Ian Fitzgerald and Graeme Gatley from the Burnside Military History Research Group, shared their passion for helping families uncover the stories of relatives who served in Australia's military.
They demonstrated how anyone can research a loved one's military history from home using a range of online archives and databases. Their advice was to begin by gathering as much information as possible - photos, family stories, documents and personal details - as these can unlock valuable records.
We were then introduced to a number of excellent research resources, including the Virtual War Memorial, National Archives of Australia, Australian War Memorial, Department of Veterans' Affairs, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and Trove, along with subscription sites such as Ancestry, MyHeritage and WikiTree.
It was an informative presentation, with an important reminder to always verify information, as historical records can sometimes contain errors.
Thank you, Ian and Graeme, for equipping us with the knowledge to help preserve the stories and sacrifices of those who served.
