Australasian Association of Genealogists and Record Agents - AAGRA

23/10/2026

“A to Z Genealogy Tips – Fortnightly Series”

X – X-marked Documents: Signs of Literacy

Some ancestors signed documents with an “X,” usually indicating they were illiterate, but these documents are still valuable.

Witness names and additional details that may have been recorded on the documents help identify the signer. These marks also helps us understand social history (less available schooling to working-class), gender disparities (women often had fewer education opportunities) and access (living regional could impact on the amount of schooling available)

X-marked documents serve as poignant physical connections to ancestors, representing not just illiteracy but the social, economic, and educational realities of their time.

Examine documents with “X” signatures in your research, consider the era and in particular, consider the reasons for the “X” mark signature of your ancestor.

(Note: All images in the A to Z Genealogy Tip series were created with AI).

16/10/2026

📻 IN THE MEDIA – TALKBACK GENEALOGIST

Congratulations to AAGRA member Maureen Martin Ferris, who will be on ABC Radio Tasmania tomorrow answering live genealogy questions!
We are incredibly proud to see our members sharing their high-level expertise with the wider public. Tune in to support Maureen as she helps listeners track down their family histories!

Phone: 1300 222 936
Text: 0438 922 936

15/10/2026

🌳 Beyond the Family Tree: How History Fills in the Blanks

A family tree tells us who our ancestors were, but history tells us why they made the choices they did.

With October being History Month in Victoria, our latest article dives into how local events, changing laws, and social circumstances add vital context to our family stories—and sometimes reveal that the family lore doesn't quite match the official records!
From gold rushes and migration to wartime experiences, looking beyond the obvious genealogy records can open up new avenues of research. Our members share a couple of interesting examples in this article.

📖 Read the article on the AAGRA website: https://www.aagra.asn.au/beyond-the-family-tree-how-history-helps-us-understand-our-ancestors/

Image: Coolgardie 1899, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

09/10/2026

“A to Z Genealogy Tips – Fortnightly Series”

W – Wills, Probates, and Letters of Administration

Estate documents reveal relationships, assets, and social status.

Wills, probates, and letters of administration often name children, spouses, and other relatives. These records help link generations and provide insights into property, inheritance, and family dynamics.

In New Zealand, probate records can be searched through Archives New Zealand up to 1988 and some records are also digitised on Familysearch. On the other hand, Australia does not have a central archive for probate records, they are held by each state, though Familysearch has many digitised records. Ancestry and Findmypast also have some indexed collections.

Search for a will or probate record to discover hidden family connections.

(All images in the A to Z series were created with AI)

06/10/2026

📰 INDUSTRY NEWS: Resilience, History, and Community Restoration

We are sharing an inspiring update regarding a story that deeply touched the arts, heritage, and regional history communities.
In April 2025, the Tasmanian community was devastated when two bronze statues, representing nearly 6,000 children who passed through the colonial Queen’s Orphan Schools, were stolen from St John's Park in New Town and destroyed for scrap metal.

Now, thanks to an incredible community response, a replacement sculpture has been created. It was unveiled by the Governor of Tasmania and Irish sculptor Rowan Gillespie on Sunday 4 October.

Key updates from the project:
• A Dedicated Community Effort: The fundraising campaign was driven by the volunteer committee at From the Shadows Inc., where our very own AAGRA President, Dr Dianne Snowden AM, serves as Secretary. The community rallied together to raise approximately $60,000 to fund the recreation of the monument.
• The Sculptor’s Generosity: Renowned Irish bronze sculptor Rowan Gillespie was so moved by the loss that he immediately committed to recreating the pieces from his studio in Dublin, working closely with the committee to ensure the children's stories wouldn't be erased.
• Enhanced Protection: To protect the new pieces from future metal theft, the upcoming reinstallation will feature the two children secured tightly to a singular, robust central round plinth rather than separate platforms.

At AAGRA, we are immensely proud to see our members and leaders actively driving vital heritage preservation and historical advocacy across Australasia. This project highlights the vital role that local historians, heritage groups, and international artists play in protecting cultural infrastructure.

For more AAGRA news: https://www.aagra.asn.au/blog/

With the newly unveiled Orphan School children statues are (L-R): Dianne Snowdon, Secretary, From the Shadows Inc.; Bob Gordon, President, From the Shadows Inc.; Viktor Gordon, statue model; Marie-Claire Hughes, Consul General of Ireland, Melbourne; sculptor Rowan Gillespie; The Governor; Dr Walters and (front) Estella Gordon, statue model.

📸: Alastair Bett | From the Shadows

02/10/2026

📈 NEW RESEARCH TOOL: Deciphering the BT 113 Register of Seamen’s Tickets

For professional genealogists and record agents tracing British merchant mariners between 1845 and 1854, the numerical notation in TNA series BT 113 and BT 115 has long been a notorious roadblock.

A major new collaborative indexing initiative—sparked by an innovative methodology from WA researcher Peter Hamersley and executed by the Crew List Index Project (CLIP)—has successfully mapped these unindexed Port Rotation Numbers.

With over 120,000 entries now live, this new database allows professional researchers to seamlessly translate raw numerical codes into verified vessel names, official ports of registry, and direct TNA series BT 98 crew list locations.

👇 Read our full technical breakdown of the methodology and how to apply this index to streamline your client workflows: https://www.aagra.asn.au/deciphering-merchant-seafarer-records-with-the-new-port-rotation-numbers-index/



📷Image courtesy of FindMyPast. Original records held by The National Archives (UK), reference BT 119/46. Crown Copyright expired.

29/09/2026

📚 Copyright and Family History Research

Copyright is something every family historian encounters, whether researching for themselves, writing a family history, preparing a presentation or undertaking professional research for a client.

The Australian Copyright Council is presenting a series of webinars in November covering different aspects of copyright and its practical application.

These sessions may be of interest to both professional genealogists and family historians wanting to better understand their rights and responsibilities when using photographs, documents, published material and other sources in their research.

Find out more about the November webinars: https://www.copyright.org.au/events/details/43

25/09/2026

“A to Z Genealogy Tips – Fortnightly Series”

V – Verification: Confirm Before You Record

Accuracy is the foundation of reliable genealogy.

Always verify facts with multiple sources. Avoid assumptions and ensure information is documented.

For example, checking you have the correct parents for your ancestor. You may have a death record for an ancestor with parent names listed, the accuracy of the names depends upon the informant and how well they knew the person/family. To verify the names are correct, you could also check the person’s marriage and birth records, probate records, church records and family notices or other newspaper articles.

Verification, through multiple sources, keeps your family tree credible and prevents errors from spreading.

Revisit an ancestor’s record today and verify it against at least one additional source.

(All images in the A to Z Genelogy tip series were created with AI)

18/09/2026

📰 From the Press: The Odd Fellows in Penola

AAGRA is pleased to recognise the recent publication of an article by long-standing member Andrew Peake OAM in the August 2026 edition of The South Australian Genealogist.

Andrew's article, The Odd Fellows in Penola, explores the history of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Loyal Penola Lodge No. 80, including the important role friendly societies played in supporting their members and families before modern welfare systems were established.

The article also brings the history to life through surviving records and a photograph of Archibald Thomas Lyle Peake, who was Secretary of the Loyal Penola Lodge in 1911.

📖 Read more about Andrew's research, including a link to the full article on the AAGRA website - https://tinyurl.com/2a4ucwnm

Congratulations, Andrew, on sharing this fascinating piece of South Australian social and genealogical history.

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📷Image 1: Andrew Peake OAM. Image 2: Archibald Thomas Lyle Peake, Secretary of the Loyal Penola Loade No. 80, 1911 courtesy of Andrew Peake.

11/09/2026

“A to Z Genealogy Tips – Fortnightly Series”

U – Understanding the Era: Historical Context Matters

Historical context adds depth and meaning to your research.

Laws, social customs, wars, and economic conditions influenced your ancestors’ lives. Understanding the era helps explain migrations, occupations, and family decisions. Context turns names and dates into real-life stories.

To build a picture of your ancestors era, here are some places you may find information:
• Local history books and county histories at your library or historical society
• Online resources like the Library of Congress, National Archives, and state historical societies
• Newspapers from the time period (check the National Library of Australia's Trove))
• Immigration and migration pattern studies for your ancestor's region
• Military records and pension files that describe conditions and campaigns
• City directories and old maps showing neighborhood development
• Church and community organization records reflecting social customs

Research the historical events affecting one of your ancestors’ lives to better understand their choices.

(All images in the A to Z Genealogy Tips - Fortnightly Series were created with AI).