The Best Australian Blogs 2012 Competition

A few weeks ago I saw the Best Australian Blogs 2012 Competition  mentioned somewhere on the net, then I realised that my genea-blogging friend, Geniaus had been nominated.

The Finalists have now been decided and I looked through the list of over 1,000 blogs written by Australians, or Australians living overseas.

The point of this post is that whether or not they made it to the final, simply being nominated and then having the blog address listed in the huge list of over a 1,000 contenders is great.

Have a look HERE to see some great blogs. The following is a list (in random order) of ones that caught my eye.

• ANZ LitLovers LitBlog
• Respectfully Disobedient
• Oz Typewriter
• Geniaus
• Diary of an Australian Genealogist
• Declutter Home
• In Search of a Life Less Ordinary
• Miscellaneous Mum
• A String of Pearls

There are many, many more on the list, which is located HERE

ABC Award

Back in March, I received a lovely surprise; Kate of Believe Anyway had nominated Anglers Rest for The ABC (Awesome Blog Content) Award. Thank you. I am always amazed at the positivity of others in response to my rambling & obsessive blog posts! 

**List 26 things about me in alphabetical order

**Pass the award along

I have saved responding to the award until today, because I thought it was a nice way to conclude this years A-Z Blogging Challenge, although the official reflective post will be made next week. 

Instead of 26 things about me, I am sharing 26 sites that I came across during the A-Z Challenge. Selecting 26 out of the thousands of sites out there in the ether is hard work because there are so many wonderful, informative and creative sites.

• A - A String of Pearls
• B - Bob's Home For Writing
• C - Carol's Notebook
• D - Dina Thanki
• E - Empty Nest Insider
• F - Family History Across the Seas & Fresh from my Desk
• G - GenWestUK
• H - Holly Michael's Writing & HeartString Quilts
• I -  I Heart Red Shoes 
• J - Jollett Etc
• K - Debbie & Harry's Kitchen
• L - LAussie Writing Blog & Leaving Cairo, the UK & back to Greece
• M - Melissa Ann Goodwin - Writer on the Road & Maine Words
• N - Notes Along the Way & Nonnas Recipe Box
• O - Occupational Therapy: Journal of a Travel Award
• P - Paradoxology
• Q - Quiet Corner
• R - Rockin' Chair Reflections & Random Ramblings of a 40-something
• S - Sharon the Librarian
• T - Tales of a Knitter & Tea Leaves
• U - An Unconventional Librarian
• V - View Outside
• W - Wrote by Rote
• X -  Marcie's Postbox
• Y - Yellow Days
• Z -  Razz Chronicles
• 1970KikiProject

I am going to loan another $25 to the Kiva Project that I have mentioned several times on this blog. I am a member of the Genealogists for Families Team.

Blogging A-Z - April Challenge - Z is for ....

Z is for...... Zealous and Zestful
The letter Z was tricky to cover. I sat and brainstormed all the words that I feel sums up the Australian way of life,its history, diversity, cultural and enthusiasm and many more, then I came up with were Zealous and Zestful which fitted the Z bill nicely.
Whether initially migration to Australia happened as a result of being a convict or through choosing to live in a new colony, the output was the same. A new life and beginning, not just in terms of the individual concerned, but also of the Colony. As the Colony filled with migrants from across the globe, each bring with them their own cultures, ways of life and passions those early immigrants have passed onto future generations of Australians that same love and enthusiasm for acceptance.
Australia is not a perfect Country, but what one is? What it has is, a zealousness for life, a passion of living, which is possibly a legacy of those early convicts, or those who came to a new Country to avoid famine, persecution and to gain freedom.
That concludes the A-Z for 2012. I have loved every minute of it. There is a little extra post coming up and a reflections of A-Z 2012 next week.

Carnival Of Genealogy 117 - 1940!

Like many researchers, I was quite excited when the 1940 Federal US Census was released. After all, we only had one known family who would have been recorded in the Census and that was my husband's Great Grandmother, her second husband and their son. I had successfully managed to build a profile of their life from 1905 when Annie arrived in the US up until the late 1940s, so locating the family in the Census was going to be easy, right?

Wrong! It has been anything but!

Annie & Harry Hindle, both born in Yorkshire migrated in 1905. At that time Annie was married to Charles Worship, and her divorce didn't become final until 1921 and she married Harry in 1922. I have written fairly extensively over the last couple of years about Annie and Harry Hindle and you can read an earlier post HERE.

Annie Hindle, Nee Rhodes and Formerly Worship
Taken circa 1921 Passport

I used the Census tracker aligning the address from the 1930 Census but that didn't reveal the Hindle's. I searched again using the same method in case I had missed it, but no. I returned to the original material I had and followed the address trail. Passenger lists for 1946 and the burial record of Henry and Annie in 1952 and 1953, respectively revealed the same address so that would be my starting point.

The address in question was 14 North Belfield Ave, Havertown Pennsylvania. The Census locator on The National Archives site uses the streets that intersect as a research guide. This is quite useful, if you know the area, so a search of a map was made. Just as I was about to head to Google Maps, I simply put the address into Google on the off chance it revealed any data. I was surprised to see this page which is really aimed at those buying and selling property, but does give some information. The year the house built is wrong, because we have the passenger lists for 1946, but the site is very useful. There are current review of the area, a detailed description of the house and a close up map with the property pin pointed.

Despite all the hours searching, I still can not find the family in the 1940 Census. There are several possibilities  as to why -

1. My lack of familiarity with US Counties within the States
2. My lack of understanding the framing & recording of the Census route
3. The family were in the UK at the point of the Census

A disappointing state of events, but it does confirm the worth of indexes that are being created by those reading and researching with the Census. I wrote about this HERE.

The Carnival of Genealogy is hosted by Jasia at CreativeGene

Sunday Obituary - Harriet Butcher (1811 - 1896)

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania
Saturday, 2nd May 1896

Australian Newspaper Archives

Sunday Stamps - Australia - ANZAC Day

I've gone off theme this week. On 25th April, New Zealanders and Australians celebrated ANZAC Day and in keeping with remembering that day, which ties in nicely with the A-Z Challenge I have kept to the theme of Australia. You can read the A-Z challenge posts via this tag line and read my ANZAC Day post HERE.

Commemoration stamps 1935

Commemoration stamps 1965

Stamps from the neighbouring Islands:

Submitted as Sunday Stamps hosted by Viridian's Postcard Blog

Sepia Saturday 123 - May Day

This week I have a selection of postcards. 

On 14th May 1908, The Franco British Exhibition opened in White City. People travelled across the globe to attend the various exhibits and pavilions. 

This first picture fits in nicely with my A-Z Challenge theme of Australia and you can read the other posts here via this tag line

On 24th May 1907 The Queen's Memorial statue was unveiled in Melbourne. The pillars representing, Australia, Canada, India and South Africa.

This next postcard is from Southend in Essex and shows Empire Day which was celebrated across the "Empire" on 24th May. This is from 1905, the year it was first introduced.  In 1958 Empire Day changed to Commonwealth Day and whilst is formally celebrated in parts of the Commonwealth it is not here in the UK, although the Queen attends a ceremony at Westminster Abbey

Taking part in Sepia Saturday

Weekend Cooking - First American Cook Book

On 28th April, 1796 Amelia Simmons' cookbook, American Cookery was published.

It was the first cookbook by an American author.

You can read and download a PDF version of the book.

The book can be viewed as a success as it was printed, reprinted and even pirated. Have a look at Lucy Emerson's New England Cookery Book 1808, which is essentially Simmons' book with a different cover!







While have a look on the website that hosts this PDF version I came across The Historic American Cookbook Project which sounds really interesting.  On reading further it is a collection of heritage cookbooks and contains images of heritage cooking utensils and objects held by The Michigan State University Museum. There is a detailed essay of how the project started HERE and it also contains full details of the books within the archive and links to them.

This is a fabulous site and I am so pleased I stumbled across it.

Taking part in Weekend Cooking, hosted by BethFishReads

Guest Post - Desiree Finkbeiner

Welcome to Desiree Finkbeiner, as today we are taking part in the Morning Star (Book 1 in the Ethos Series) Book Tour. Congratulations on the publication of Morning Star.

About the Author:

Desiree Finkbeiner attained a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from Missouri Southern State University (2006) with a heavy background in business, marketing, music and fine art-- She was heavily involved in campus affairs and served actively in several committees focusing on campus entertainment and events.

She performed with musical acts/bands in rock and electronic genres, released seven studio albums, performed in 11 states and has written hundreds of songs. Her band, Carbon Star, was a finalist for VH1's "Bands on the Run" reality TV show in 2000. Then she performed with Pointy Teeth until finally leaving the music industry for the quiet life.

She had a scholarship for acting in college though she was not a theater major. Although she no longer performs or focuses on musical/performing arts, she has chosen to shift her talents to other areas that are more conducive to raising a family.

Continuing education is a constant adventure for Desiree with topics of interest ranging from civil and corporate law, history, political conspiracy, homeopathic medicine and spiritual healing. She prefers to read non-fiction, especially on topics that educate and broaden her perspectives on controversial issues.

With thousands of completed art works in her archives, most of which appear in private collections worldwide, Desiree hopes to focus more on publishing, marketing and licensing her work so she can leave a legacy behind.

Interview:

Where does your inspiration come from?

Inspiration comes from so many sources, but I mostly rely on God to plant the story in my mind. I believe the source of all good things comes from a higher power, so why not rely on that source to inspire? If relied on my own understanding to try and write a book, it would be a total flop. But if I allow myself to be a conduit through which God can speak, I know I will always be able to write something worth reading.

Do you have any other projects in the works?

In addition to completing the Ethos series, I’m working on art for the special edition print version of the book. It will be a half-graphic novel of sorts. I’m also working on a steampunk YA series set for release next year. There is also an audio book in production for Ethos.

How do you deal with rejection letters?

Very well, I have a pretty thick skin. I was especially thankful for publishers that were nice enough to give me some feedback as to why they rejected my work. Constructive criticism is an opportunity to improve, and I have taken to heart every comment that has helped me become a better writer.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?

In a series with a complex plot like Ethos, sometimes it can be a challenge keeping my fictional ‘facts’ straight. There have been times I had to rewrite entire chapters when I make a mistake in the plot or a character mistakenly reveals something too early in the story for it to be effective. Since the Ethos series is written in first person, I don’t have the luxury of simple narration. Every fact that comes to light has to be introduced to the reader through the characters. So my character development is vital for the story to come together.

Book Trailers

Purchase Details:

Amazon (US)

Amazon (UK)

Contact Details & More Information

Amazon Author Page

Facebook

Goodreads

Google +

Publisher (Hydra Publications)

Twitter

Website

Book Blogger Hop - Is Back!

Great news to see the Book Blogger has returned. There have been a few tweaks to the rules, which you can read HERE.  Twitter Hashtag - 

This week's question is HERE - 

Are you attending the Book Blogger Convention (aka Bea Bloggers) and/or Book Expo America in New York City in June? If not, will you participate in the online event called Armchair BEA?

Sadly, I won't be attending the Book Blogger Convention, I would love to, but I am not in the US, so this would be an international trip and cause chaos to my domestics! I will make it one year. 

I will be taking part in the Armchair BEA. I did last year, but didn't manage to contribute as much as I would have liked to, as there was a date clash with a professional conference. The dates this this year's BEA is 4-8 June 2012.

You can join the Blog Hop HERE

Blogging A-Z - April Challenge - Y is for .....

Y is for...... Yothu Yindi
I first heard Yothu Yindi at a concert in Sydney back in 1991. A remarkable mix of modern music and the continual embracing of indigenous music. One of their most popular songs is Treaty.

When I returned to the UK in 1992, I was on a tube heading across London and saw an advertisement for Yothu Yindi who were on a tour of the US and Western Europe driven by the success of the album that Treaty was on, called Tribal Voice. As luck would have it, I managed to get tickets and saw them again.

Since those early days I have replaced my tape collection, although I still have them with CDs of their music and now have them on my iPhone for continual enjoyment! You can read about the band's success HERE

Postcard Friendship Friday - Australia - ANZAC Day

On 25th April, New Zealanders and Australians celebrated ANZAC Day and in keeping with remembering that day, which ties in nicely with the A-Z Challenge I have kept to the theme of Australia. You can read the A-Z challenge posts via this tag line and read my ANZAC Day post HERE.

The last two postcards were published by The Limbless Soldiers Association in New South Wales

Submitted as part of Postcard Friendship Friday hosted by The Best Hearts are Crunchy 

Blogging A-Z - April Challenge - X is for .....

X is for...... 
Now, X is always troublesome and I pondered for several weeks before I made this discovery in my stamp collection. The very moment I saw it, I knew that I could use this, thinking outside the box!

The stamp was released in 1957 and is to commemorate the work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. The organisation literally flies aXcross the Country providing a wonderful service.

The link for the A-Z Challenge 2011 post is HERE

Blogging A-Z - April Challenge - W is for .....

W is for...... Worship
In 2005 I registered the surname of Worship with the Guild of One Name Studies. The name was the that of my husband's late Grandmother. The surname is an interesting one and searching using any search facility produces, understandably many, many results relating to religion and churches.
My husband's Worship ancestors came from Huntingdonshire before moving to Yorkshire. Within the confines of the study I seek to record all representations of the surname across the Globe. I have located a few in Australia, and in view of the fact that yesterday was ANZAC Day it seems fitting to talk about the military record I found for Harry Worship.
Harry, as far as I know, does not fit into my husband's ancestry. So the details that I have pursued are limited and purely for the benefit of the one name study.

This first page of Harry's enlistment papers has his place of birth listed as 7 Oaks, which is actually Sevenoaks in Kent. There is a familiar feel to it, perhaps the person who completed the form knew of the area or simply had written it before. 
Harry is 43 years old and is single. He names his next of kin as Clara Worship who is his sister. Having joined up in September 1914 he served three years before being discharged to due Rheumatics and being overage. His service record reveals that he was often reprimanded, for insulting behaviour, drunkenness and being absent without leave and I think that this reflects the hardships that the troops were ill prepared for.

The link for the A-Z Challenge 2011 post is HERE

Blogging A-Z - April Challenge - V is for .....

V is for...... Victory
Today is ANZAC Day. The day when Australians and New Zealanders come together in a day of National Remembrance for those Australians and New Zealanders who died during armed conflict. I took part in an ANZAC Day challenge in 2011 and you can read that post HERE and view the 2012 post HERE.
Advertising posters, appealing to the Australian population to become involved in the War effort.

Of course, having joined up nothing prepared the men for the horrors of the trenches. There was no preparation of coping with flashbacks and re-occurrences of shell shock and other medical complaints once they returned home; if indeed they did. Many, many men paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Victory comes, but at a heavy price.

Further posts written for the ANZAC Challenge can be found:

Review of TransTasman ANZAC Blog Challenge 2011 - A great collection of posts and links to explore.

ANZAC Day Blog Challenge 2012 - A great collection of posts for this year and more links.

Post written by Pauline, my A-Z & Geneablogger buddy - HERE

Lest We Forget.

ANZAC Day Blog Challenge

As luck would have it, this month I have been working on the A-Z challenge and have pursued the theme of Australia. You can read the posts via this tag line. It therefore seems absolutely right that I take part again in the ANZAC Day challenge and you can read last year's post for ANZAC Day HERE which is about a descendant of the Ellis family who appear in my A-Z challenge!

This year the focus is on another descendant of the same family, Henri Wilhelm Erickson who was the son of Carl Erickson and Wilhelmina nee Ellis. The National Archives of Australia has a copy of Henri's enlistment papers & military record. You can read the 60 page document HERE.

Up until now, I have done very little research into the descendants of the Ellis pioneer who migrated to Australia in 1854. Reading the document is very sobering and I instantly felt a sense of sympathy for Henri and Winifred, his wife who became his widow.

Henri enlisted on 18th March 1916 and joined the Australian Imperial Force, serving in the 23rd Battalion. He sailed from Melbourne on board HMAT Armadale on 19th July 1916 and arrived in Plymouth Devon on 20th September 1916.

The first page of his Military record reveals his father was born in Finland Russia and was Naturalised in around 1876. I was intrigued by this. Further reading of the file and looking at the Naturalisation records held by National Archives of Australia revealed exactly where Henri's father came from, and when, in addition to his Naturalisation, but that is another story!

It is clear from almost the beginning Henri was not well and suffered from stomach complaints; probably due to sanitation issues.  In addition he experienced shell shock and concussion. The following two pages are his casualty clearing form. It makes very sad reading. Even before I reached the final line on the second page I knew that Henri had not survived the War. In fact, the sadness is quite overwhelming.

Continued reading of Henri's military files shows that somehow, in the midst of the chaos of the First World War battlefields, his kit bag was lost. This must have caused some further distress to Winifred,whose letters asking if the bag had been recovered appear in the file. There is no mention if it ever was recovered, I would like to think so, but suspect not.

A search of the Australian War Memorial reveals the Nominal Roll for Henri. The document shows his address, next of kin with details of his rank and pay rates. His name appears on the 99th Panel on the Roll of Honor and on the Ypres Memorial (Menin Gate).

Book Pilgrimage 2012

Libby at Libby's Book Blog has launched the 2012 Book Pilgrimage.

The challenge is:
**Read a book or books
**Visit the location where the book is set or the author's home town or grave

Inspiration:
**BiblioTravel
**Literary Tours All Over The World

As I have a rather large trip planned for later in the year this is a great challenge. It is also a great cross over opportunity to other reading challenges.

100 Word Challenge - Week 39

Joining the weekly 100 words challenge for Grown ups. This week the prompt is to use the following prompt, 

.….I’m exhausted. Shut the door behind you….

She opened the door, so glad to get home. Dumping her handbag and briefcase on the hall floor, she threw her shoes off and tweaked her toes, feeling the soft carpet. Her jacket was unceremoniously hung off the bottom of the bannister. She made her way to the kitchen to make a cup of tea.

Just as she was about to mount the stairs she straightened her jacket; she would need it for tomorrow.

She lovingly kissed her husband who was leaving for a night shift then said “I won’t see you off, I'm exhausted. Shut the door behind you....

Taking part in the 100 word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #39

Blogging A-Z - April Challenge - T is for .....

T is for...... Turpin
Josiah Turpin migrated to Geelong in 1855 with his sister Sarah and her husband, John Ellis and their children. You can read their post HERE. Josiah travelled with his young nephew, Josiah Ellis on a separate ship to the rest of the family for reasons that we can only speculate - perhaps illness or lack of funds or not enough room on the vessel.  I get a sense that the two Josiah's had quite a bond and I was very sad to learn that young Josiah died aged just 5 years. 

Image from the London Illustrated News 1842

Josiah Turpin, had been like his sister born in London and was baptised at St Paul's Covent Garden on 20 November 1825 the son of Henry and Wilhelmina Turpin. Henry is recorded as working as a lace weaver and living in Hart Street. Josiah at the time of his baptism was just over a month old as his birth date is recorded as 22 October 1825.
Having arrived in Australia, Josiah, like his sister and brother in law settled in Geelong, Victoria. Of his life, not a huge amount is known, as I have not pursued this line of research. I have though managed to locate his will and that provides the answers to some immediate questions.

From the documents obtained from the Public Records Office of Victoria, Josiah died intestate and left his estate to be dealt with by his sister, Sarah Ellis. We can see from the final document that he owned land, 2 horses and an account with the Geelong Savings Bank. 
This does not seem much to show for a new life, but perhaps it is, I feel sure it is more than he would have left behind had he remained in England. Josiah is described on the probate records as being a farmer and it would be interesting to see if I can establish where the farm was. It looks as though Josiah rented the land on which he farmed as the property appears to be land and his house.
Sources:Public Records Office of VictoriaGeelong & District History SocietyGeelong & District; and Bellarine Peninsular
The link for the A-Z Challenge 2011 post is HERE