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

Presenter: Veronica Williams   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

This is an introductory session which will outline the capabilities of the software program Genome Mate Pro in helping to manage your DNA data, including match lists, pedigrees, chromosome segment analysis and communications. This is a stand-alone session, but a series of webinar workshops is being planned for later in 2019 and attendance at this workshop would be an advantage.

Suitable for intermediate skill level

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 & do some research? Limit 10.

Suitable for beginners

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Pauleen Cass   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

Pauleen Cass will discuss strategies to use Australian records to learn more about your Irish immigrant ancestor’s place of origin. Our ultimate goal is to determine the townland where they lived before emigrating. This provides the bridge to a variety of Irish sources which can tell you more about their lives in Ireland.

Suitable for beginners

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

Presenter: Lorraine Brothers   Bookings essential: $25 members only (special price)

Did you know that the SAG library has a lot of resources in electronic format? Find out how to access such things as parish registers, family histories, cemetery records, funeral directors’ records, AGCI, journals, government gazettes, police gazettes and many more when you visit 2/379 Kent Street. Limit 14.

Suitable for all skill levels

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.

Suitable for all skill levels

Location: Your place!

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

TheGenealogist.co.uk has many great records to offer – tithe apportionments and maps, the 1910 Lloyd George Domesday Survey, parish registers, official non-conformist registers, PCC Wills and images, electoral rolls, poll books, and much more. It also has some innovative search options which can help break down your brickwalls!

Suitable for all skill levels

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

Presenter: Michelle Patient   Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members

Join us for a Hands On Computer session at the library. 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. Limit 14.

Suitable for all skill levels. Beginners welcome.

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

Presenter: Michelle Patient   Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members

Join us for a Hands On Computer session at the library. 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. Limit 14.

Suitable for all skill levels. Beginners welcome.

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

Presenter: Jill Ball   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

Join Jill Ball to explore how you can use Google Drive's free suite of tools for your genealogy activities. You will learn how to access and set up Google Drive's components to store, collaborate, share and organise your genealogy files and research. 

Suitable for all skill levels

Only available until 4 February.

By booking a Webinar Season Ticket you will be able to view every standard webinar we hold between February-April, 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 webinars covered by the Season Ticket this quarter are:

• British Newspaper Archives, Aoife O'Connor, 5 February
• Double helix history, Jerome de Groot, 27 February
• Oops, I wish I'd checked the original, Angela Phippen, 8 March
• Using Wikitree for DNA and projects, Veronica Williams, 25 March
• UK wills and probate before 1858, Heather Garnsey, 9 April
• Tracing the origins of Chinese Australian ancestors, Kate Bagnall, 15 April

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

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

The National Library of Scotland has a wealth of material likely to be of interest to family historians and much of it is available online. Join Kerry Farmer to look at some of their directories, genealogies, maps, photographs and much more.

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

Presenter: Michelle Patient   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

Spelling variations, nicknames, Anglicization and abbreviations can provide significant challenges in finding the right family member. Michelle covers these challenges, as well as search techniques and the value of Scottish and Irish inheritance naming patterns, to help you more easily find evidence about your ancestors.

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Aoife O'Connor   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

With the largest collection of British and Irish newspapers online, the British Newspaper Archive is an invaluable resource for your family history research. Aoife O’Connor, Head of Data Development at the British Newspaper Archive, will give a tour of the website and help you to make the most of all its search features and the newspapers it hosts.

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

Presenter: Nyree Morrison, University of Sydney Archives   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

The University of Sydney is the oldest university in Australia, established in 1850. The first students matriculated in 1852 and graduated in 1856. In 1881, women were admitted into the university, with the first two women students matriculating in 1882. Nyree will take us through what resources there are to help you in your research and, in celebration of the upcoming International Women’s Day, Nyree will be focusing on some of the female students, graduates and staff of the university.

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. If you are new to Family Tree Maker, the morning session is the best one for you to attend, as we can provide more personalised assistance.

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)

Free, members only but bookings are essential

The SAG MIDAS collection has a wide range of primary records such as manuscripts, photos, diaries and family histories – many of which are not held anywhere else! 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: Barry Ridding   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members

When we look at old letters the prose in them can be very flowery or verbose. Barry Ridding will explain the ins and outs of old letter writing, looking at the language, tone and punctuation.

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

Presenter: Heather Garnsey  Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members

Join this computer session to discover the benefits of using Findmypast and take the confusion out of finding your ancestors in the records. Limit 14

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

Presenter: Mel Hulbert   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members

Receiving your test results is an exciting time but it can quickly become confusing so you may need some help in working out how to interpret your data and get started finding those new cousins. This session will look at the different types of tests available and which companies do these tests.

This is a new SAG research group which aims to help those new to DNA feel confident interpreting results as well as gaining an understanding of basic DNA concepts. If the existing intermediate DNA Research Group is too advanced for you, then this new group might be a perfect fit!

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

From the early 18th century London‘s industry and trade was expanding beyond the city limits. What were these developments and how did it affect our London ancestors? Record keeping and archives grew, but with boundary changes over the years archives may have moved. The talk will cover industry, trades, people and archives.

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

Presenter: Michelle Patient   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

An afternoon discussing the benefits of visiting London and its repositories onsite rather than virtually. Sharing our experiences, warning of possible pitfalls and timing your travel dates to coincide with related events. Things to do and plan for before you leave and tasks to follow up on your return home. With RootsTech 2019 being in London 24-26 October maybe next year is THE year to go!

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Jerome de Groot   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

In this webinar Jerome de Groot will talk about some of the key concerns surrounding DNA genealogy. He will look at practice, techniques, ethics, and some of the wider issues raised by genetic genealogy.

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

Presenter: Gail Davis   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

Gail Davis offers tips, tactics and practical advice for finding records of NSW Government employees, as well as those people whose professions had to be licensed by the Government. This talk will cover the A-Z of occupations and professions, as well as sources for some lesser known or unusual occupations.

Please note the change of date from the printed program, which said 21 February.

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

Presenter: Danielle Lautrec   Bookings essential: $10 (special price)

Donating your family history to the Society of Australian Genealogists is a great way to preserve your work and help others with their research, but you do not have to wait until you are finished with it! You could donate now. Find out what the Society accepts, how it is made accessible to researchers, how to organise your materials for donation.

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Angela Phippen   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

On the anniversary of Congress2018, Angela Phippen revisits her plenary presentation:

Today our access to genealogical information and ability to share it means that it is so easy to 'copy and paste' that we can forget to ask the most basic, yet vital, questions. What is the source of the information? Am I looking at the original or a transcript?

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

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

These sessions focus on the application of a range of DNA tools in practice, so participants need to understand basic DNA concepts. This meeting will cover: Understanding your matches. Applying the Leeds method to AncestryDNA and other company DNA results, such as FTDNA and My Heritage.  

Suitable for intermediate DNA researchers.

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

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

This is a discussion group and participants are required to do preparation work.

This meeting will cover:New DNA matching tools are being introduced all the time. How have these new methods helped your research? We will discuss methods such as Genetic Affairs Auto Clustering, DNAGedcom Client’s NEW Collins’ Leeds Method and Charting Companions DNA Matrix.   

Suitable for advanced DNA researchers.

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

Presenter: Wendy Frew   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members

One family’s transformation from Cornish farmers to Australian Fighters

Larger-than-life, the five Leane brothers and their sons were lauded for their bravery and military exploits at Gallipoli and the Western Front. But when Wendy Frew opened the genealogy cupboard to learn more, out fell a bunch of Cornish farmers, a family of women’s suffragists and much more.

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

Presenter: Jill Ball   Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members

Get tips on using Trove for family history and apply these as you work through a range of exercises using the various categories of Trove resources. Saving, downloading, sharing, citing and printing from Trove will be covered. Using tags and creating lists for our research will be addressed and an opportunity to correct newspaper text will be given. Attendees need to be familiar with using the internet. A Trove account can be set up at the session. Limit 14

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

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

In addition to records of baptisms, marriages and burials, parish chests have been used in England since the 16th century to store records of apprenticeships, militia, parish support, fathers of illegitimate children – and much more. Kerry Farmer will demonstrate how these records can be used to solve many genealogical puzzles.

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

Presenter: Tiphanee Athans   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

On a recent trip to Northern Ireland, Tiphanee Athans discovered the many benefits of visiting the home towns of your ancestors. Part history lesson, part geography, part research trip and general advice about family history travel.

This event has been cancelled.

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

Presenter: Ben Hollister   Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members

Ben Hollister, from the German History Alliance, will guide you through finding and using resources in Ancestry and FamilySearch to research your German ancestors. Limit 14

If you wish to book for this event AND the German Focus Day you must book by telephone to obtain the discount.

Please note there was an error in the printed program. The correct commencement time is 1.30pm, not 10.30am.

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

Presenter: Ben Hollister   Bookings essential: $50 members, $65 non-members

Join Ben Hollister from the German History Alliance for a full day of tips and search strategies for your German and Prussian ancestors. Topics: History and geography of Germany; Migration patterns to of Germans to Australia; Researching your Germans in Australia; Researching your Germans in Europe; Reading German Script; and Problems with German Names. (morning and afternoon tea provided, BYO lunch)

NOTE:  If you book for both of the German events you pay a discounted price of $80 for members and $110 for non-members, but you must book by telephone or in person and this offer is subject to there being places available in the workshop as numbers are strictly limited.

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Veronica Williams   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

Wikitree is a free online collaborative family tree website. In this webinar, Veronica Williams demonstrates a range of Wikitree DNA tools to help advance your genetic research. The session will also discuss a variety of ways you can collaborate with other genealogists on projects, such as convicts, one name studies or place names.  If you are not familiar with Wikitree, you should first watch the recording of the free SAG webinar held last August (contact the office for a link to the recording).

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

Presenter: Ralph Hawkins   Bookings essential: $25 members, $35 non-members

Walk in the steps of the convict stonemasons, millers, sea captains and merchants of Millers Point. See the history and hear the stories of Sydney’s colourful past. Walk starts with a lecture at Richmond Villa. Limit 15.

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

Bookings encouraged, but are not essential: $10 members, $15 non-members

Volunteers from SAG’s DNA Research Group will be running Help Desks to answer your beginner DNA questions. Assistance may be individual or in small groups depending on numbers. There are no lectures. If you require one on one assistance, please consider booking a DNA consultation with us for another day.

Arrive anytime between 10am and 1pm, and stay as long as you like until 1pm.

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

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

Scrapbooks are a fun and engaging way to record your family history and share it with family and friends. In this session we will examine scrapbooks from the SAG collection and other examples, and discuss the methods and tools you need to create your own family history scrapbook. If you already have a scrapbook about your family, bring it along!

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

Presenters: David Berry and Kathi Spinks, State Library of NSW   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) is a rich source of information for family historians researching the colonial period yet it remains an under-utilised resource. This session will pinpoint the records of interest to family historians and demonstrate how to access the information. The full range of finding aids including database access to digitised records will be covered.

The State Library of NSW has an extensive collection of pictures which can be invaluable to a family historian. In this session you’ll learn how to search and access pictures in the Library catalogue, and also find out what is available to view in our new galleries.

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

Presenter: Kerry Farmer   Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members

GEDmatch is a (mostly free) website providing tools for people who have already tested their autosomal DNA and want to be able to find relatives and identify relationships, with those who have tested at any of the main testing companies. Note: Attendees MUST have already loaded their DNA results into GEDmatch. Limit 14

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: Vicki Eldridge   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

This large website is a must for all family historians. If you use it but feel you're only scratching the surface, or have never used it before, this could be of great interest to you. Records, searches, and results - it's what we all want!

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

Presenter: Jeff Madsen   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

Show – don’t tell!!

Replace lengthy descriptions of places with a simple map and improve your family stories. Using maps will give a sense of place and the setting of your family story. Maps can show the family’s position in the world, their local environment and the path of their travels.

Learn about maps using different content, sources of maps for you to use and displaying your ancestors lives using Google Maps that can then be shared with others.

NB This event was advertised in the printed program as Sat 13 April 12.30pm-12.30pm, but had to be rescheduled due to the presenter's other commitments.

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Heather Garnsey   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

Locating the will of an ancestor who died prior to 1858 can be complex and confusing. While online resources are giving researchers better access it can still be difficult to locate a will. Find out what PCC and PCY wills were, and get tips on where and how you might find an ancestor’s will if it wasn’t proven in either of those courts.   

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

Presenter: Alison Meldrum   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members

Have a story you want to tell, to two different audiences?  Alison Meldrum will show how you can adapt your story, without losing any of the details.

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

Presenter: Mel Hulbert   Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members

This session is ONLY for people who have undertaken an autosomal DNA test with FamilyTree DNA and want to learn more about analysing the test results. Beginners are welcome. Limit 14.

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Kate Bagnall   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

In this webinar University of Wollongong historian Dr Kate Bagnall looks at how to trace Chinese Australian ancestors back to China. It covers information such as: the origins and languages of early Chinese migrants to Australia; understanding Chinese Australian names; relevant records and how to find them; and making a 'roots searching' trip to China.

Only available until Friday 3 May.

By booking a Webinar Season Ticket you will be able to view every standard webinar we hold between May-July, 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 webinars covered by the Season Ticket this quarter are:

• Tracking down your ancestors in Ireland, Pauleen Cass, 6 May
• In the workhouse, Helen V Smith, 21 May
• Using Excel for DNA, Danielle Lautrec, 18 June
• TROVE - It's more than just newspapers, Heather Garnsey, 17 July
• Not quite Quincy - Coroners' records in England, Helen V Smith, 24 July

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.

Special discount offer: If you book for all three of the Family History Fundamentals lectures this quarter you pay only $60 members, $90 non-members. Book by phone or in person (not online) to receive this discount.

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

Presenters: Kerry Farmer, Philippa Garnsey and Margaret Neyle   Bookings essential: $50 members, $65 non-members

Learn how to research your Scottish ancestors, using SAG’s holdings and online websites.

Program for the day: Scottish BMD resources (Kerry), Scottish resources on GENUKI (Margaret), Scottish place resources (Kerry), Scottish Resources in the SAG library (Philippa), Scottish Poor Law records (Kerry), Other Scottish resources online

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Pauleen Cass   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

You’ve identified who your Irish ancestors are and hopefully where they are from. Let’s take the journey back to Ireland to see how we may learn more about where they lived and a little more about their lives and kin.

Location: Leaves from Parramatta wharf

Tour guide: Ralph Hawkins   Bookings essential: $40 members, $55 non-members

Hear about the history and people as you walk through the open spaces of Parramatta, along the river, through the domain, through St John's Cemetery and back to Parramatta Railway Station. Bring own lunch, water, sunscreen, hat, camera and walking shoes.

This event has been cancelled.

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

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

Write ONLY 250 words on a set topic and present it at the meeting. Topic, The Five Senses. In 250 words, paint a word picture, so that we can hear, see, smell, taste and feel, what you are describing.

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

Presenter: Danielle Lautrec   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)

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)

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

New Zealand Vital Records - Births Deaths and Marriages. Getting more from certificates and finding alternative sources. Find out what’s new in New Zealand research. Bring along any brick wall questions for discussion and join us for lunch afterwards.

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

Presenter: Danielle Lautrec   Members only, free, but bookings are essential

The SAG MIDAS collection has a wide range of primary records such as manuscripts, photos, diaries and family histories – many of which are not held anywhere else! Explore highlights of the collections and take a guided tour. Why not stay on after the tour and do some research? Limit 10.

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Helen V. Smith   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

The dreaded workhouse came into being in England due to the introduction of the New Poor Law legislation and the establishment of the Poor Law Unions in 1834.  Life in the workhouse was deliberately made to be as unpleasant as possible so that people didn’t think it was an easy option but instead a place of last resort and for many it became a final resting place. This has created a number of records of assistance to family historians.

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: Jenny Joyce   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

Many of us have wonderful photos in our family collection. Sometimes we know the subject, and sometimes we only suspect we know the subject. Learning to date a photo can help to rule out a subject, or to provide supporting evidence that our guess may be correct. In this talk you will learn about the different types of photos and the periods in which they were produced, and other clues to help you assign a date to the photos.

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

Presenter: Kerry Farmer   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!

Join us for a weekend of webinars about using DNA testing in family history. The webinars are divided into three streams, based on skill level. You can purchase a ticket for one, two or all three streams.  

This ticket is for Stream 1 (Bronze ticket): Held Saturday AM. Suitable for beginners. There will be three 45 minute webinars, about analysing matches, incorporating DNA evidence into your research, and ethnicity results.

Presenters: Barbara McAlary, Michelle Patient (pre-recorded) and Mel Hulbert

Bookings essential: $30 members, $40 non-members 

Download Program here

Location: Your place!

Join us for a weekend of webinars about using DNA testing in family history. The webinars are divided into three streams, based on skill level. You can purchase a ticket for one, two or all three streams.  

This ticket is for a FULL REGISTRATION, which means you get all three streams. If you wish to attend just one or two streams, use the links for those streams to book. If you have already booked for all three streams, you do not need to book again for a full registration.

Bookings essential: $120 members, $150 non-members 

Download Program here

Location: Your place!

Join us for a weekend of webinars about using DNA testing in family history. The webinars are divided into three streams, based on skill level. You can purchase a ticket for one, two or all three streams.  

This ticket is for Stream 2 (Gold ticket): Held Saturday PM. Suitable for advanced. There will be two one-hour webinars, about DNA Gedcom and phasing.

Presenters: Helen V. Smith and Kerry Farmer

Bookings essential: $20 members, $30 non-members 

Download program here

Location: Your place!

Join us for a weekend of webinars about using DNA testing in family history. The webinars are divided into three streams, based on skill level. You can purchase a ticket for one, two or all three streams.  

This ticket is for Stream 3 (Silver ticket): Held Sunday. Suitable for intermediate. There will be six webinars, about ethics and legal issues, clusters, unknown parentage, chromosome mapping, and managing your data.

Presenters:Judy Russell (pre-recorded), Shelley Crawford, Michelle Patient (pre-recorded), Sandra Gamble and Kerry Farmer

Bookings essential: $70 members, $80 non-members 

Download program 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 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.      

Special discount offer: If you book for all three of the Family History Fundamentals lectures this quarter you pay only $60 members, $90 non-members. Book by phone or in person (not online) to receive this discount.

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

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

Christine will provide some definitions of humour and give some examples and will then share a couple of humorous stories that members have given her. If you have a humorous story you would like to share, bring it to the meeting.

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

Convenor: Beverley 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: Your place!

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

Learn how to use Excel to store information about your DNA matches, analyse the data, plan your DNA research and track your contact with matches.

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

Presenter: Brian Scales   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

National Archives is a rich source for family history, and not just for those family members who arrived in more recent years or served in the wars. Learn what’s available, including online, and how to access it.

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

Presenter: Kerry Farmer   Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members

Join us for a Hands On Computer session at the library. Learn about using the MyHeritage website for analysing DNA test results. This session is ONLY for people who have either had their DNA tested with MyHeritage or have already uploaded their DNA results from another testing company. Limit 14.

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

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

Be more productive in searching and analysing your DNA matches. We will explore the benefits of a range of available Chrome extensions tools and the impact of the recent AncestryDNA changes on those tools.  

The benefits of GEDmatch phasing (parent/child) will also be discussed (As ‘Lost in DNA’ had a session covering the benefits of phasing, this has now been excluded from this session).

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

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

Exploring the “ethical framework” for genetic genealogy. DNA testing brings challenging issues and situations starting when we decide to take a test or ask someone to take a test. 

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!

Special discount offer: If you book for all three of the Family History Fundamentals lectures this quarter you pay only $60 members, $90 non-members.

Book by phone or in person (not online) to receive this discount.

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

Presenter: Barbara McAlary   Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members

Learn how the tools on GEDmatch can help you find more matches and better analyse your DNA data. Attendees must have already loaded their DNA raw data to www.gedmatch.com.

Limit 14 

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

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

Learn how the Tier 1 tools on GEDmatch can help you find more matches and better analyse your DNA data. Attendees must have already loaded their DNA raw data to www.gedmatch.com and have a current subscription to the Tier 1 tools.

Limit 14.

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

You never know what you will find when you go looking for relatives but imagine Carolinda’s surprise when her mystery grandfather turned out to be William Dicketts, MI5’s double agent ‘Celery’.

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Heather Garnsey   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

Many of us know and love TROVE, but how many of us are really using it to its full potential? This webinar will look beyond the historical newspapers and instead deal with all the other great resources you’ll find on this great free site.

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

Convenor: Kerry Farmer        Free for members and non-members, but bookings are essential.  See important details below. 

Recent developments in the US have created a buzz in the forensic community about this powerful new application to assist investigations. However there are significant ethical and legal issues to consider prior to its widespread adoption in law enforcement.  The NSW and Victorian Police Forces have instigated a project to assess and validate the application of genetic genealogy to Australian investigations, and this session will give the project team an opportunity to engage with the genealogy community to discuss the issues.

Note this is not a lecture or general information session about genetic genealogy so please only register to attend if you have already tested your DNA, have a good understanding of the current debate taking place about the use of test results by law enforcement agencies on sites such as Gedmatch, and are interested in participating in this discussion.   

Numbers are strictly limited. Register your interest in attending here – confirmations will be sent out by 10 July.

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

Presenter: Jeff Madsen   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

Learn how to digitise your family history documents and photographs, the merits of different formats, resolution and other technical tips. Each attendee will have the opportunity to have up to four items digitised on the day.

BYO items and a USB stick to save the images onto. Limit 10.

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

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

What do you know about your convict ancestors before they arrived in Australia?  In this session you'll discover what information can be found about their criminal convictions which led to their transportation.

This event is being rescheduled to 3 August. If you are already booked in, please let us know if you wish to be transferred to the new date.

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Helen V. Smith   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

Coronial inquests were held when an accidental, suspicious or unnatural death occurred. The inquests can be a genealogical treasure trove with information about the deceased’s appearance, health, occupation, life and family relationships.

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

Presenter: Jenny Joyce   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

Almost all of us in Australia have immigrant ancestors. Those who came of their own free will may have paid their full passage, but many of them were "Assisted" or "Bounty" Immigrants.

Learn about the subtle differences for the many schemes that helped bring out people to settle in Australia.

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

Presenter: Sue Dobson   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: Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

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

What do you know about your convict ancestors before they arrived in Australia?  In this session you'll discover what information can be found about their criminal convictions which led to their transportation.

This event was rescheduled from 20 July.

Tour guides: Ralph Hawkins (SAG) and Loraine Punch (Friends of Rookwood)

Rookwood Cemetery, Lidcombe  Bookings essential: $35 members, $50 non-members (Bookings close Sat 3 August 10am)

A guided tour of Rookwood Cemetery from the comfort of a minibus, combined with short walks and talks. Hear about the history of the cemetery, how to find gravestones and stories of the people buried there.

NB The minibus will pick up passengers at Lidcombe train station at 10.15am and return them to the station after the tour. Those who choose to meet at the cemetery will be given instructions about where to meet.

As a bus hire is involved, there will be no refunds if you cancel with less than 48 hours’ notice.

Location: 120 Kent Street Sydney (more information here)

Free, members only but bookings are essential

The SAG MIDAS collection has a wide range of primary records such as manuscripts, photos, diaries and family histories – many of which are not held anywhere else! 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: Lilian Magill   Bookings essential: $12 members, $17 non-members

Writing that First Line. Chapter Headings. Opening Paragraphs. Giving it a Title. An open discussion, where anyone can ask for help, not just limited to the above topics.

If you need a helping hand, come and join in.

Location: Your place OR the SAG library at 2/379 Kent Street (booking required)

Convenors: Danielle Lautrec and Veronica Williams   Free for members and non-members but bookings essential

This is an online challenge for Family History Month! There will also be room for up to 14 people to work on the challenge from the SAG library, using library computers and resources.

If you are going to participate in this challenge from the SAG library you'll need to email us in advance at coursebookings@sag.org.au to confirm a spot is available for you.

Preparatory research can also be conducted at the library and archives prior to the day.

The challenge is to improve Australian content on Wikitree. This means adding new Australian profiles or contributing to existing ones.

Points will be awarded, with a bonus if you can demonstrate use of sources from the SAG. You will need a free Wikitree account. Download the information sheet for more information here.

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. Suitable for all levels of experience.

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. This is not a repeat of the AM session.

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

Presenter: Gillian Kelly   Bookings essential: $24 members, $37 non-members

Before the industrial revolution, Nottingham was the heartland of English lacemaking. When the craft was mechanised the traditional lace artisans settled in France, where lace was still being made by hand.

Then came the revolution of 1848, which turned the Nottingham artisans out of France.Three shiploads of them came to Australia in 1848 to make a new life (www.lacemakersofcalais.com.au).

Come and hear their story.

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

Presenter: Danielle Lautrec   Bookings essential: $37 members, $52 non-members

FamilySearch is a huge resource. This computer session will show you what’s there and improve your search techniques so you can find the information you need. Beginners are welcome. Limit 14

Location: Your place!

Presenter: Ben Hollister   Bookings essential: $12, Members only

If your ancestors came from the former German Empire and its predecessor states, the Church Book is the key to tracing your family (often back to the 16th century!).

This webinar will explain what you can expect to find in a record at different times and places, which repositories hold which records, and how to access those repositories.

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

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

Learn how to make sense of those family history puzzles using two helpful techniques of timelines and mindmapping. This will be a practical session, so bring your problems along!

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

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

Markets around in London from the early 1200s onwards were generally established close to church grounds, but the biggest development of larger and more specialised markets was around 1800 onwards.

The development of these markets, the expansion of types of markets and how they affected the surrounding population will be included in the talk.

This event has been cancelled.