Judy Purkiss - Genealogist

12/04/2026

To my Western Australian followers, did any of your ancestors reside in any of the WA Ghost Towns? WA - FHWA are building a database of residents from these towns. If you have information to supply, contact them directly.

Ghosts WA 16 September, 2023 What is a Ghost Town? One of the question we are frequently asked is “What is meant by the term “Ghost Town”? What follows is an attempt to answer that question. A ghost town is a term used to describe a once-thriving or populated…Read more 22 March, 2026 Wonder...

09/04/2026

H - Historical and Family History Societies

🤝 Genealogy Tips A to Z: H is for HISTORICAL & FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETIES

Don't research alone! Historical and genealogy societies are filled with experts who know local records, quirks, and resources intimately.

Benefits of Joining:
• Access to private collections, indexes, and research libraries
• Knowledgeable volunteers who can guide your research
• Publications, newsletters, and journals with transcribed records
• Networking with others researching the same surnames or areas
• Regular meetings, workshops, and educational programs
• Cemetery projects, record preservation, and indexing initiatives

How to Connect:
• Search for societies in the counties/regions where your ancestors lived
• Check if there's a surname society for your family name
• Join ethnic or religious heritage organizations
• Attend meetings (many now offer virtual options)
• Volunteer on projects—you'll learn while you contribute!

Find Them:
• FamilySearch Wiki lists societies by location
• State genealogical society websites
• Local library genealogy departments

Action: These societies are your research support system—use them!

01/04/2026

Going through a box of old slides is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you're going to get! 🍫 Found this gem today. Who else remembers long drives with the canvas water bag on the front of the car?! 🚰

📷Courtesy Margaret White

26/03/2026

G - Government Records

🏛️ Genealogy Tips A to Z: G is for GOVERNMENT RECORDS

Beyond vital records, governments create a paper trail of our ancestors' lives. These records can reveal where they lived, what they owned, and how they interacted with society.

Types to Explore:
• Naturalization and citizenship papers
• Court records (civil and criminal)
• License records (business, marriage, professional)
• School records and reports
• Poor relief and welfare records
• Land and/or Rates Records
• Military Records
• Probate Records
• Electoral Rolls

Where to Find Them:
• National Archives for federal records
• State archives for state-level documents
• BMD Registries or local courthouses for vital records
• FamilySearch Catalog (many records are digitized)
• Government Gazettes

Pro tip: Government records often require understanding bureaucratic structures of the time. Learn which government body handled what in your ancestor's era!
Action: Choose an ancestor and consider what types of government records may be available for them

18/03/2026

🌟 Secure Your Discoveries: A Genealogist’s Guide to Staying Cyber-Safe
We all love the "aha!" moments of finding a long-lost ancestor, but keeping our research safe is what ensures those stories live on for the next generation. Whether you’re just starting your journey or you’re a seasoned researcher, here are a few friendly tips to keep your digital legacy secure! 🛡️

• Create a Digital Front Door: Use strong, unique passwords for your genealogy accounts. Pro tip: Since we often research mother’s maiden names, try to avoid using them as security answers for your bank or other accounts! A reputable password manager is a lifesaver here.
• Add a "Digital Deadbolt": Whenever a site offers Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)—usually a quick code sent to your phone—say yes! It’s one of the simplest ways to keep your tree under lock and key.
• Scam Watch: Be vigilant. The good news is there are some easy steps for follow.
• Respect the Living: It’s always best practice to keep details about living relatives private on public trees. Double-check your settings to ensure birth dates and photos of your modern-day cousins stay "hidden" from public view.
• Back Up Your Legacy: Don't let your hard work live in just one place. Regularly export your tree as a GEDCOM file and save a copy to an external drive. Think of it as an insurance policy for your history!
• Trust the Professionals: If the tech side feels a bit overwhelming, remember that working with a professional genealogist takes the "security stress" off your plate. We strictly adhere to industry codes of ethics and high privacy standards, ensuring your family’s sensitive information is handled with the utmost care and professionalism. We’re here to manage the data so you can simply enjoy the stories!

Your family history is a treasure—let's keep it safe together. Happy hunting! 🌳✨

12/03/2026

F - Family Stories & Legends

👴 Genealogy Tips A to Z: F is for FAMILY STORIES & LEGENDS

Those tales your grandmother told? They're research gold—even when they're not quite accurate! Family legends often contain kernels of truth that can lead to breakthrough discoveries.

How to Handle Family Stories:
• Write them down NOW
• Don't dismiss stories as "just legend"—investigate them thoroughly
• Look for the truth within the exaggeration (the "sailor that jumped ship" might actually be documented!)
• Date the stories by asking what the storyteller's age was when events occurred
• Understand that oral histories can conflate multiple people or events

Smart Questions to Ask:
• "How did you learn this story?"
• "Who else would remember this?"
• "Do you have any photos, letters, or documents about this?"
• "Where exactly did this happen?"

Remember: Family stories preserve voices, emotions, and details that official records never capture. They're part of your heritage even if every fact isn't perfect! Once the story is recorded, also record the verified facts of the story.

Action: Pick a family story/legend and look for documents to prove or disprove each part of the legend.

26/02/2026

E - Electoral Rolls & Census Records

🗳️ Genealogy Tips A to Z: E is for ELECTORAL ROLLS & CENSUS RECORDS

These records can provide information relating living arrangements! They track your ancestors through time and place, providing regular snapshots of their lives.

Census Records:
• Taken every 10 years in countries like the UK and the US (every 5 years in some other countries)
• Not many census documents have survived in Australia, however many of our ancestors came from other countries so they remain a valuable tool for research
• Record names, ages, relationships, occupations, birthplaces, and more
• Don't stop at one census—follow your family through multiple decades
• Check neighbours and nearby households—extended family often lived close by
• Remember that ages and birthplaces can be inaccurate—use them as clues, not facts
• Australia now give the option for census documents to be retained, consider “opt’ing in, to preserve your information for future generations).

Electoral Rolls/Voter Registrations:
• For Australia, electoral roll records are available up to 1980 on subscription sites like Ancestry.com and Find My Past..
• Show when someone moved or died
• Often list occupations and addresses
• Requirements varied for voting (age, gender, property ownership)—understand who could vote when

Pro tip: If you can't find your ancestor, try searching different family members who may be in the same household. Also try keywords such as their occupation if known.

Action: Pick an ancestor and see if you can find them in each census or electoral roll to track their movements!

16/02/2026

"It's been a bit hot the last few weeks, here's some cool records to dive into!" 🥵❄️

Summer surfin’ ☀️🏄‍♀️

Step into summer memories and see how Australians have soaked up the sun across the decades in our online exhibition ‘Summers Past’.

🔗 Explore more beach days gone by: https://bit.ly/3YT876p

Image: Surfers at a beach, 1967. Photographed by J Crowcher. NAA: A1500, K16823

12/02/2026

D - DNA

🧬 Genealogy Tips A to Z: D is for DNA

DNA testing has revolutionized genealogy! Your genetic code can break through brick walls, confirm paper trails, and connect you with cousins worldwide.

Getting Started with DNA:
• Choose your test wisely: AncestryDNA (largest database), 23andMe (health + ancestry), MyHeritage (strong international), FamilyTreeDNA (advanced tools)
• Test the oldest generation first—their DNA contains information from ancestors you can't test anymore
• Upload your raw DNA to other sites (GEDmatch, MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA) to maximize matches
• Build a family tree on the testing platform—it helps matches identify the connection
• Don't ignore small matches—they can be the key to solving mysteries

Remember: DNA doesn't lie, but it can reveal unexpected results. If you choose to test, ensure you are prepared for surprises, and approach discoveries with sensitivity.

Learning to analyze DNA matches takes time—be patient with yourself! The Leeds Method and the WATO tool build on information supplied by the DNA testing companies.

Action: Learn about DNA before testing to ensure it’s a path you with to pursue.

29/01/2026

C - Cemeteries

⚰️ Genealogy Tips A to Z: C is for CEMETERIES

Cemetery research is about more than just dates on a headstone—it's about connecting families and uncovering stories carved in stone.

Essential Cemetery Tips:
• Take photos of the entire stone, not just the main inscription—sides and backs often contain additional information
• Note the condition, material, and style of the marker (this can indicate economic status and time period)
• Map out family plots—who's buried nearby often reveals family connections
• Look for symbolic imagery (Masonic symbols, religious icons, fraternal organization emblems)
Resources:
• In Western Australia, some cemeteries have searchable indexes eg: Metropolitan Cemeteries Board
• BillionGraves (free/subscription) and Find A Grave (free) for online records
• Contact the cemetery office for burial records and plot maps if not available online
• Local genealogy societies often have cemetery indexing projects
Don't forget to check for infant graves and unmarked stones—they tell important family stories too.

Action: Visit the cemetery of one of your ancestors and take photo’s. Or, become a Find A Grave volunteer and take photo’s for others that live too far away to visit their ancestors.

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.