.vicnet.net.au/~ldsfhc
Our resident Web ferret went walkabout and came across the chapel where "experts" gave several talks during
the day: English Parish Registers; Public Record Office of Victoria; Scottish churches and their records.
There were Group Activities burbling along in other sections of the church: an Expert panel for answering
questions; a Beginners Class; Internet-browsing and use; Family Search; Family History Library Catalogue
video. By now facts and figures began to tell on the ferret who escaped into the recreation hall to saunter
amongst the crowds circling the many stands. There were stands specialising in Scottish genealogy, Jewish,
Chinese, Australian, Irish, Scotland, British and Non-British records... the Victorian GUM Society, the
Re-enactment society, and even the Temple Ready and PAF Users Group. The reader can only savour the
enthusiasm of these groups secondhand. To be in the thick of someone's recounting what he or she has found
about his or her ancestors can be electrifying!
The Public Record Office (Victoria) has treasures going back to the mid 1830s covering health, education,
justice, natural resources, environment, transport and the arts - as well as births, deaths, marriages,
wills, rates, wages. Passenger lists are available for arrivals at Victorian Ports, records for the prisons,
courts, divorces and so on. No doubt you have checked their site at http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/welcome.htm
The Australian Jewish Genealogical Society (VIC) is very active and explores cemetery records, has Yizkor
books, holocaust survivor lists, surname dictionaries etc. Have you ever looked inside the Makor Library in
South Caulfield? Cast your computer's Net on these sites: http://www.melbourne.net/csaky/AJGSmainpage.htm, http://www.avotaynu.com
A burly soldier with a red waistcoat and a mean-looking ancient rifle smiled at me. "What's your Web page?" I
blurted out! "Try a search using http://www.google.com," squeaked a lady
dressed in clothing that was fashionable a hundred and fifty years ago. I was with the Victorian Re-Enactment
Society, a vibrant group that has been involved in Separation Day at Maldon, the Eureka anniversary at
Sovereign Hill, and many other activities in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. They keep our heritage alive
through "living history", displays, research and reenactments. They have many relics from the past, including
a fully working, muzzle-loading canon. Have you seen their "snake oil" medicine man? The dodgy dentist or the
ladies of the night? A bell rang in my mind. "So it was your mob who fired the canon outside the Ex-Army
Warehouse, and you were the ones who dressed in drag at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick!" Of course. http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~taipan/vrs.html
"Bah gum, it's our Beth!" The ferret greeted a Melb PC member who was looking after the Genealogists Using
Microcomputers stand, GUM for short. The GUM is a large retailer of commercial software for genealogy in
Australia, apart from being a thriving society that assists members with information about personal computer
hardware, providing and maintaining a library, publishing a newsletter; running meetings, seminars. Much more
to read at http://www.vicgum.asn.au/index.html
Time was running out so the ferret returned to duty at the most interesting display yet: Melb PC Genealogy
SIG. All day crowds gathered around the two busy computers as CD-ROMs were browsed and the Internet scoured
for clues to people's forebears. Melb PC pamphlets vanished rapidly as devotees realised that there are OTHER
Special Interest Groups apart from Genealogy. Many useful contacts with knowledgeable computer enthusiasts
were made; pages of "good" Web sites were received, as well as offers of help for the future. One lady was so
impressed that she turned up at our Genealogy SIG the next day and gave a talk about the Public Records
Office.
Our site is
http://www.vicnet.net.au/~eastsig/genealogy/ and our Intranet is
http://mpcgene.intranets.com/. When asked for the registration code, type in eastsig.
Reprinted from the November 2000 issue of PC Update, the
magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
