News and Events
Lake Macquarie Family History Group Inc.

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Upcoming Saturday Meetings 20 March 2010 17 April 2010 15 May 2010 19 June 2010 17 July 2010 21 August 2010 18 September 2010 16 October 2010 20 November 2010 11 December 2010 Wednesday Library & Resources Access In addition to meeting days the meeting hall is also open for access to resources and research on the first Wednesday of each month from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm or later if arranged beforehand.

Group members at the Morisset Community Fair

Newsletter & Journal

A newsletter containing informative information is available, free of cost, at each meeting.
Copies of recent editions are available for downloading in PDF format:

May 2009 (299KB) Sep 2009 (429KB) Jan 2010 (421KB)

Jun 2009 (320KB) Oct 2009 (406KB) Feb 2010 (407KB)

Jul 2009 (434KB) Nov 2009 (417KB)

Aug 2009 (434KB) Dec 2009 (414KB)

The Group's quarterly journal, "The Chronicle", commenced publication in August 1999 and is a means by which members may contribute and publicise various aspects of their research. The journal is free to members and is now exchanged with various other family history groups throughout Australia.

Group Birthday The April 2009 meeting was the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Group. To mark this special occasion past members and dignitaries were invited to join members in celebrating this milestone. Elspeth Bradbury presented a potted history of the Group and all present enjoyed an afternoon tea where the inaugural Group President cut the Group's birthday cake. The anniversary was a timely reminder of the large increases in the Groups library and other reference resources, technology changes and Group publications that have occurred during the decade. Improved services for members has been the outcome and all present looked forward to the next decade.	Diane Archer cutting the Group's 10th aniversary cake.
Recent Publication The long in production pioneer register is now available and it was well worth the wait. Titled Pioneers & Settlers of Lake Macquarie the book was launched on 16 September 2006 by the Mayor of the City of Lake Macquarie who praised Fay Markwell and her team for their work in the production of this excellent publication. Further information and purchase details are on the Products page.	Fay Markwell at the launch of Pioneers & Settlers of Lake Macquarie.
Current Major Project The Lake Macquarie Family History Group has now finished transcribing the Parish Registers for St Matthews Church of England, Windsor NSW. This major work will provide an invaluable reference for this very historic area. Further information and purchase details are on the Products page.	Jenny Myers receiving a Ministry for the Arts grant from the Royal Australian Historical Society for the Group's St Matthews transcription project.
New Resources The Group has an active program to purchase new resources for the use of members. This material, in book, magazine or CD format, allows members to further their research as new material becomes available. Details of recent purchased are included in the monthly newsletter and members are encouraged to notify the committee of items suitable for purchase.

Cemetery Publications In March 2003 the Lake Macquarie Family History Group published a transcript of burial memorials at the Whitebridge Cemetery. The transcriptions were done by Kim Ranger who kindly made them available and the Group updated this work and added burial details based on records made available by the Lake Macquarie City Council. This follows the Groups successful publication in February 2002 of burial memorials for the Belmont Cemetery and the major revision in March 2005 of this work to include subsequent burials and details from the burial registers. Purchase details for these books are on the Products page.

Donated Resource

Thanks to a kind donation by Sue Woods the Group now has a transcription of the Parish Registers for High Ham, Somerset, England. Coverage is Baptisms 1645-1837 and 1863-1901, Marriages 1646-1900 and Burials 1646-1902. Members and visitors can peruse these transcripts in a two volume publication produced by the Group from Sue's work.

Aboriginal Research

The Library at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies has a Family History Unit. Fact sheets and links to other resources and information is available.

NSW BDM Transcription Agents

Access to the New South Wales Registry Office records of births, deaths and marriages is available to authorised transcription agents. Their services provide a lower cost alternative to purchasing official certificates. Unrestricted access is limited to events registered greater than 100 years ago for births, 50 years for marriages and 30 years for deaths. Further details are able from the web sites of the agents Marilyn Rowan, Joy Murrin and Laurence Turtle.