My Adventures During South Australia’s History Month

It’s the end of June, and yet I still haven’t event reported on “HISTORY MONTH” yet. What can I say … life, work and writing for multiple blogs means that this one has taken a bit of backseat. So while it is belated, I still wanted to write my thoughts on the events that I went to during South Australia’s History Month.

So firstly just a bit about South Australia’s History Month (also known as the About Time History Festival). Originally it started out as History Week, but it grew to be History Month and it’s held every May, and this year there was a record number of events (555 all up) scheduled. For historians or genealogists it is a month to look forward to and immerse yourself in history. Though you most certainly have to be a history-nut to enjoy the events held.

Discovering Links: A Bunch of “General” Sites

What do vintage adverts, old maps, stock photos, military acronyms and rescued heirlooms have in common? They have made it on to my second “Discovering Links” post.

It is these “General” links that I’ve decided to share with you. Why “General” you may ask? Well, simply because they are either about a topic as opposed to a place, or they don’t fit into any ‘one’ specific country category … so they get filed into general (well in my world they do anyway).

I hope you find the following links of interest.

Want to Read a REAL Thriller? Then Read this Shipboard Diary …

The year is 1838, and James Bell a young man from Scotland has said goodbye to his family and the love of his life, and has made his way to Southampton to embark on the voyage of a lifetime. He was one of more than 90 passengers who boarded the “Planter” ship on 23 November 1838, all eager to reach their new homeland South Australia in a few short months.

Little did they know what was in store. And if it wasn’t for James Bell writing in his diary, we wouldn’t have known what would have happened on the one of the most adventurous, tragic, exciting, and exhausting voyages ever.

Sound intriguing? It is … Titled “A Journey To Australia: A Journal by James Bell“, the book is the diary of a guy who migrated to South Australia in 1839, and in my opinion it’s is just as exciting as any thriller book I’ve read. I would go as far to say that it is one of the most AMAZING books I’ve ever read in my life.

150 Great South Australians – Part 2 J-Z

A little while ago I introduced you to the to 150 Great South Australians list that was originally published in The Advertiser. As it was WAAAAY too long to reproduce all in one post, I split it into two. If you missed the earlier post, you can find the A-I list here, with the J-Z list below.

This second list of “great South Aussies” which by the way you’ll be pleased to know includes women as well as men, contains inventors, businessmen, ministers, politicians, charity workers, doctors, manufacturers, educators, explorers and many, many more.

You’ll find that many are ‘pioneers’ in their field, because basically they were coming to a colony that was just developing, and was in need of expertise. So you’ll find that many of these people helped shape not just South Australia with their skills, but in some respects, Australia as well.