| As a means of researching family trees,
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| | the place to start. I knew I would have
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| interviewing relatives can be a really
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| | to go back to the early 1900's because my
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| enjoyable experience for both parties,
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| | great-grandfather died in 1919 aged 70.
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| BUT there are some rules that need to be
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| | Back at about that time a water reservoir
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| obeyed. As with anything worthwhile,
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| | called the Waranga Basin was being
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| genealogy does have guidelines that must
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| | excavated and so there was a great influx
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| be followed if you are at all serious
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| | of workers around the area.
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| about family history.
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| | Two of the workers living in the tent
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| 5 Simple Rules
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| | city that sprung up were James Edwardsand
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| * Contact them first - DON'T just turn up
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| | William Skinner. They were friends but
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| on their doorstep, cassette recorder in
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| | Skinner got drunk one night andattacked
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| hand. Get their permission to do the
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| | Edwards with a shovel. He defended
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| interview and be honest about why you
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| | himself with a nearby axe and killed
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| would like to speak to them.
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| | Skinner. Fearing the police would not
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| * Be careful not to offend them by asking
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| | believe it was self-defence, Edwards
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| questions that maybe too personal or of a
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| | proceeded to cut up the body, placed the
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| very sensitive nature. Some people will
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| | parts in hessian bags andthrew them into
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| answer any question you throw at them
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| | the basin. The parts were later found and
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| whereas others will be more guarded.
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| | an investigation ensued. All these
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| Obviously if you already have a close
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| | details I got from a newspaper, The
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| relationship with Uncle George, he will
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| | Rushworth Chronicleof 1905.
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| be quite relaxed in talking to you. Aunty
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| | George BURLS and his son Alfred were
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| Madge however, who you wouldn't know if
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| | rabbit trapping, which was their
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| you fell over her, is not as likely to be
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| | occupation, when they were approached by
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| so forthcoming in laying out the laundry,
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| | the culprit, Edwards, who they both knew
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| clean orotherwise, of the family!
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| | from another job site where they had
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| * It's important to have a list of
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| | previously worked together.
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| questions ready. You may not ask them all
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| | Edwards denied ever knowing them and said
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| or you may need to alter the focus of
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| | he wanted to buy some tobacco.
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| some during the interview, but you should
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| | He did so then left. They were both
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| have a list of core questions ready. Why?
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| | called to give evidence at the subsequent
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| Because this will ensure that you don't
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| | trial. End of story!
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| forget anything important and secondly it
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| | The above are the facts of the case. My
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| gives the impression that youactually
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| | grandmothers version was somewhat more
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| know what you are doing. Dithering and
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| | elaborate, granting my great-grandfather,
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| looking up at the ceiling every 5 minutes
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| | who by the way only had one eye , with
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| trying to remember what to ask next does
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| | the tracking down and apprehension of
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| not inspireconfidence and will likely
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| | Edwards. But again, shemay have just been
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| make the interviewee uncomfortable.
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| | repeating what she had been told.
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| * DON'T outstay your welcome. You are the
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| | Handy Interviewing Questions
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| only one that can judge when that might
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| | Okay, so here are some sample questions
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| be.
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| | to get your family trees talking. These
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| * Show your appreciation for their time
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| | are in addition to the mandatory ones
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| by either presenting them with a small
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| | such as names, dates of birth,marriage
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| gift or simply saying those magic words,
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| | death etc.
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| "thank you".
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| | 1. Describe your childhood - relationship
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| Verify Or Else
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| | with parents, siblings.
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| Family interviews are a fantastic way to
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| | 2. The greatest joy of your childhood was
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| fill in the gaps in your family trees,
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| | .......?
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| and will provide far more information
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| | 3. As a child, what was your worst fear?
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| than you could ever glean from a marriage
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| | 4. What was your father's occupation and
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| certificate. The quality and detail can
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| | what was the quality of your life like as
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| be extraordinary and enlightening , BUT
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| | a child?
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| don't accept everything Uncle George says
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| | 5. How would you describe your parents
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| as beingentirely accurate. His "true
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| | and or grandparents - physical
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| story" may not be true at all.
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| | characteristics and qualities?
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| THE FIRST RULE IN GENEALOGY IS VERIFY -
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| | 6. What is the most pleasant memory you
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| wherever possible. The truth can be
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| | have of your parents and or grandparents?
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| stretched, twisted, bent and made to
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| | 7. What was the dumbest thing you ever
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| disappear altogether. Thatdoesn't mean
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| | did as a child?
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| Uncle George is lying, he may just be
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| | 8. What was your most memorable holiday?
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| repeating what he wastold by someone else
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| | 9. What was one thing that attracted you
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| or may have forgotten the details over
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| | to your spouse? Why?
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| time.
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| | 10. What was the most difficult moment
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| My Story
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| | for you as a parent?
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| Here is an example of just such a point
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| | 11. What one thing would you change in
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| from my own family history. It is very
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| | your role as a parent?
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| illustrative of the need, when
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| | 12. What would you like your children to
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| researching family trees, for accurate
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| | most remember about you?
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| information.
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| | 13. What was your greatest fear as a
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| My great-grandfather George BURLS came
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| | parent?
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| out from England and settled in rural
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| | 14. What activities do you enjoy?
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| Victoria, Australia. My grandmother, his
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| | 15. What do you find really annoying in
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| youngest daughter, always saidthat he was
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| | other peoples actions or characteristics?
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| a detective and that he solved a murder
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| | Play with the questions. Add to them if
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| investigation in a nearby town. Well,
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| | you wish. They are just to get you
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| that was all I had to go on. Firstly if
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| | thinking. Good hunting!
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| THERE was a murder the localnewspaper was
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|
