It’s been a busy time of late and more time has passed since my last post then I would have liked.

I have two drafts about the Hamilton (Old) Cemetery almost ready to go. They are about the people who lie beneath the broken headstones and monuments in the cemetery.

HAMILTON (OLD) CEMETERY

One of the posts has a sub-theme and the more I research it, the bigger the story becomes.  Time is freeing up a bit now so I’ll try to get at least one of those out soon. There is also a second Yambuk Cemetery post almost ready to go too.

After going great guns and catching up on the Passing of the Pioneers posts back in June, I’m now four months behind. I’ve decided to miss those months this year rather than try and catch up and instead look towards getting a November Passing of the Pioneers post ready.

If you follow the Western District Families Facebook page, you will know I share a lot of photos. I find many of the photos have a story to tell, so I’ve selected some of the best and I’ll post them here with some extra information. The series will take the title “Take A Photo” and I hope to post fortnightly. There are six posts in draft form at the moment.

There are now five published Wonderful Western District Women posts celebrating seventeen women from the past. Soon they will have their own dedicated tab at the top of WDF. It’s also in draft form (you would not believe how many draft posts I have). A few photos and it’s ready to go.

JANET BLACK (nee NICOL) ONE OF THE WONDERFUL WESTERN DISTRICT WOMEN Border Watch, 5 May 1936, p. 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77987617

Sometimes things happen on the Hamilton’s WW1 side of Western District Families without you knowing. Subscribers don’t get alerted to new pages and all the Hamilton WW1 posts are in that format. My most recent addition was the Christ Church Anglican Church WW1 Honour Board with all the names along with links to those men and women who I’ve have already written profiles for.

SOME OF THE MEN OF HAMILTON’S CHRIST CHURCH ANGLICAN CHURCH WW1 HONOUR BOARD

Meanwhile, more drafts with at least twelve profiles of servicemen and women halfway or closer to completion.

In the case of most of my drafts, the fun bits (research/writing) have been done. What lies ahead for me now is the tedious stage of getting the posts out to you, lots of editing and finishing off. However, as always, I’ll find it’s worth it all at the end.

In other news. Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at the Hamilton History Centre’s monthly meeting. Of course, I spoke about Western District Families but with a Hamilton district slant, sharing some of my favourite local stories from WDF and Hamilton’s WW1.

HAMILTON HISTORY CENTRE

The Hamilton History Centre is located in the former Hamilton Mechanics’ Institute and many of the Hamilton folk I’ve written about for WDF have passed through the doors. Some have even given talks there themselves. I did try and channel William Melville one of Hamilton’s leading citizens from the past who gave a lecture there in 1886 on the topic “Wit and Humour in the 19th century”.  While my oratory skill will never match William’s, I think the stories I told were well received.

HAMILTON HISTORY CENTRE

While on the topic of the Hamilton History Centre I must mention their new website which is fantastic. It gives you a great idea of what is in the collection, as well as a bookshop, and three great videos to watch including one on notable homes and homesteads of the wider district.

You’ll find the website on the following link www.hamiltonhistorycentre.org.au 

Now back to those drafts…