Judy Purkiss - Genealogist

22/01/2026

POW’s & Internees

A “Prisoner of War” (POW) is a person held captive by an enemy force during or after an armed conflict.
When looking for records that relate to Australian POW’s & Internees, the person you are looking for could fit into any of the following categories:
• Was the person serving in the military at time of capture.
• Was the person an Australian Citizen interred in another country.
• Was the person considered an alien living in Australia and placed in an Australian internment camp.

According to the National Archives of Australia, many records do not make a distinction between civilian internees and prisoners of war.

The standard sources of information for Prisoner of War records are through the National Archives of Australia, the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) Nominal Roll, The Australian War Memorial (AWM) and Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Some records may also be available on subscription sites like Ancestry.com and FindMyPast.

However, lesser known sources such as the Red Cross records, “Missing, wounded and Prisoner of War Enquiry Cards 1940-1973” held by the University of Melbourne (dataset UMA-SRE-20160049) also provides insight for some families searching for answers relating to their loved ones.

(Source oof photo - Australian Red Cross Society, National Office, Macdonald, Donald, Dx153 (1940-1973), [UMA-ITE-2016004935285]. University of Melbourne Archives, accessed 01/12/2025, https://archives.library.unimelb.edu.au/nodes/view/402992 )

15/01/2026

B - Books

📖 Genealogy Tips A to Z: B is for BOOKS

Local history books are goldmines for genealogists! County histories, town biographies, and regional publications often contain detailed information about families, businesses, and daily life in your ancestor's community.

What to Look For:
• County and town histories (especially those published in the late 1800s and early 1900s)
• Biographical compilations and "mug books"
• Church histories and anniversary publications
• School yearbooks and community directories
• Industry-specific histories (farming, mining, manufacturing)
• Name indexes in local history books
Where to Find Them:
• Local historical society libraries
• FamilySearch Books collection (free online)
• Google Books (many are fully searchable)
• Archive.org
• Your local library's genealogy section
Pro tip: Even if your ancestor isn't mentioned by name, these books provide invaluable context about the time and place they lived!

Action: Locate a book about the local history of the area your ancestors lived.

01/01/2026

A - Archives

📚 Genealogy Tips A to Z: A is for ARCHIVES

Archives are treasure troves waiting to be explored! From national archives to local repositories, these institutions hold original documents that often can't be found anywhere else. There are many records that have not yet been digitised so are not available online.

Top Tips:
• Start with your state or regional archives to find records specific to your ancestor's location
• Many archives now have online catalogues—search before you visit to plan your research time efficiently
• Don't overlook specialty archives like religious, university, or business archives that might hold relevant records
• Always check the archive's access policies and opening hours before visiting, you may need to order the documents you wish to view prior to arrival
• Bring a pencil (not pen!), your research notes, and a camera if photography is allowed

Western Australia Resources:
• State Library of Western Australia
• State Records Office of Western Australia
• Family History WA
• National Archives of Australia (WA office in Northbridge)
• Royal Australian Historical Society
• Religious Archives, such as Archives for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Perth or Anglican Church Diocese of Perth
• University Libraries such as UWA, Curtain and Murdoch
• Local History Centres in various suburbs and towns
• Specific interest museums such as Army Museum of WA and Old Central Fire Station Museum

Remember: What's not digitized is often hiding in archives. That breakthrough document might be waiting for you!

Action: Consider if there could be more records about one of your ancestors in the archives and plan a visit.

31/12/2025

This episode, which aired last night and is now available on iView, may be of interest to those who had ancestors brought (in some cases stolen) from England and placed in orphanages in Australia. It includes the story of a Western Australian man from Ellenbrook who was able to meet his father's family for the first time since leaving England as a child.

A special episode highlighting the scandal of thousands of unaccompanied British children being shipped out to Australia during the 20th century.

27/12/2025

While birth registration has been a requirement in Western Australia since Sept 1841, however for a variety reasons, it sometimes doesn't happen. Here's how the WA BMD helps with documentation "after the event" when needed.

From a family history perspective, when looking at indexes, the registration year of the birth is usually the approximate year of birth. However this is a good example of when the registration year in the indexes will be very different to the actual birth year and a good reason why it's best to purchase certificates when researching rather than relying solely on index records.

Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages shows Kimberley grandmother it's never too late to get a birth certificate.

24/11/2025

Archives Day....

WA State Library, WA State Records Office and then a walk down to the WA BMD.

15/10/2025

Visited the National Archives of Australia Perth office today and saw this event coming up.

Anyone scared of what spooky things could be in those archive boxes?

28/09/2025

Did you know that we release over 100,000 records to the public every year? 🔍🌐

On this International Day for Universal Access to Information, we celebrate the importance of accessible and transparent archives.

Under the ‘Archives Act 1983’, most Australian Government records become publicly available 20 years after their creation, following a thorough examination process that balances accessibility with the protection of sensitive information.

When communities engage with their stories in the national record, it enhances our shared understanding of history.

➡️ Learn more about how to access records and the 20-year open access period: https://bit.ly/3UK1WP2

17/09/2025

“They Came By Ship”, an family history month event by Familyhistory WA - FHWA

As rain set in on the day of the event, I wondered if I was going to need a ship to get there!

However, I, like many others, braved the weather and with numbers more than expected, an extra row of seating was laid out before the presentations began.

Family History WA put on a wonderful day event, there were four presentations relating to the Enrolled Pensioners Guards and the Scindian Convicts, the speakers knew their topics well and shared their knowledge with enthusiasm. Further, there were many displays around the walls relating to the Group Settlement Scheme /inter-war Migrants, Convicts, Enrolled Pensioner Forces, free immigrants and much more. You could tell a lot of time had been spent researching and writing up histories of various people and significant times in history. They provided an interesting read.

For those that wished, there was time to explore the library as well as enjoy a cuppa & cake.

Family History WA put on a very informative and enjoyable event. The weather was still a bit wily by the time I left. As I got into my nice warm car, I could only contemplate some of the weather conditions our forebears would have experienced on the ships during their journey by sea to Australia.

06/09/2025

Behind the scenes tour: Belmont Repository.

Thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the National Archives of Australia Belmont Repository. Kellie gave a fabulous talk and patiently answered everyone's questions from acid free boxes to types of records preserved and hints and tips for searching for records that may assist your research.

Photo's could not be taken inside which is fully understandable given the various records stored, privacy restrictions and the effect that flash photography can have. So you'll just have to believe me that this is a modern facility designed to store and protect records so they are available for current and future generations.

Thanks NAA Perth, great tour!

29/07/2025

Many of us would remember Mr Squiggle!

Celebrate the remarkable legacy of Norman Hetherington with our upcoming Spotlight Conversation!

Join Norman’s daughter, Rebecca, and grandson Tom as they share stories of growing up in Norman's creative orbit, followed by a special audience Q+A and an exclusive viewing of the 'Mr Squiggle and Friends' exhibition.

📅: Thursday 7 August, 6-7:30pm
📍: Gandel Atrium, National Museum of Australia

🎫 Hurry Up! Book your tickets: https://www.nma.gov.au/whats-on/spotlight-conversations

04/05/2025

2025 International Firefighters Day Memorial Service.

I attended the service today to remember the 100 firefighters in Western Australia who have lost their lives protecting our communities. Six of these were added to the memorial this year, five of whom have more than 30 years of service each, plus a young 20 year volunteer who lost his life protecting his community during a bushfire.

I have been involved with research of some of the historical fallen firefighters, including finding their living relatives, over the last few years. It is a privilege to now see families of these firefighters regularly attending a service that has become so important to them.

Their sacrifices are not forgotten