Moonee Valley Family & Local History Blog

Fred Kruger's (1831-88)  photographs present a study of mid-nineteenth-century Victoria.  His most notable commission was to record life at the Aboriginal settlement of Coranderrk Station at the bequest of the Board for the Protection of Aborigines (BPA).  His sense of time and place have a creative expression that makes Kruger's work notable in the history of Australian photography. Exhibition is at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square.

With the start of a new year more NSW indexes are available online; Births and Deaths: http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/Index/IndexingOrder.cgi/search?event=births Marriages: http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/Index/IndexingOrder.cgi/search?event=marriages A reminder that not everything is on-line the GSV h as NSW births to 1918 that may be viewed at their Library on microfiche or CD, that is seven years more than on-line. Enjoy

This exhibition looks at the history of Moonee Valley through images taken by local photographers over the past 150 years.  Elizabeth Gertsakis has curated the exhibition using the history of the local community and their influence on the history, cultural and sporting groups of Moonee Valley.  Exhibition from the 8th December - 26th February, 2012. Tuesday - Sunday 11am-4pm Incinerator Gallery

The four volumes of the Annals of Essendon are now available on the Local History PC in the Sam Merrifield Local History Room. The dates are from the 1850s to 2000.  After 2000 all local newspapers are available through the on-line database Newsbank.

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia features works by ten contemporary artists that have a fascination with the passing of time. Some draw on personal histories, while others explore the past through collective or cultural memories.  Works range from large scale installations, sculptures and video art, to photographs, prints and watercolours.

Another event at the Immigration Museum .  On Sunday 12th February, 2012 join guest Harold Haig, Secretary of the Association of Fomer Child Migrants and their Families.  Harold will introduce the film and discuss the work of Margaret Humphreys and the Child Migrants Trust . Cost: Adults $15.50, Concession $5.50.  Sunday 1pm - 4pm Includes a glass of wine and entry to the On Their Own: Britain's Child Migrants exhibiton and the Immigration Museum. Booking essential: ph 13 11 02

Come to the Immigration Museum to join artists Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan and explore evocative displays that delve into family stories of travel and migration.  Construct your own miniature free-form aeroplane and contribute to a soaring installation. 

Ancestry has compiled a list of goals for 2012 from Irish birth, marriage and death details to 1911 UK census images and records from the U.S. Civil War.  The following is a list of what to expect - 1. Announcing the 1940 U.S. Federal Census—the 72-year wait is over 2. A fully-indexed 1911 UK Census, plus more U.S. state censuses 3. Additional U.S. birth, marriage and death records 4. New U.S. and international church records 5. Millions of new occupation-related records 6. Clearer images plus new census technology showing more details 7. Direct access to more Ancestry Hints that can lead you to new records 8. Free family tree apps for Apple, Android, Kindle Fire and NOOK 9. New ways to connect and grow your tree with help from social networking sites 10. New answers in your DNA 11. Ancestry Hints from new historical record collections 12. Tips and instruction directly from the pros at Ancestry.com Learn more about the list at Ancestry