Only available until Monday 19 August

By booking a Webinar Season Ticket you will be able to view every standard webinar we hold between Aug-Oct, either live or by watching the recording later.

You book and pay once. We'll set you up in each webinar and send you the confirmation link.

And in addition you'll get one webinar free - so this quarter you get 6  for the price of 5. (The season ticket does not include the webinar course on Genome Mate Pro.)

The webinars covered by the Season Ticket this quarter are:

• Why should I test my DNA, Michelle Patient (pre-recorded. link provided upon purchase of season ticket)
• Fantastic German church books and where to find them, Ben Hollister, 20 August
• Enhance your genealogy research with Facebook, Jill Ball, 9 September
• Four sources for New Zealand family history, Fiona Brooker, 24 September
• Have you finished your family history?, Danielle Lautrec, 17 October
• Biographical Database of Australia, Michael Flynn, 21 October

Location: 2/379 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Free, members only but bookings are essential

Get an overview of the services and resources at the Library. Explore highlights of the collections and take a guided tour. Why not stay on after the tour and do some research? Limit 10.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Convenor: Beverly Hyssett   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members

Discover ways to maximise the benefits of this family history software program. Learn from others, share tips and ask questions.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Presenter: Christine Woodlands   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members

Learn the first steps of interpreting your DNA test results to help you understand how you relate to your matches. We will include a summary of basic DNA concepts and there will be plenty of time for questions.

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Michael Flynn   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

Find out what the Biographical Database of Australia holds and how it can help your family history research. Get an update on newly added content, such as immigration records.

External tour: Meet at St Thomas & Trafalgar Streets, Bronte 

Bookings essential: $25 members, $30 non-members

Enjoy a walk through this magnificent cemetery, visiting monuments of politicians, murder victims, authors, poets and criminals; including Dorothea Mackellar and Henry Lawson, Sir Francis Forbes, the magnificent Irish Monument to the 1789 rebellion and Nosey Bob, the State’s executioner! Not suitable for people with mobility issues. Limit 15

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Convenor: Veronica Williams   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members

Confirming DNA matches through triangulation. We will explore the different ways to use the tools on each of the main testing sites – FTDNA, My Heritage, 23andMe, GEDmatch and DNAGedcom. Suitable for intermediate DNA researchers.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members

Learnings from ‘DNA Down Under’. What changes do we need to make in our research? Are there important issues that we need to input into our 2020 agenda?

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Veronica Williams   Bookings essential: $35, Members only (fee is for 3 parts)

This is a 3-part webinar course. Part 1 = 29 October, Part 2 = 12 November, Part 3 = 26 November.  Bookings close on 29 October for this 3 part course. 

This is an online discussion to learn about using Genome Mate Pro. The discussion will be facilitated by Veronica and participants are expected to have watched YouTube videos and other materials such as the DNA Geek blog. Internet, headphones and microphone are required.

Part 1 - Help, Options, Creating Profiles and introduction to Data Imports

Part 2 - Data Imports revision, allocating sides, defining segments to ancestors

Part 3 - Chromosome analysis, Segment Maps Links to the YouTube videos and other material will be provided to registrants.

Only available until Monday 18 November

By booking a Webinar Season Ticket you will be able to view every standard webinar we hold between Nov-Jan, either live or by watching the recording later.

You book and pay once. We'll set you up in each webinar and send you the confirmation link.

And in addition you'll get one webinar free - so this quarter you get 5  for the price of 4. (The season ticket does not include the webinar course on Genome Mate Pro.)

The webinars covered by the Season Ticket this quarter are:

• Essential U.S. genealogical resources - Nancy Loe, 19 Nov (matinee)
• Land and property records in England - Rosemary Kopittke, 2 Dec
• How to use other people's research - Danielle Lautrec, 10 Dec
• Reviewing your research - get past that roadblock in your tree - Michelle Patient, 7 Jan
• Understanding the U.K. census - Jenny Joyce, 20 Jan

Location:  Portside Convention Centre, 207 Kent Street Sydney          10am-4.30pm each day          $120 members, $140 non-members (fee includes morning and afternoon tea, but does not include lunch)

Explore the lives of Sydney-siders from 1788 to the 1860s and find out about the records they left behind for your family history research.  Learn about what happened when they arrived, where they lived and where they were buried when they died.  Did they run a business?  How was the government involved in their daily lives.  And did the coming of the railways affect them?  This and much more will be explored during this fascinating weekend.   The preliminary program is available here.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Presenter: Danielle Lautrec   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

Just started your family history or need a refresher? This session will cover the principles of family history research, types of sources and repositories, charting, search techniques and research planning.

Family History Fundamentals is a three part course, but you can also attend just one or two sessions. Book by telephone or in person to receive the special discount offer of $60 ($90 non-members) for all three sessions.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Convenor: Larry Czarnik   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members

Join other users of this popular family history software program for insights, ideas and opportunities to share tips and ask questions.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Convenor: Bruce Fairhall   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members 

This meeting is an opportunity to share ideas for using TMG and solve problems users are encountering. Bring your laptop if possible. There will also be time allocated to planning our meetings for 2020. New and experienced TMG users are invited to attend.

Location: 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)     Free, members only but bookings are essential 

The SAG’s archives have a wide range of records such as manuscripts, photos, diaries and family histories – many of which are not held anywhere else! Explore highlights of the archives, take a guided tour and find out how to search the collection using the MIDAS catalogue. Limit 10.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Convenor: Lilian Magill   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members 

Our scheduled presentation by Anne Beaumont on ‘Whales and Windmills’ has had to be deferred until next year. 

The new topic for this meeting is:  Where are you at with your research or writing?  This month we are talking about where we are at with our writing, research or our future plans. Each member will have five minutes to discuss or report on where they are at, what they need help with, what might be their plans and to ask for advice. 

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Presenter: John Cann, NSW State Archives   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members 

Combine your history into a story! A Closer Look at Marriage is a look at marriages from 1788 to the 1940s through the lens of family history research. This talk will showcase a variety of NSW State Archives and combine events from four marriages into an interesting narrative from the Archives.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Convenor: Pauline Weeks  Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members

Navigating the new website, research guides, how to search, what digitised records are available on line and how to order records. Bring along any brick wall questions for discussion. You are welcome to join us for lunch afterwards (not included in the event price).

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Nancy Loe   Bookings essential: $12, Members only 

This overview of U.S. genealogy records includes free and subscription websites. Discover essential and lesserknown resources and how to locate non-digitized records. Locate vital records, census (state and federal), migration records, newspapers, maps, and other records to research your ancestors in the United States.

Location: 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Presenter: Christine Woodlands   Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members 

In this beginners’ session you will be introduced to chromosome mapping and DNA Painter. You’ll then set up an account at DNA Painter and “paint” one or two matches. Finally, we’ll look at the tools offered by DNA Painter. 

This is a hands on computer session using your own laptop AT RICHMOND VILLA. Participants must bring their own laptop and have access to their DNA matches at GEDmatch.com, FTDNA and/or MyHeritage. Limit 12

This session has been deferred until 2020.

Location: 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Presenter: Christine Woodlands   Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members 

In this intermediate session you will be looking at ways of using DNA Painter and its tools to progress your genetic research, including: canvassing the various ways of painting DNA matches; using the “paint” of known matches to identify where unknown matches might fit into a pedigree; and optimising use of DNA Painter’s tools. 

This is a hands on computer session using your own laptop AT RICHMOND VILLA. Participants in their session must bring their own laptop and have already “painted” a number of “known” DNA matches at DNA Painter and have a basic familiarity with the tools offered. Limit 12

This session has been deferred until 2020.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here) 

Presenter: Heather Garnsey   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members 

A look at how to supplement birth, death & marriage certificates by utilising the Society’s collection of church registers and other resources.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Presenter: Kerry Farmer   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members 

“Life wasn’t meant to be easy” – and it often wasn’t for many of our Scottish ancestors. Learn how to research Scots who fell on hard times, including those who were supported by the poor laws (and those who were not) as well as those who came before the courts.

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Rosemary Kopittke   Bookings essential: $12, Members only 

Family history is all about tracing where people lived. This presentation investigates a range of resources you can access to learn more about land and property held by your family in England. It examines gazetteers and maps, electoral registers, newspapers, rate books, the 1873 returns of owners of land, wills, manorial records, and land tax records. These records will provide a good starting point for your research.

Location: 2/379 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Free, members only but bookings are essential 

Get an overview of the services and resources at the Library. Explore highlights of the collections and take a guided tour. Why not stay on after the tour and do some research? Limit 10.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here) 

Presenter: Danielle Lautrec   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members 

Just started your family history or need to develop your skills further? This session will cover tips and techniques for analysing sources and the information within them, and using that as evidence in your family history. It will include analysing handwriting, evaluating sources and problem solving.

Family History Fundamentals is a three part course, but you can also attend just one or two sessions. Book by telephone or in person to receive the special discount offer of $60 (non-members $90).

Location: 2/379 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Presenter: Veronica Williams   Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members 

This session is ONLY for people who are already working with AncestryDNA test results and want to learn more about using that website for analysing their results. Beginners are welcome. Limit 14

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Presenter: Kerry Farmer   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members 

Using the tools at DNAGedcom. We will explore tools such as ADSA, GWorks and J works. Some time will also be allocated to the benefits of DNAGedcom Connection Client for downloading match information for Genome Mate Pro, Match-O-Matic and the Collins Leeds Method 3D. Suitable for intermediate DNA researchers.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here) 

Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members 

How have your DNA outcomes improved through the use of GEDmatch phased kits, Evil Twin, Lazarus or Visual Phasing? Do they help? Discussion of pros and cons.

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Danielle Lautrec   Bookings essential: $12, Members only 

They say you shouldn’t reinvent the wheel, but the preponderance of poorly researched trees makes us nervous about using other people’s research. As a result, we miss out on a potential gold mine of information. This session will examine how to take advantage of other people’s research without compromising the quality of our own family history.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Presenter: Teresa Bentos   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members 

Teresa is a nurse who has taken a ‘gap year’, in which she hopes to write the story of her time nursing in Iraq. She will talk about what she has achieved and how she writes. It is a fascinating story, one that needs to be told.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Presenter: Ralph Hawkins   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members 

Many men worked in the forests around Sydney in the first 50 years of settlement preparing timber for the Royal Navy and for domestic use. We give an overview of what a forest was, where they were, and what a timberfeller, shingle splitter and sawyer did for a living.

Location: Your place! 

Presenter: Michelle Patient   Bookings essential: $12, Members only 

Revisiting your research, along with access to newly available records and data, can provide new leads to follow which often results in opening up new branches to include in our ever-growing family trees. Michelle will discuss this while covering the benefits of reviewing your research.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Presenter: Danielle Lautrec   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members 

This session will cover tips and techniques for writing it up and sharing your family history with other researchers in a variety of forms, including charts, software, reports, books and online. It will also cover tips for making those dreaded source citations easier!

Family History Fundamentals is a three part course, but you can also attend just one or two sessions. Book by telephone or in person to receive the special discount offer. ($60 members, $90 non-members)

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here) 

Convenor: Melissa Hulbert   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members 

Learn the basic DNA concepts and the first steps of interpreting your DNA test results. This session covers all of the popular DNA testing companies. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Presenter: Christine Woodlands   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members 

Go beyond the DNA basics and examine in greater detail what can be done with AncestryDNA results - exploring ethnicity and DNA cousins. The session will also look at privacy settings, linking DNA to a family tree, sharing access to AncestryDNA results, uploading a family tree and downloading raw data. There’ll be a handout to take away with plenty of references to continue your DNA journey.

Location: 2/379 Kent Street Sydney (more information here) 

Free, members only but bookings are essential 

Get an overview of the services and resources at the Library. Explore highlights of the collections and take a guided tour. Why not stay on after the tour and do some research? Limit 10.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here) 

Convenor: Beverly Hyssett   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members 

Legacy Software group meetings provide opportunities for you to extend your knowledge of Legacy features and to share your Legacy experiences. If you are undecided about which family history software program to purchase come along and see what Legacy can offer you.

Location: Your place! 

Presenter: Jenny Joyce   Bookings essential: $12, Members only 

The census is a vital source for UK research. Learn what censuses are available, how to access them and how to interpret them.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here) 

Free, members only but bookings are essential 

The SAG’s archives have a wide range of records such as manuscripts, photos, diaries and family histories – many of which are not held anywhere else! Explore highlights of the archives, take a guided tour and find out how to search the archives using the MIDAS catalogue. Limit 10.

Location: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here) 

Presenter: Heather Garnsey   Free, but bookings are essential

Find out more about the Society’s popular Certificate in Genealogical Studies course and its Diploma in Family Historical Studies in this information session.