ANZAC Day 25th April, 2009.

,
The Sam Merrifield Library will be hosting an author talk by Dr Marina Larsson. Shattered Anzacs: living with the scars of war tells the untold story of thousands of Australian families who welcomed home disabled soldiers after the First World War. In 2008 Marina Larsson received the Australian Historical Association's biennial Serle Award for the best postgraduate thesis in Australian History. To book for this free talk on Thursday April 23rd, at 7pm Call 8325 1950

To find out more about the significance of ANZAC Day to learn more about the customs and traditions that have developed since the 25th April was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916, visit the Australian War Memorial Canberra website

The Returned and Services League of Australia (Victorian Branch) holds a number of activities on ANZAC Day throughout the State of Victoria to commemorate the men and women who fought and risked their lives to protect Australia.

Beverley Broadbent recalls how when at boarding school she and her classmates had to visit mentally ill war veterans at the Anzac Hostel in Brighton the story 'Harrowing stories of the Anzacs left out of the legend' can be viewed online at the Age Newspaper

Irish Ancestors

The Irish Times Newspaper has free searching of the digital archives for one week to celebrate their 150th birthday, so for anyone with Irish Ancestors - and who hasn't go to the following link which will take you directly to the page Irish Times

Don Grant Lecture 2008

The above lecture is now available at the State Library of Victoria as a podcast, the lecture was part of the Family History Feast 2008 presented by Professor Alistair Thomson, titled Moving stories: British migrant women and family life in postwar Australia. The lecture traces the experiences of four English women who immigrated to Australia during the 1950's, what were their reasons for leaving England, their impressions on arrival in Australia and how they dealt with issues such as isolation from family and friends in England. To hear this podcast visit the State Library of Victoria.,

Birth, Death and Marriage Records for New Zealand

The BDM historical records are available on-line for New Zealand, information available includes births from 100 years ago, stillbirths that occurred at least 50 years ago, marriages and civil unions that occurred 80 years ago and deaths that occurred at least 50 years ago. To find out more about these historic records visit Birth, Death and Marriage Historical Records