SUCCESSFUL TRAINING COURSE

Penny Evans, Branch Committee Member

The West Gauteng Branch of the Genealogical Society of South Africa held an Introductory Genealogical Training Course on 15 August 2009 at the Dutch Reformed Church Ontdekkerskruin, Philips Avenue, Discovery.

The course was well attended by participants from the Greater Johannesburg area. Two enthusiastic participants came from Carletonville.

The course was well organised. Our usual venue was transformed into a lecture room. Each participant received a manual and a certificate.

Lucas Rinken, Richard Ford and Dennis Pretorius were the presenters.

The following aspects were covered in the course of the afternoon:

• Background information;

• The working documents;

• Unpublished sources;

• Internet sources;

• Formal sources;

• Interesting facts and finally

• Presentation of one's research.

The sessions were informative and often humorous. The presenters used many examples from their own experiences to which participants could relate.

Many thanks to Margaret Humphries and Louise Dick for standing by with refreshments. The tea break gave all a chance to meet and socialize.

The course was well received, good value for money, and good attendance was an indication of the need for genealogical training courses. Participants had different levels of expertise.  I believe that each person went away having learnt something new.

Hopefully all of us will now remember to record our sources.

Several people were unaware of the existence of genealogical groups that meet monthly. One hopes that this introduction to genealogy will inspire them to join a local genealogy group.