Annual General Meeting

We hope that all Members can join us at this important event where we will elect our Office Bearers for the coming year. To participate in the election Members must be current Financial Members.

Dead Discussions

 At our July monthly meeting our theme of death engendered  some lively discussions that were serious and sometimes tinged with humour.

The Discussion Group was directed by our member Jan who, prior to the meeting, had provided a useful set of discussion points. That members were generous and felt comfortable in sharing personal reflections and stories resulted in a most successful session. We heard stories of people going out under the cover of darkness to scatter a loved ones ashes, tales of trying to locate death records and the disappointment of visiting a cemetery to find a bare unmarked lot as an ancestor's final resting place. Several members discussed the usefulness of FindaGrave as a resource. One member even brought along as a prop an empty ashes urn from a crematorium. At the end of the allocated hour those present agreed to extend the session and continue the conversation.

There are over 30,000 entries related to Lake Macquarie on FindaGrave

 

Our Guest Speaker was our own member Jill who further explored death with a focus on end of life celebrations and final resting places in a presentation "Six Feet Under Downunder". Contributions from members throughout this session added further depth to the talk.

It was rewarding to note that those in attendance felt that our Group provided a comfortable environment to relate personal stories on a sometimes taboo subject.

Following (in order of presentation) are links to the websites mentioned in Six Feet Under Downunder. 

Death: the last taboo   https://australian.museum/about/history/exhibitions/death-the-last-taboo/

Aboriginal Burials Fact Sheet  https://www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-04/Aboriginal-burials-fact-sheet_0.pdf

Guidelines for Aboriginal cultural and spiritual requirements for burial and cremation in NSW 
https://www.cemeteries.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-12/guidelines-for-aboriginal-cultural-and-spiritual-requirements-for-burial-and-cremation-in-nsw.pdf  

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Deaths   https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/deaths-australia/latest-release

Green Burials  https://jamesmurray.com.au/eco-friendly-funeral-options-a-guide-to-sustainable-farewells/

Cremation Jewellery  https://keepsakejewellery.com.au/collections/cremation-jewellery

Memorial Forest Pipers Ridge  https://www.pipersridge.com.au/

Southern Cryonics  https://www.sandbox.southerncryonics.com/

Aquamation  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_cremation

Terramation  https://returnhome.com/return-home-process/

Salvos Funerals  https://salvosfunerals.com.au/

Biographical Database of Australia  https://www.bda-online.org.au/

What you can expect to see on an historical* AUS BDM certificate  https://www.jaunay.com/bdm.html

Civil Registration NSW  https://www.nsw.gov.au/family-and-relationships/family-history-search

Probate and Estate Files at Museums of History NSW  https://mhnsw.au/archive/subjects/?filter=guides

NSW Online Probate Notices  (2013-)  https://onlineregistry.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/content/search-probate-notices

ARK Kit  https://mhnsw.au/guides/archives-resources-kit/

Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011 (need Ancestry Sub)

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61177

Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/  

Newcastle Herald Tributes and Funerals  https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/tributes-funerals/

Sydney Morning Herald Death Notices  https://tributes.smh.com.au/au/obituaries/smh-au/browse

Ryerson Index Search  https://ryersonindex.org/search.php

Australian Family Histories: a Bibliography & Index  https://familyhistory.asn.au/

Obituaries Australia  https://oa.anu.edu.au/

Deaths and Funeral Notices Australia  https://deathsandfunerals.com.au/

Familysearch Australia, Cemetery Inscriptions, 1800-1960  
https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/1534449

Metropolitan Memorial Parks Find a Loved One  https://www.metropolitanmemorialparks.com.au/find-a-loved-one

Bathurst Cemetery Index  https://library.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/Research-History/Bathurst-Cemetery-Index

Waverley Cemeteries Finding Loved Ones  
https://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/cemeteries/finding_loved_ones

LMFHG Librarything Catalogue  https://www.librarything.com/profile/LMFHG

Australian Cemeteries Index  https://www.austcemindex.com/

CWGC Find War Dead  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/

Hawkesbury Cemetery and Grave Register  https://www.hawkesbury.net.au/cemetery/index.html

Billion Graves  https://billiongraves.com/

FindaGrave  https://www.findagrave.com/

James Murray Funerals Newcastle Search  https://jamesmurray.com.au/live-streaming/

Barbara King Funerals Search  https://www.barbarakingfunerals.com.au/obituaries

Discover Your Family History at the Library

Our Group was pleased to receive an invitation to present a session, Discover Your Family History at the Library,  at 10am on Thursday 30 July at Speers Point Library, milyaba, as part of Library and Information Week. 

Of course we accepted this invitation with enthusiasm. We are keen to share the joy of family history with members of our local community. Some of us will stay on after the event to chat with attendees.  

Numbers are limited so, please, register for this event via the link on the Library website https://library.lakemac.com.au/Events/Discover-your-Family-History-at-the-Library#

We will introduce you to the research process and resources outlined in the event description on the Library website. 

"Join members of the Lake Macquarie Family History Group for an overview of available resources, including Ancestry.com, Findmypast, and a range of other archives and databases, and learn how to begin your family history journey. They'll show you what's available, share tips for getting started, and help you plan your research.

Enjoy a morning tea and discover what the Family History Group and Lake Mac Libraries have to offer. Whether you're a beginner or looking to build on your existing research, this session is the perfect place to start."

Meeting this Saturday

The theme for our meeting on Saturday relates to death, an important event in everyone's lives. As family historians we seek answers to these questions about our ancestors.

Where, when and how did, they die?

Where are they resting.

Visitors are welcome at all of our meetings.

We can't get by without ...

 our volunteers. 

ANZAC Day

Local Servicemen in World War 2

Did you know that this booklet listing many WW2 veterans from the Lake Mac area can be downloaded from the library website?

https://history-service.lakemac.com.au/Emu/Application/13528.pdf

Lest we forget - 18th April

Members, please be ready to share your stories of "Others who served. " 

The X Factor - Book now

 At The Lake Macquarie Family History Group we provide affordable education events for our members and the community. Please join us for The X Factor.

In case the QR Code is a bit fuzzy please use this link:  https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1559889

Easter Greetings

 

Easter Expense

 Spare a though for a Toronto man who, in 1950,  bought an expensive Easter Egg.

1950 'TO-DAY'S TOPICS', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 7 April, p. 2. , viewed 01 Apr 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140636796

Come on Down

 

LMFHG on WikiTree

Since our Open Day in May several LMFHG members have been working on adding their ancestors to the Wikitree site.

One of our members said "I am committed to Wikitree as a collaborative tree. I am working to ensure that my ancestors' and forebears' stories are not lost so I aim to give them all a profile on this platform. It's a future-proofing exercise." 

We were enthused by the presentation on WikiTree from Veronica Williams who convinced us of the value of using WikiTree as a platform to preserve the stories of our ancestors and those who have gone before us. Following on from that event we had a further discussions at our in person and online meetings. Several members are actively working on adding profiles to Wikitree.

As part of the preparation for her presentation Veronica set up a Page on WikiTree for those interested in researching the area. WikiTree members are able to add to and edit that page which is available from this link. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Lake_Macquarie_Family_History_Group 

LMFHG Category on WikiTree

Users of WikiTree are encouraged to add Categories to the person profiles to the site. These categories may relate to occupations, places (including cemeteries), events, military units and honours and awards.

Currently among those categories there are :

50 Profiles categorised in Boolaroo
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Boolaroo%2C_New_South_Wales

198 Profiles categorised in Carey Bay
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Carey_Bay%2C_New_South_Wales

58 Profiles categorised in Catherine Hill Bay 
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Catherine_Hill_Bay%2C_New_South_Wales

47 Profiles categorised in St Patrick's and St Brigid's Catholic Cemetery, Cooranbong
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:St_Patrick%27s_and_St_Brigid%27s_Catholic_Cemetery%2C_Cooranbong%2C_New_South_Wales

16 Profiles categorised in The Dudley Colliery Disaster 1898
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Dudley_Colliery_Disaster%2C_New_South_Wales%2C_1898

16 Profiles categorised as Members of the Lake Macquarie Family History Group
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Members_of_the_Lake_Macquarie_Family_History_Group

65 Profiles categorised in Morisset Cemetery
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Morisset_Cemetery%2C_Morisset%2C_New_South_Wales

119 Profiles categorised in Toronto Cemetery
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Toronto_Cemetery%2C_Toronto%2C_New_South_Wales

109 Profiles categorised in West Wallsend
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:West_Wallsend%2C_New_South_Wales

Death of Old Identity

1921 'OLD IDENTITY', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 15 November, p. 4. , viewed 16 Sept 2025, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162801396

On this day - Boat Launch at Marmong Point

1944 'Veteran's Launching', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 9 November, p. 3. , viewed 16 Sept 2025, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156596205

 

100 Years Ago - A Family of Fields

Mrs Edith Field of Awaba, who passed away 100 years ago, left behind a large family of descendants.

1925 'AWABA.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 25 September, p. 8. , viewed 22 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139862908

General Meeting this Saturday

 We look forward to seeing members and guests at our next General Meeting. 

President, Cheryl-Ann, is hoping to meet and chat with members.

Vice-President, Jill, our guest speaker, will talk about her One-Place Study - CareyBay2283 - People and Places Past and Present and the resources she uses to manage the project.

Meet our New President

At the LMFHG Annual General Meeting in August we welcomed a new President, Cheryl-Ann Leggatt, to our Group. She follows Past President, Dr Patrick Bradbery. We thank Patrick for his commitment and contributions to our Group.

Cheryl-Ann has been researching her family history for over 30 years, beginning in the time of microfiche; microfilm and letter writing to get answers.

She has been learning formally about genealogy since 2010 beginning with an Australian/New Zealand Genealogy course through the National Institute for Genealogical Studies and, more recently, was amongst the first intake for the Diploma of Family History offered by the University of Tasmania graduating from that in 2018.

Cheryl-Ann at Australasian Congress - Brisbane, March 2025

Cheryl-Ann has strong commitment Lifelong Learning that is demonstrated by her attendance at many online and in person family history events.  She has attended annual State Conferences since 2012, only missing one or two.  She has participated in two Australasian Congresses, the latest being in Brisbane this year. Cheryl-Ann is a supporter of many online and in-person family and local history events in the Hunter area. Cheryl-Ann has further demonstrated her commitment by being involved in local and regional family history organisations.

Among her ancestors Cheryl-Ann has members of the First Fleet and several other convicts.  Two of her  grandparents' ancestors were born on Norfolk Island.

In 1991 Cheryl-Ann, who was born in the Blue Mountains, moved to the Hunter area where she and her husband have raised three children aged 33, 25 and 17. 

As one of the newer members of the Lake Macquarie Family History Group Cheryl-Ann is keen to get to know members and learn about their family histories and ideas. She says "I am approachable, love new ideas and if I do something wrong or you think something can be improved, please speak to me."

We wish Cheryl-Ann a happy and fruitful term as our President.

On this Day - Wedding at Teralba

 Report of a wedding celebrated in August1939 at Teralba.

1939 'WEDDINGS', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 26 August, p. 5. , viewed 16 Sept 2025, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133726831

On this day - Community gets behind Miss Lake Macquarie

Miss Maureen Donahoo was the Toronto's Nominee in the Miss Australia Quest in 1947.

1947 'Suburban and District Functions For Miss Lake Macquarie', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 24 July, p. 5. , viewed 20 Jul 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140307901