Cassie Mercer embarks on a quest to understand more about a famous cricketer in the family tree. The Aussie cricket season is here! Just like thongs and singlets, melting ice-cream and mossies, cricket represents an Australian summer. The game became all the more interesting to me when I discovered that an ancestor of mine was Read More
One hundred years ago, the Great War ended after four years of death and destruction. Cassie Mercer speaks with author Professor Peter Stanley to understand more about what Australian troops were doing in those last few years of the war. The Great War left an indelible mark on thousands of Australian families. Men and women Read More
When the First Fleet landed in 1788, the convicts were skilled in more than 80 different trades and occupations. Some of these trades were useful in starting a colony from the ground up, others not so much. Some occupations stayed in existence, but many are no longer in use. Here are 5 of the more Read More
Why is August to important in family history circles? It’s National Family History Month (NFHM) – an initiative by the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations (AFFHO)! AFFHO is organising and facilitating the initiative via the NFHM website. It is hoped that 2018 is the biggest year yet in terms of interest and number of Read More
With all the resources at our fingertips, there’s never been a better time to get your kids loving history, says Cassie Mercer. These hands-on activities will inspire them to learn more about their family – past and present. Winter holidays are here, and during this time, there are lots of fun things to do to Read More
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Parramatta Female Factory, a vital part of our convict heritage. Cassie Mercer looks at the work being done to save and promote the precinct. When Governor Macquarie laid the foundation stone for the Parramatta Female Factory in July 1818, little did he know how important its role Read More
Injustice, hard work and shock revelations are all part of John Jarratt’s family history. “If I found out there was a cold-blooded murderer – that would be very upsetting. But I think beyond that, everything should be fine … hopefully!” So says John Jarratt before embarking on his ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ journey Read More
Sharing your family’s legacy is so important for strengthening family bonds and reliving traditions that will make memories for every generation. It can be particularly valuable if you’re just starting out on your family history journey, or are trying to break through a brick wall. Take the time to sit down with your relatives to Read More
Want to know what goes into making an episode of ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’? With season nine airing on SBS in 2018, Cassie Mercer speaks to Robyn Smith, a researcher on the hit TV series, to discover how the program comes to life. Transcribing Russian documents, discovering historical portraits hanging in old barns Read More
Fancy a kangaroo steamer? How about a schnitzel with a side of sauerkraut? Or maybe you’re a fan of couscous and dal? Whatever your food passions, imagine connecting to your family history through knowing what your ancestors ate. Some popular contemporary diets are loosely based on how our forebears fuelled themselves – for example the Read More