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On Saturday 8 February, Dr Perry McIntyre will be presenting at the IADC zoom meeting. Dr McIntyre has been involved in and researched Irish history and genealogy for over 40 years.  Her topic "In good health and fit to undergo the voyage: workhouse orphan immigrants" will be based on the 4114 young women who arrived in Sydney, Port Phillip and Adelaide from the workhouses of Ireland during the period October 1848 to July 1850. Six ships from those ports offloaded 1,255 girls in Melbourne.

Dr McIntyre has published and spoken extensively on immigration, particularly 19th-century Irish immigration.  Her doctoral research on convict family reunion was first published by Irish Academic Press in 2010 and  then republished by Anchor Books in Australia in 2018.

The IADC are particularly thrilled that she has made herself available.  Within our cohort there is great interest in the Earl Grey Scheme, and in immigration from Ireland generally. Her talk is eagerly awaited.

Members can register to attend by logging into the GSV website and finding the Irish Ancestry Discussion Circle entry on the Events page.

This is a members only event held via Zoom on February 8th between 1 and 3pm.

About 1.8 million Australians have a Scot in their heritage, descended from the 230,000 who emigrated from the auld country in 1788-1900, and the many more who have arrived since then.

On Saturday 8th February, a special day of Scottish family history research is being held in Ballarat to explore the Scottish Australian experience.

The great list of speakers include:

• Carol Armstrong, Secretary BDGS: Overview & Scottish influence in Ballarat & Western District
• Jan McDonald, Secretary Victorian Scottish Union: The role of the Group and Scottish Clans
• Dr. Kevin Molloy, Principal Librarian State Library of Victoria: Victorian and Australian Collections
• Joy Roy, Secretary Bendigo Regional Genealogical Society: Scotland’s People
• Stephen Matthews, Vice Chair of Pipe Bands Victoria & Vice Principal (Ensemble Victoria) of the Pipe Band College: Pipe bands in Victoria history and development
• Rebecca Landy, GSV Library & Resources Manager: Resources and collections.

Book soon for a great day of all things Scottish and a chance to meet and share information with other Scottish descendants and researchers.

This is organised by the Ballarat & District Genealogical Society in conjunction with the Scottish Discussion Circle of the GSV.

All other details, including how to book, can be found on the GSV website here.

Image reference: Caledonian Society at Casterton, Victoria. 1909. Museums Victoria Collections https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/766361 Accessed 17 January 2025

If you are hoping to use DNA to further your genealogical research this year, the GSV can provide lots of support:

"I received a DNA test kit for Christmas. Now what?"
After briefly introducing how DNA is inherited, this information session will concentrate on DNA tests, hoping to answer all your questions about buying, registering, testing, preparing for test results, viewing and interpreting your results.

Wed Jan 22nd 10:30 am; Free for GSV members, $10 for non-members.

Using DNA for Family History
This newly revised course will help you learn some simple techniques for effectively working with your Ancestry DNA results to both confirm your family tree and solve mysteries.

Beginning in March 2025, for a small cost with discounts for GSV members and those who enrol for the whole course. More information is coming soon.

DNA Study Group
A free monthly discussion circle for GSV members with a keen interest in DNA who work together to continue to build skills and discuss new developments in genetic genealogy.  

BanyanDNA is the topic for the group’s first meeting of 2025 on Tues Feb 4th at 10 am.

You can register for each of these Zoom meetings via the GSV Events page.

Join the GSV Writers on Wed 5 Feb at 12.30pm for an author talk with a twist.

Prize winning author Jeff Steel will give an overview of how he became a published author, with some tips on how to get our family histories published. Jeff will look at such topics as:

• making your story ‘tasty’
• being clear on your genre
• the royal road to writing history
• self publishing for the family
• the use of back stories to upgrade good material to great material
• the challenge of dealing with pure gold material
• how to find, approach, and work with a publisher
• the curse of dodgy publishers

After discovering a link to the convenor’s border clan family, Jeff remarked to her: “Clan loyalty dictates that under the rules of chivalry, I have to creep up on you and take all your sheep.”

This sounds like an interesting and entertaining meeting. It’s free for members. Don’t forget to log in and register under the Activities tab.

You can read more about Jeff’s books at https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/jeff-steel/

We do not produce an e-News in January, so here is a quick run down of our program of events for the month. We hope you can join us.

Tuesday 7th - The GSV Library Re-Opens

The library will reopen for normal operating hours from 10:00 am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday. Library Research Assistants will be available to help with your enquiries.

Saturday 11th - Library Research Day    GSV Library Open this Saturday    

The GSV library will be open on Saturday, January 11, welcoming members from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. For a smooth and secure visit, please remember that advance booking is essential. Ensure you reserve your spot no later than noon on the preceding Friday. You can make your reservation by reaching out to us via phone at (03) 9662 4455 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm) or via an email to gsv@gsv.org.au.

Wednesday 22nd  - Special Event    "I was given a DNA test for Christmas. Now what?"

This presentation, including a Q&A, is for those who were given or gave a DNA test for Christmas but have questions about how to proceed. If you are pondering whether to take a test, this introductory session is for you too. Held via Zoom between 10:30am and 12pm, this session is open to members (free) and non-members ($10). A recording will be provided should you be unable to join us on the day. You can submit questions in advance of the session, to ensure they are addressed, by emailing Rebecca at libraryadmin@gsv.org.au.

Thursday 23rd - New and Existing Member Orientation: Discovering the GSV and our Resources

This session will examine who the GSV is, how we help each other with our research, what resources we hold and how best to access those resources from home and at the Research & Education Centre. The meeting is designed to inform both new and existing Members and will be held online via Zoom between 10:30-11:45am. Your host, David Down, will demonstrate how to access our online resources and will answer any questions.

Friday 24th  - Victoria and Tasmania Discussion Circle

Any GSV members can join convenors Jackie van Bergen and Michael Considine to share stories about our ancestors arrival into Victoria or Tasmania, including how we researched them. This Victoria and Tasmania Discussion Circle will run from 10:30am to 12:00 pm via Zoom.

You can register for any of these events on the GSV website events page here.