Author: Miss W.

I was a middle school teacher who retired in 2011 but still loves helping others. In my spare time I enjoy tracing my family history and volunteering at local library to help others with their genealogy as well as chatting with my friends around the world. But most of all, I enjoy travelling and visiting new places.

Old photos

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great grandmother

Thursday, 13 January 2011

I am the family historian in my family. I love doing genealogy and have one line of the ancestors back to a baptism in Bedfordshire, England in 1603. As well as finding information, I am often given lots of photos, often with nothing written on the back of them to identify who is in the photo.

One relative decided to clean out their attic, and lo and behold, there were portraits of my grandfather, great grandfather and great grandmother. Of course, the insects had also found them.

I have spent a lot of money having the portraits fixed and digitally recorded, but I thought I would put the original image on here today.

Do you have a family historian? Do you have lots of photos that don’t have any names on the back?

Little Floods

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council

Wednesday, 12 January 2011

I am sure you have heard about all the flooding in Queensland and Northern New South Wales; affecting an area the size of France and Germany combined.  Luckily I have never experienced a disaster like that – only the bushfires of 1967 in Tasmania.

But last winter, due to heavy rainfall, the people living in my street could hold a regatta on the road – after that we contacted the local council to complain about the water situation. They are now putting in more drains so the water will seep away more easily.

What are some other things the local council is responsible for in your community?

Entertainment

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trampoline

Tuesday, 11 January 2011

It is school holidays here in Tasmania until nearly the middle of February. Often kids have both parents working during at least part of these long holidays. My next door neighbour can occupy his time by using the trampoline. But often, kids don’t know how to entertain themselves unless they are in front of a screen – TV or computer.

As a kid in your holidays, how did you entertain yourself both indoors and outdoors?

Chaos or everything in its place?

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chaos

Monday, 10 January 2011

Last year, I swapped my computer desk with my nephew as we thought the curved desk would fit more neatly in my office area. My nephew no longer lives at his parents’ home so I am getting back my terrific flat to the wall desk. But first, I have to do some cleaning so I can move this desk out first. I have started cleaning even though you might not think so.

What does your office area look like?

What is the worst household chore you have to do?

Rain, rain go away

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rain rain

Sunday, 9 January 2011

Here in Australia there is lots of rain falling especially in Queensland and northern New South Wales. Properties are flooded and towns are cut off by flood waters. In Tasmania, we don’t get devastation like that from wet weather but last night, at my place, there was a sudden torrential downpour for about three minutes. I had never seen rain like that.

What is the worst type of weather you have ever been in?

Guiding and Scouting

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Girl Guide badges earned

Saturday, 8 January 2011

Were you or are you a member of the Scouting or Guiding movement begun by Lord Baden Powell early in the 1900’s? Well, today celebrates the 70th year of his death in Kenya in 1941.

I began as a Brownie, then Guide where I earned the highest award – Queen’s Guide.  I also ran Brownies then Guides then Rangers. I represented Australia twice in overseas camps in Fiji and Hong Kong. As an amateur radio operator, I also helped run the annual Jamboree on the air held each October.

I most enjoyed those camps where I stayed up all night talking on the radio to other operators around the world.

What did or do you enjoy about being in an organization like the Scouts or Guides?

Local newspaper

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The Mercury stand

Friday, 7 January 2011

Our local newspaper is the “Mercury”. When I did a Google search today, I found there was another newspaper with the same name first published on this date in 1843 in Maitland, New South Wales.

The Hobart Mercury was not issued until 1854.

When is the earliest newspaper in your area?

Can you find the early issues online?

If you were going to publish a newspaper, would it have a theme? What would you name it?

Summer days

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Thursday, 6 January 2011

In Australia, summer days are often spent at the beach. These are the views north, south, east and west from the beach which is about 500 metres from where I live.  I don’t like the sun or sand, but prefer going around the rock pools checking out the inhabitants.

What do you enjoy doing at the beach?

Disaster strikes

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Disaster

Wednesday, 5 January 2011

The evening of the 5th January 1975. A bulk ore carrier strikes the pylons of the Tasman Bridge. Twelve people died, including 5 car occupants who went over the edge into the water of the Derwent River.

Has the town or city where you live ever had a disaster?

How did the town cope?

What did they do to survive?

Write about a natural disaster you have heard about. Imagine you or one of your family were in the disaster. How were you feeling?

Visiting the rellies

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Tuesday, 4 January 2011

Decided to take the car for a long drive today, so my parents, brother and I headed to Cockle Creek.

Where is that you ask?  If you go any further south in Tasmania, you will be in the World Heritage area of the Tasmanian Wilderness.

My great-great-great grandparents are buried there and we knew the gravestone area needed some clearing. So we took a whipper snipper to clean out the weeds, grasses and ferns growing around the graves. So, please say ‘Hello’ to William Tedman, his wife Mary Ann Tedman nee Swain and their grandson John Edward Louis Evorall.

I have done some research into William and Mary as they both arrived here in the 1800’s as convicts from England.

Do you have any convicts in your family history? What have you found out about them?

My city

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Out the window

Monday, 3 January 2011

I was visiting my parents yesterday and snapped this out of their lounge room window. Mt Wellington in the background, Hobart on the western shore  and the yacht race, King of the River,  happening on the Derwent River.

What would I see if I took a photo outside your lounge room window?

Write about the view from your house. Include a photo you have taken.

End of Spring

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bottlebrush bloom


Sunday, 2 January 2011

Spring has finished, yet many of the native flowers in Australia are still blooming. This bottlebrush type flower attracts the bees including the bumble bees.

Are there special colours that attract insects to flowers?

What other plants do you know that have a bottlebrush effect?

If you were planning your own garden to attract birds and insects, what flower would you have as a centre piece?

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