First and foremost

Welcome to my blog. I am new to the "blogosphere", so excuse me while I find my feet.
My name is Phoebe and I am in my FINAL three units of my Advanced Diploma in Local, Family and Applied History at the University of New England, NSW. I am a distance ed. student and currently avoiding a rather large pile of work sitting next to me by doing this. However, in my defence, I have been planning on starting this blog for over 2 months, so technically I am doing something "history-related".
I am passionate about genealogy and would one day like to read "genealogist" under my name (preferably on a business card, but anywhere would be fine). So this is where this blog will lie - in the family history research field (of dreams), but that is not to say that I will neglect any other juicy history tid-bits I might discover along the way.

I thought today would be the perfect day to launch this blog as it is the beginning of the national family history week, and tomorrow will mark the beginning of Open House Melbourne .
So it will be a few days devoted to history, with lots of fantastic bits and bobs to tantalise the history tastebuds.

The Russell Family of 'Barunah Plains', Western Victoria c. 1908. We believe the man standing on the right is my Great Grandfather Eric Kincraig Russell.

It also got me thinking (and searching) for more of my own family history. It is hard to explain just what fascinates me about it, but there is something that makes me tingle everytime I find an old photograph or document that could have passed through the hands of one of my ancestors. There is something indescribably exciting about the rush I get when I find out a new bit of information, no matter how big or small, whether it be from extensive research or from a relative reeling off a story.

So at present I am still in the midst of researching my own family and finding lots of exciting pieces of information as well as many road blocks along the way. Thus far I have gone back to the mid-1700s for one line of the family, with many more rellies to discover. I am also lucky enough to be able to take my own lead on a research project for uni which will cover the life of my Great Grandmother, Amuri Russell (nee Rutherford) and her work as a volunteer in the RAAF during the Second World War.

So, please enjoy. I can't wait to become a real "blogger".

Phoebe