'Barbara Francis - A Wellington Woman in China 1930-46'

Barbara Francis talked about the remarkable story of her friend Agnes (Nessie) Moncrieff, who worked as the YWCA Secretary in China from 1930 to 1946.  The presentation was based around excerpts from Nessie's letters home.  Barbara has written a book about the YWCA in Wellington, and her second book, using Nessie's letters to describe what life was like in China at the outbreak of WW2, is nearly at publication stage.

'Dawn Chambers - Website resources: Pandora's Box 2, and Hutt Valley Biographical Index and Genealogies'

Dawn Chambers demonstrated the research resources available on two websites.  The first is her own website www.nzpictures.co.nz, where she highlighted Pandora's Box 2 and the work she has done transcribing manuscript documents held by Archives New Zealand.

Dawn also showed the group HBIG, the Hutt Valley Biographical Index and Genealogies website, which she and fellow Hutt Valley Branch member, Lynly Yates, launched in May this year.  This is a resource for Hutt Valley research.  Both websites are under continual development.

'Sheilah Downs - WWII Child Evacuees in UK'

Sheilah Downs of the Hutt Valley/Wellington Branch of Evacuees Reunion Association talked about what happened when children were evacuated into the countryside during World War 2. You can read more about the Reunion Association and their work on pages 3 & 4 of our September Branch Newsletter.

'Christine Edney - Researching military records'

Branch member and New Zealand Defence Force Registrar, Christine Edney, presented on researching military records.  To find out what personnel records are held and where, access the NZDF Archives website.

"Suzanne Sutton-Cummings - Daniel's 21st Birthday Present"

Suzanne's nephew turns 21 in August.  He will be presented with photo books with some of his family history and stories.  Suzanne showed us how she created the books using a locally based online photo book supplier www.my-books.co.nz and put a modern spin on how to make family history interesting to the next generation.

'Alistair Hardy & Anita West - Making requests from the Privacy and Official Information Acts'

Branch Convenor Alistair Hardy spoke about the implications of the Privacy Act 1993 for genealogists.

Anita West then followed on with some tips on making requests under the Official Information Act 1982 as a way of accessing information held by Government that may assist you with your family history research.

Useful resources are:

• The Office of the Ombudsmen - How to make an official information request
• Privacy Commissioner website
• NZ Genealogist Magazine, Sept/Oct 2011, pp 195-6

'Ian Fyfe - The Battlefields of Flanders'

Branch member Ian Fyfe presented on his recent tour of the battlefields of Flanders where his great-uncle died in 1917.  His tour included visits to war cemeteries, battle sites, two war museums and various memorials, including the Menin Gate.

'Warwick Johnston - Getting Your Family History Sorted'

Local historian and genealogist Warwick Johnston talked about his new book on writing family history Getting Your Family History Sorted and how to get started on your genealogy journey.

Warwick kindly donated a laminated map of Taita Cemetery to the Branch.  It is about three metres long.  He can also supply members with unlaminated copies of the map.  Enquiries to Warwick should be directed through our Branch Secretary.

'Lynly Yates - Hutt Valley Biographical Index and Genealogies (HBIG) website'

Lynly Yates talked about the resource that is the Hutt Valley Biographical Index and Genealogies (HBIG) website that is under development.  It is aimed to be a collection of early settlers' genealogies and historical information covering the Hutt Valley.