4947's blog

We know there are some great stories out there just begging to be told. 

Who has become your favourite ancestor?

What is the most exciting / tragic / funny story you have discovered in your research?

Have you unearthed a scandal?

Well, get writing about it and enter the GSV Writing Prize.

You have until 4pm on Friday 22 August 2025 to get them in.

Ancestry™ is again generously sponsoring the competition with a first prize of a 12-month subscription to their Worldwide Membership together with an Ancestry™ DNA kit. A runner-up prize of a 6-month subscription to Ancestry™ Worldwide may also be offered at the discretion of the judges.

Entries should:

• be between 1,200 and 2,400 words
• have a family history/genealogy theme
• be the author’s own original work
• not have been previously published in any form
• contain appropriate citations to sources.

Entries can contain up to four images.

Members of the GSV and GSV Member Societies are eligible to enter.

Check the full details of the prize, including eligibility and entry conditions, on the GSV website: https://www.gsv.org.au/gsv-writing-prize-2025

We’ve recently had two requests for participation from our members

Miriam Reynoldson, a PhD student at RMIT University is researching how people engage in non-formal learning in digital spaces. She is seeking people to interview. Miriam is particularly interesting in people who learn through family history research, especially through digital archives and online communities. Her mother is involved with the GSV and with the Geelong Family History Group.

The image attached is her poster.

If you are interested in taking part in an interview with Miriam, or want learn more about her study, you can phone her on 0414 278 269 or email s4136644@student.rmit.edu.au

Another request was published in our recent e-News:

Wei Zhao is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne. They are conducting a project called TALES (Technology, Ageing, Life Experiences and Stories).

This project aims to explore life storytelling - how older adults capture and share their life stories and memories, and how technology can support these meaningful practices. They are also interested in hearing from those who have supported an older adult in telling their story.

There will be a short online survey. You can opt to do a follow up interview and be rewarded with a $30 gift voucher.

You can read more about the project here:

https://cis.unimelb.edu.au/research/hci/projects/digital-storytelling

If you are interested or have any questions you can email them at

tales-project@unimelb.edu.au

They offer help to complete the survey over the phone too