Images taken at various 2025 Family History Events (includes some of our members)
National Family History Month provides an opportunity not only to celebrate family history, but also to recognise the importance of continuing professional development within the genealogy community.
Throughout August, AAGRA members are actively contributing to the profession in a variety of ways. Some are sharing their expertise through presentations, publications, podcasts and community engagement, while others are investing in their own professional development by attending lectures, workshops and heritage events. Whether presenting or participating, these activities reflect a commitment to lifelong learning, maintaining professional standards, and staying informed about new research methods and historical resources.
Grouped by state/country, below is a snapshot of where some of our members’ interests are taking them during National Family History Month. Perhaps there’s something here that may be of interest to you:
NEW SOUTH WALES
📍 Frances Cairns
As Secretary of The Military History Society of NSW, Frances Cairns is starting the month at the Anzac Memorial for a lecture on WWII Special Operations Executive heroines, followed by a Cornish Association of NSW meeting which is also on 1 August. On 15 August, she will explore regional and cultural history by attending the Kiama Historical Society’s presentation on South Coast shipwrecks, followed by a U3A Kanahooka session, “Women Pioneers in Archelogy Breaking Ground”, on 28 August.
📍 Kat Le Gay Brereton
Kat Le Gay Brereton is engaging with diverse storytelling mediums this month, participating in State Library of Queensland family history mapping sessions and attending Clancestry at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre to see Gunawarra Re-Creation, a play exploring the continuation of culture. In her capacity as a remote worker for the Northern Territory, she is also advocating for vulnerable communities by connecting Find & Connect and Forced Adoption Support clients with vital resources, including the upcoming introductory research session at Casuarina Library on 18 August.
NEW ZEALAND
📍 James Tait
James Tait will be attending two events during Family History Month:- first, a National Library of New Zealand webinar on the 27th August titled “We are not one people: From Parihaka to a Pākehā myth“, present by Richard Shaw. On the 29 August, he will attend the annual Greater Wellington Branch Family History Month event at the Tawa Union Church, which features this year’s theme “Round the Isles” and showcases presentations and exhibitors specialising in British Isles ancestral research.
📍 Bruce Ralston
Bruce Ralson is utilizing this month to prepare content for the AFFHO Congress to be held in Wellington in February 2027. This includes a personal and parallel view of genealogical activity in New Zealand over the last 60 years, and a combined Australia and New Zealand session review of what family history societies have been doing to assist family historians and preserve resources for the future.
TASMANIA
📍 Maureen Martin Ferris
Historian Maureen Martin Ferris will be attending the National Family History Month event, “Convict Connections“, hosted by the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority at the Cascades Female Factory on 29–30 August. She is available at the event to help you with your research.
📍 Dr Dianne Snowden AM
Dr Dianne Snowden AM will be attending the National Family History Month event, Convict Connections, hosted by the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority at the Cascades Female Factory on 29–30 August. The event features a wide range of groups, including the Tasmanian Family History Society and representatives from the UTAS family history course.
VICTORIA
📍 Rachel Croucher
Genealogist Rachel Croucher is highlighting specialized research resources this month by sharing her featured appearance on the Chats Over Chai podcast episode, “Tracing Roots: Exploring Indian and South Asian Heritage in Australia.” Drawing from over 20 years of historical research experience, she discusses the unique practical pathways and emotional aspects of uncovering South Asian diaspora ancestry, providing an excellent on-demand educational resource for members all August.
📍 Alison Dennison
Alison Dennison will be attending several of the Genealogical Society of Victoria’s (GSV) Family History Month activities, including the GSV Writers Discussion Circle on 5 August which is running a writing exercise about an ancestor’s religion. She is part of the group coordinating GSV’s ‘Getting Started with Oral History: Every Story Matters‘ session which will be held on 13 August..
📍 Peter Matthews
Peter Matthews (PM Research Services) is spending National Family History Month continuing his work on a collaborative local history book, the tenth in a series focusing on organisations in the Goulburn Valley. He is also supporting the Greater Shepparton community through genealogical research and has recently completed a digital, searchable image database for the local Agricultural Show Society.
📍 Ann Mushet
Ann Mushet is spending National Family History Month preparing an article on a fascinating recent research project tracing a Melbourne family’s Maltese and Libyan heritage. The story, which explores wartime internment, migration, and the unexpected role of DNA in uncovering family connections, will be featured on the AAGRA News page later this month.
📍 Bronwyn Paschalidis
Bronwyn Paschalidis will be giving a presentation “The Women Behind the Man” at a joint meeting of the Genealogical Society of Victoria’s (GSV) Victoria / Tasmania, and Convict and Transportation Discussion Circles. Her talk will cover who Scotsman William Murray was, the lives of a few of the female convicts who worked for William Murray between 1844 and 1853 (including her 3x great grandmother Margaret Twohill),and briefly touch on her present-day connection to William Murray and the Western District of Victoria.
📍 Anita Payne
Anita Payne is getting an early head start on the month’s activities by attending the State Library Victoria’s free online workshop, Your Library Online: Advanced Searching, on Thursday 30 July. This interactive Zoom session will focus on mastering advanced search techniques to efficiently locate and verify high-quality historical sources just before the official launch of National Family History Month.
📍 Rebecca Spiers
Rebecca Spiers is focusing on unique historical preservation methods this month by attending two key events hosted by the National Library of Australia. On 20 August, she will explore the art of capturing spoken family stories during The Memory Collectors: Conversations with Oral Historians, followed by an in-depth look at ancient record curation on 27 August with Making of a Medieval Manuscript: From Cover to Cover.
📍 Louise Wright
Louise Wright will be attending two online State Library events during National Family History Month. On 20 August, she will attend Why Did They Come Here? Immigration Journeys for Family History Research, which explores the many reasons people migrated to Australia and the records those journeys created for family historians. This will be followed by Discovering Ancestors with the Biographical Database of Australia on 25 August.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
📍 Judy Purkiss
Judy Purkiss will begin the month with a guided tour of the heritage-listed Midland Town Hall on the 1 August, before attending the State Library of NSW webinar Discovering Ancestors with the Biographical Database of Australia on the 25 August. The webinar explores how this valuable resource can help researchers uncover rich biographical information and strengthen Australian family history research.
Learning never stops. Historical resources continue to expand, new technologies emerge, and fresh perspectives regularly reshape the way we approach research.
Whether sharing knowledge with others or taking the opportunity to learn something new, AAGRA members demonstrate an ongoing commitment to professional development and the high standards that underpin quality genealogical research. We thank everyone who shared their August activities and wish them an enjoyable and rewarding National Family History Month.
