Brick Walls Presentation in Coffs Harbour

Things have been very quiet here for the last few weeks due to some very long hours at my day job. I love my work as a public health microbiologist and molecular epidemiologist but it can be very intense at times. I also love my genealogy, presenting and writing and am very lucky that I can use many of my research skills in both areas. Shame I can't split in two and do both concurrently. Hmmm, cloning anyone?

Combined with this has been the many. many conversations with insurance companies about the results of being flooded in January. Great news is that things are looking very hopeful  there and renovations start next week with conversations ongoing.

I will be presenting this weekend at the  Unlock the Past NSW Expo on strategies for 'Breaking Down Brick Walls' in your genealogy.I am really looking forward to the many great presentations on a fantastic range of topics including:  

When widows and brides wore black – Dr Leigh Summers

Asylums: looking for the sick, the poor & the aged – Shauna Hicks

Soldier settlement in New South Wales, 1916-1939 – Dr Melanie Oppenheimer

Social media for family and local history – Carole Riley

How to write and publish your family story in easy steps – Dr Noeline Kyle

Back alleys and research byways: Tips and tactics for chasing elusive ancestors in the NSW State archives – Christine Yeats  

Finding the address isn't enough: the links between local and family history – Dr Carol Liston

German research – Eric Kopittke

And these are just a selection of the range of talks available!

There will also be free 15 minutes consultations with a range of experts. I love doing these as it is always exciting talking to people about their family history and sharing strategies for solving problems.Defintiely check it out and book early as these sessions fill up fast.


The exhibitor range is also good and I can see some goodies coming home with me!


I have been (in the spare time) working on another book which is on Breaking Down Brick Walls.

 Mentioned recently was Wordle .

This is a site where you can put in a list of words and get great graphics back and I have been playing around with it for a possible cover for the book. Lots of fun and amazing how much difference fonts and colours can make. I can think of a number of uses for this site, what do you think?