Remember - RootsTech2024 Registrations open

The theme for next year’s RootsTech conference is “Remember”. I think that is a very appropriate theme, as remembering our ancestors is such an important part of our family history.

Nanny (Dorothy Spiller, nee Highett) and me

My interest in family history started with the stories my maternal grandmother used to tell me. Nanny, as we called her, was raised by her grandparents, so the stories she told me went back to my g-g-grandparents. She’d tell me about how she used to get into trouble for singing at the dinner table, and how her favourite part of going to church was singing the hymns. Other stories about her were told to me by my mother. These included the fact that Nanny’s grandfather was a very strict Baptist and wouldn’t let her go out to dances or things like that, but when he joined the bowling club and spoke to other men with daughters Nanny’s age, he found that they DID let their daughters go to these things, and so Nanny was subsequently allowed to do so herself. She therefore thought the bowling club was a very good thing.

Nanny's grandfather (Adolphus Alway) on left with his bowling friends

Grandma (Pearl Gibbons)

I had fewer stories from my father’s mother, Grandma as we called her, because she died when I was just nine, but had suffered a stroke about 18 months previously and been hospitalised and in care after that. I had only seen her once during that period. However, before she had that stroke, she had told me stories. She had told me that her father, who was a foreman in the steel works at Port Kembla, was involved in making rivets for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. She also told me about her daughter, June, who had died before my father was born.

As my mother worked full time when I was young, I spent lots of time staying with both of my grandmothers.

Grandma and me

As I said, the theme for RootsTech 2024 is “Remember”. That’s such an appropriate theme, as it is the memories that got me interested in my family history, and more importantly, it is the memories that keep my grandmothers alive for me.

RootsTech 2024 is on 29 February - 2 March. You can attend in person in Salt Lake City, or online from anywhere in the world. The online event is free and the in-person event has early birth pricing until 19^th November of US$99 for the full 3 days, or US$69 for one day. There will be over 200 talks in Salt Lake City, and another 200+ online.

RootsTech conferences are always a wonderful experience, weather you attend in person or online.

DISCLOSURE: I am a RootsTech 2023 conference Media Rep and in return for my promotion of the conference I receive a free entry pass and some additional non-monetary perks. My transportation and accommodation are not compensated.