G’Day from Down Under

Just before the Society launched last September, I was invited by Alan Phillips (Gould Genealogy) to present on the 4th Unlock The Past cruise in Australia. When discussing a plethora of possible lecture titles, one particular topic was fundamental to the programme of talks - tracing the history of a community. What better opportunity could there possible be to promote our innovative, international society?

Although this - my first - visit to Australia is largely for business/work purposes, I have taken the opportunity to visit friends in Brisbane (who I 'met' through my one-name study nearly 15 years ago) as well as visiting my cousin in Sydney. Departing on Voyager of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) from Sydney on Tuesday 4 February, I was delighted to meet Helen Smith and Pauleen Cass, two of our Australian members, in person on the first night at the 'Meet and Greet' session in Cleopatra's Needle.

The cruise has 26 different speakers from countries across the globe including Thomas MacEntee (US) and Chris Paton (Scotland), who have been delivering 'The Down Under Tour' (seminars on shore during our ports days). Due to illness of other presenters, I was able to deliver an adaptation of my 'Tracing Your West Country Ancestors' lecture in Melbourne and promote our Society. Having had 250 promotional brochures printed (thanks to Helen Smith) in Australia, we were able to publicise our group by distributing these to attendees and discussing the concept of a one-place study. Welcome to those new members who joined us after the event!

Back on the ship on Saturday evening as we departed from Adelaide, a room full of interested individuals gathered in the conference suite to hear more about tracing the history of a community.

From how to start, through online and offline records to why you might want to do a one-place study, the talk also included a case study of my own parishes of Tetcott and Luffincott. Further brochures were requested by many attendees to take back to their societies and associations.

The whole 'cruise experience' has been amazing and I would certainly recommend taking a look at the future Unlock the Past cruise programmes on their website.

Kirsty Gray