Tuesday, 15. November 2005, 00:47:50
It was a double-Dutch weekend.
On Saturday I went to the meeting of the
Dutch Australian Genealogy Group, in the library of the Abel Tasman Retirement Village, in Chester Hill.
On Sunday, I went to the Annual General Meeting, of the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre, in Holland House: 'tWinkeltje, in Market Street, Smithfield.
The guest-speaker, on Saturday, gave a very clear explanation of what is involved in trying to find ancestors in Germany, as the make-up of that country has changed quite a bit through the centuries.
I had two reasons for attending. One was that I had suggested that I make
an internet page for this informal group of genealogy-enthusiasts and this was to be discussed. The other was that I hoped that the guest-speaker could just give me a clue about how to find out more about my mother's grandmother.
All I knew about her was, from a younger sister of my mother, I had heard that there was/is a picture of this lady in a typical German dress of the time. That she was an intinerant worker (Called hannekemaaiers, in Dutch) and that she had to be German, because the last name ended in 't', i.e., Brandt, instead of the Dutch: Brand. (Both pronounced as if they end in t.)
It wasn't that advice I received during the meeting that was the break-through for me, but, when I was home again, I set up the web-page and looked for some links. Joined a Yahoo Group that concentrates on the families that lived in Zuid (South) Holland and explained what I was looking for. Within hours someone emailed me the details and now it strikes me that, unknowingly, my daughter, while studying in Amsterdam, at the UvA, was living in the area, in north Amsterdam, where these ancestors had lived.
Meanwhile, the A.G.M., of the D.A.C.C., went through its paces. Our chairperson had indicated that she would like to step down, but stay on the board and one of the other members was duely elected.
The D.A.C.C., is involved in a number of projects,
chiefly the DIMEX (Dutch Immigration Experience) project but there is
Australia On The Map and
Pack Up and Go an exhibition, being planned to shed light on why and how Dutch people emigrated to Australia and what happened to them once they got there. The main emphasis being on the period 1945 – 1960, when emigration reached its peak. The exhibition will also trace the ways in which the growing desire to emigrate influenced the legislation relating to this subject.
Initially this exhibition will be in The Hague, and the lower house of parliament (or Tweede Kamer, e.g., Legislative Assembly). Later it will come to Australia.
So much to do...... :
WIDGETIZE