RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Stoodly on Wednesday 14 March 12 01:21 GMT (UK)
-
And the lineup is Shaun Micallef 27th March; Kerry O'Brien 3rd April; Melissa George 10th April; Vince Colosimo 17th April; John Wood 24th April and Michael O'Loughlin 1st May.
See promo below!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jejAu06b4SQ
Regards
Diana
-
Thanks Stoodly - it is in RED on my calendar
-
The promo was on SBS last night ;D
Cando
-
Thanks for info..................I will be able to see them all before 4th May when I fly to UK.
Jean.
-
At long last - I have been so sick and tired of seeing repeats.
Kind regards
Bev
-
Hi everyone, just a reminder that Series 4 of Australian "Who Do You Think You Are?" starts tonight on SBS at 7:30pm. You can also join Shaun Micallef for an on-line chat after broadcast (Eastern States only).
Regards
Diana
-
First episode of the new series has just finished in South Australia.
I found the stories that evolved from Shaun Micallef's history fascinating.......though the paternal one proved to be rather emotional. It was certainly an example of how the older generations keep so much to themselves.
As usual, one feels so envious that one doesn't have the access and opportunities that the stars of these shows do.
I'm looking forward to Kerry O'Brien's story next week.
Dee :)
-
Dee,
I agree with you - it was a wonderful episode. I really liked the way that Shaun didn't go back too many generations. The show made family history achievable for anyone.
I loved the Malta part of it. I've just finished scrapbooking pages of my 1971 (yes I was a baby) holiday in Malta.
It was nice to see another side of Shaun.
Cheers, Ted
-
When we had these threads on the Australian board, we got lots of discussion.
The Aussie posters are not finding it here. :-\
It would have been good to get other opinions.
Dee :)
-
I'm here!
I'm afraid I only caught a couple of bits of this programme so cannot offer any opinions yet. I do like Shaun Micallef and was surprised to learn the origins of his surname. Later this evening I will be watching this on my PC and will return to contribute more constructively to this discussion.
I agree Dee, there appears to be virtually no interest in the new series - I thought there would be threads discussing the participants long before the start of the new series. :-\ Maybe it has gone unnoticed? I don't watch much TV these days, and just by chance heard on the radio that the new series was about to start, otherwise I could easily have missed it too.
I'm afraid that last night I watched the final episode of My Kitchen Rules .... :-[ Mabye I wasn't the only rootschatter who did. ;)
PS. I think this needs to be on the Australian boards where it should get more attention. :)
-
Hi Ruskie! :)
Cooking shows! :-X :-X ;D
I guess it's the same reason....if one of us had started an earlier thread on here, it would have been missed by most of the Aussie RC-ers.
I must admit, I haven't done my usual pre-research.......again because of family committments. But I'm gradually getting more time for FH again.
I'll look forward to your comments once you've watched all of it.
Dee :)
-
Watched, and found it very interesting. How lucky was he, to find the house his father had grown up in, still standing despite the bombing, ... and with neighbours who remembered the family!
Also found it interesting that someone had posted, here on RC, regarding his Irish gt-grandfather ... I'll be keeping an eye on the thread to see if the original poster returns!
-
Hi Ruskie! :)
Cooking shows! :-X :-X ;D
Dee :)
Yeah, I know Dee - sorry about that. Just a bit of lighthearted nonsense. Please forgive me. ;D
I have just finished watching the Shaun Micallef episode and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really can't think of a major criticism, and that's unusual for me. ;)
Just a few comments:
I noticed a couple of other Micallefs on the memorial at Plymouth - I wonder if they are related?
I would have liked to have seen his parent's reactions to his findings, especially as he commented that he was going to give the plaque to his father .... but they seem to have cut that bit out of all WDYTYAs including the UK ones.
I thought it unusual that Shaun's father still had an accent despite coming to Australia when he was 15 (if I remember correctly) - wouldn't he have lost it?
As usual I just wish the programme was longer and covered more generations.
Am really looking forward to Kerry O'Brien next week.
I really think this thread should be moved to the Australia board - I will request that it be moved. I wonder if Diana will be joining us again? She would probably not notice this hidden away on The Lighter Side.
Excellent episode.
-
I sent Diana the link, Ruskie. ;)
I'd like to have known if there was a family link to the Micallefs that lived in the same street and were killed in the bombings.
There's always questions, aren't there?
Deb, I noticed that thread about Patrick Sullivan the other day too.
Curious coincidence! :D
-
Hi,
I enjoyed it, though at times I thought he was trying too hard to be funny. The people in Malta particularly didn't understand his sense of humour.
The only other thing is that as you say, they don't show people going back to their family and sharing what they have learned about their ancestors.
This is the reason why my husband stopped looking at these programs.
Bev
-
I have a feeling they may have had to work hard to get Shaun's father to be in the story at all. He didn't appear to be really comfortable in the snippet that you saw.
Dee :)
-
I really enjoyed the Shaun Micallef episode -
we had Micallefs at the school I worked at and they pronounced it the Maltese - with the emphasis on the first sylable.
Looking forward to Kerry O'Brien!
Wiggy
Only just found this thread!
-
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,587074.0.html
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,508508.0.html
And yes, I too would hope that this thread or a pointer to it would be on the Aussie Board :D
And, I agree .... by concentrating on one main person on each side of Shaun's parents forebears, we all benefited from learning how he (and the research team) put the "meat on the bones" for his tree....
Also, I loved the opening and closing scenes, firstly his dog was leading him along the waterfront (the loop for his wrist was in the dog's mouth, with the collar end in Shaun's hand) and then in the closing scenes, his dog was off running freely ahead of him....
So I too am looking forward to Episode 2 of Series 4 of the Aussie Series.
Cheers, JM
-
I didn't notice the dog lead at the opening and closing scenes Majm. ;D
Thanks for posting the links. I completely missed Diana's post about the new series.
I agree with you Dee - Shaun's father looked rather uncomfortable.
I thought Shaun Micallef was older than 49. (well he would be since the show was filmed) - must be the grey hair (though I think it suits him).
Hi,
I enjoyed it, though at times I thought he was trying too hard to be funny. The people in Malta particularly didn't understand his sense of humour.
I don't think he was, and I don't think it mattered whether they understood his sense of humor or not. ;)
;D
-
Diana, I've never joined in an on-line chat. (it sounds a bit scary ;)). Do you have any idea of numbers of members of the public who participate? I suppose some celebrities will be more popular than others, and some programmes may leave more unanswered questions which the viewers may want answered? I'm just wondering how much of a chance you'd get to have a say, ask questions etc?
I might pop in to Kerry O'Briens chat next week. I watched the Shaun Micallef episode a day late due to watching the final of My Kitchen Rules which clashed with it. :-[ ;)
There looks to be a good line up for this series, though I don't know who Michael O'Loughlin is. (but google is my friend ;))
-
Hi Ruskie, please do join us online for post Kerry O'Brien chat but note this is only for EST viewers as it only lasts one hour after broadcast. Feel free to ask any question you like. Kerry will try and answer as many as possible regarding his own family tree/WDYTYA? experience and the Director will also answer similar questions. I'll also be there to answer any general Q's about WDYTYA? and the research process.
Last week we had many more questions than were posted - they have to go via a moderator - but we will try harder to keep up this week.
If you want an idea of how it works, have a look at Shaun Micallef 's page on the SBS website http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/whodoyouthinkyouare/episodes/detail/episode/4561/season/4
Michael O'Loughlin is a former Sydney Swans AFL football hero.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the series. Regards and thanks Diana
-
My broadband is too slow! :(
But being a South Aussie I do know who Michael O'Loughlin is! ;) ;D
Good to "see" you, Diana.
Dee :)
-
I wonder if Diana will be joining us again? She would probably not notice this hidden away on The Lighter Side.
I am here :)
-
Thank you Diana. I will do that.
ummm - not interested in football, but I'm sure Michael O"Loughlin will still have a very interesting story to tell. ;)
-
I wonder if Diana will be joining us again? She would probably not notice this hidden away on The Lighter Side.
I am here :)
Welcome back Diana.
I've been 'talking to you' on the other thread. ;)
I notice this thread still remains on "The Lighter Side" - shame. The response to this thread about the new series, and this episode in particular, has been pretty disappointing. :-\
Wonder why?
-
Happy for my posts to be moved to wherever the moderators think is the most appropriate spot. Due to the lack of response to my post saying that Series 4 was coming soon on the Aus board, I was advised [you know who you are ....... pun intended] I moved over here!
For those who have said that they wished that we filmed the celebs going back to their families to report back it is usually a case of logistics and time that we no longer do this. The time that we get to spend (and film) with our talent and the schedule gets full to the brim with filming content and there is never enough time to fit everything in.
Would be interested to know why one poster said that was the reason why their hubby stopped watching the series???????
Thanks for the feedback about Shaun. I have passed it on to my producers. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on the next five episodes.
For those of you who are not familiar with Michael O'Loughlin I particularly encourage you to watch his episode as he discovers some amazing Indigenous South Australian history.
BTW we are busy researching and filming our 5th Series with six more fascinating contenders. This will air at the end of this year/beginning of next year. The bar just keeps lifting higher and higher and I often worry how we can cap what we have discovered for our celebs in the 26 episodes researched to date.
But! I had a MEGA WOW moment today in researching one of the forthcoming episodes where I was literally left punch-drunk with what I found in someone's ancestry. As Sarah Jessica Parker would say UN-BEEEE-LIEVABLE :-*
-
But! I had a MEGA WOW moment today in researching one of the forthcoming episodes where I was literally left punch-drunk with what I found in someone's ancestry. As Sarah Jessica Parker would say UN-BEEEE-LIEVABLE :-*
Now that is not fair. You can't tell us this now, when we have SO long to wait before we see it!!
I thought omitting the final 'bringing the findings back to the family' must have been due to a time issue. I did enjoy seeing the reactions though. It doesn't bother me so much that I no longer want it though, like Bev's husband .... :-\
-
Here's a teaser for Kerry O'Brien's episode which will be broadcast on Tuesday 3rd April 2012
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/obrien-investigates-the-obriens-20120328-1vx3d.html
Regards
Diana
-
Ooooh.....only 3 and a half days to wait..... ;D ;D
Dee :)
-
And I've just uncovered a tad more of the story.....I thought I had but it was the wrong direction.... :-\
Oh well, I might just be patient.
Added: then again.....you never know...... ;D
Dee :)
-
like everyone else it seems i was lucky that i saw the prog was on. i was looking for something else and am pleased foxtel has a good epg on it.
i do think some of the family learning things should be shown. amanda redman taking her newly found cousin back to meet the family was a classic.
still not watched this one but i am looking forward to it
:) :)
-
I enjoyed this episode very much. I like Shaun Micallef as a comedian but it was interesting to see another side of him as was presented when he so was touched by the findings.
I also went to school with a Micallef, pronounced Mick-a-liff. I can't understand how the name came to be pronounced the way it is, but I suppose it might have been slightly Anglicised (?) when his grandparents came to Australia.
I would love to just go and knock on the door of the past homes of my grandparents to have a look around like they do on WDYTYA. What a buzz that must be!
-
I would love to just go and knock on the door of the past homes of my grandparents to have a look around like they do on WDYTYA. What a buzz that must be!
So would I Nina! We did get a chance to do that once in Tasmania - but there are other places we've found where I'd love to go back - specially the one I knew my grandparents in and which has now been done up!!
Wiggy ;)
-
good episode to start the series. as soon as they mentioned crimea i said they will be meeting florence. it was a good story for the family.
interesting to learn a bit more about malta aswell.
:) :)
-
I'm going to be interested to see if I've discovered a little of the O'Brien story in Queensland......and the right gg-grandparents! :) :-X :-X
Mustn't spend any more time on this....why is it so addictive? ;D
-
I'm going to be interested to see if I've discovered a little of the O'Brien story in Queensland......and the right gg-grandparents! :) :-X :-X
Mustn't spend any more time on this....why is it so addictive? ;D
'cos it is like doing a jigsaw puzzle - just put one more piece in to see the picture emerging! It is our way of doing jigsaws!
-
I am looking forward to Kerry O'Brien too.
I am sure Shaun's Mum is lovely, but she was worried about a potential convict on the tree. :o
I am a direct descendant of at least four. I have another that fathered a half relation of mine, and I think, but maybe cannot prove that there are likely to be 1-3 more. :-X
Anyway, Mrs Michallef's was a false alarm!
Adelaideans - I am one now though
-
I am sure Shaun's Mum is lovely, but she was worried about a potential convict on the tree. :o
first time iv come across an aussie that doesn't want a convict in their tree. are they not supposed to be like royalty down here
;D ;D
-
Sadly, I completely forgot about the first one and missed it! :'( :(
I'm watching Kerry O'Brien at present - very interesting! I have to say that it still niggles me that people keep meeting him bearing heaps of documents. I've done research at a couple of the same places, and while all the staff at the Qld State Library are always very helpful (including Stephanie, who is wonderful!), the State Archives is so lightly staffed that you struggle to get any help from an archivist (not their fault) - certainly never all these documents found and presented!
Also noticed while Charles O'Brien's obituary was on screen briefly that he seems to have headed off towards Warwick at one stage, early in the peace. Would have liked to know something about this but it was not referred to or followed up.
It may have been useful to new family historians to show how obituaries etc can be found on Trove, rather than produced as printouts at the Library or Archives.
Still interesting to watch the stories, though! (Just have to squash the little voice that keeps telling me that this is not reality!)
MarieC
-
I'm going to be interested to see if I've discovered a little of the O'Brien story in Queensland......and the right gg-grandparents! :) :-X :-X
Mustn't spend any more time on this....why is it so addictive? ;D
I did! I did! ;D ;D
Plus another little happening. ;)
I thoroughly enjoyed Kerry's story as well.
Had quite a few smiles at his reactions at times.
I thought his comments at the opening of the show about him thinking family history was totally unimportant when he was a young man, but realising its importance as he's got older, can be said for so many people.
Dee :)
-
Hi Marie, thanks for your feedback.
If Kerry had gone online to Trove (which he didn't know about prior to our filming and as a general punter) and found Charles's obituary well...................it would have been a very short WDYTYA?
Re the Warwick connection there were absolutely NO records to be found of Charles's time there. Believe me I looked long and hard.
Regards
Diana
-
(Is there a seperate post for us to discuss tonight's episode or do we do that here? :))
-
I missed the introduction but saw the rest of the programme. It was nice to see some of my regular haunts on the show. ;)
I didn't enjoy this as much as last week's episode, though I did think the story was interesting ... possibly a little too predictable? I may have been a little disappointed that Kerry wasn't whisked off to Ireland, and went to Dalby instead. Not that there is anything wrong with Dalby - it's a nice little place.
I did enjoy his gg(?)grandmother's antics - thieving, drinking and running a brothel - I bet she could tell a story or two.
Generally, very enjoyable.
-
Perhaps we should ask to have the two threads combined.
Dee :)
-
Oh rats, I missed it! Must see if it's available online! ::)
-
Perhaps we should ask to have the two threads combined.
Dee :)
I think that is a very good idea. :)
(I will send a 'message to a moderator')
-
Oh rats, I missed it! Must see if it's available online! ::)
Don't worry Deb - there is a link on the SBS website. (and you get to see it minus the ads, which is a bonus)
-
We had a little giggle here with the "bawdy house" thing, we kept saying "whore" like that comedy skit where one side of his family were all prostitutes and the other had a paedophile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c65QRaR16io
-
We had a little giggle here with the "bawdy house" thing, we kept saying "whore" like that comedy skit where one side of his family were all prostitutes and the other had a paedophile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c65QRaR16io
Loved that clip Mosher! Did you see the UK WDYTYA featuring Alexander Armstrong? (He tracked down his 'real' family.) It's well worth watching. ;) It obviously inspried him.
-
Loved that clip Mosher! Did you see the UK WDYTYA featuring Alexander Armstrong? (He tracked down his 'real' family.) It's well worth watching. ;) It obviously inspried him.
I did see it Ruskie! To be honest, I don't even really know who he is as is with some/most of the overseas eps but I enjoy them anyway.
-
He's in the TV series "Life Begins" with Caroline Quentin, currently being shown on TV (repeats I think). Not a bad sit com, or maybe it's more of a drama .... :-\
-
In response to your requests I've merged the two australian WDYTYA topics.
I've also added a link topic on the Australia board.
regards,
Bob
-
Thanks Diana!
You can be sure that some eagle-eyed family historian will see little details that haven't been followed up! But appreciate the explanation.
Re the obituary, I just thought it would be useful to distinguish what is available on line from what is available at the Archives (a long way out of town!)
Thanks again
MarieC
-
In response to your requests I've merged the two australian WDYTYA topics.
I've also added a link topic on the Australia board.
regards,
Bob
Many thanks BB, and who do we ask for you to be given the opportunity for your own WDYTYA .... and can we all come along too ! :P
Cheers, JM
-
You're welcome :)
My own personal WDYTYA has been running on the Internet since 2005 ;D
Bob
-
In response to your requests I've merged the two australian WDYTYA topics.
I've also added a link topic on the Australia board.
regards,
Bob
many thanks Bob - you're a good egg. ;)
-
Melissa George "Who Do You Think You Are?" on Tuesday 10th April on SBS1 @ 7:30pm.
Here's the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnGbyrwJbU8
Regards
Diana
-
Looking forward to it Diana! ;) I used to watch Home and Away when she was in it (oops, sorry :-[) (and I still watch it - sorry again :-[)
Diana, will you tell us who your favourite 'star' is in this series? And which is your favourite story ? (they may not necessarily be the same of course) :)
-
I'm looking forward to it too, but mustn't think about it till Tuesday night!
(Shouldn't be here now.....there's a story waiting to be written for History Month that's awaiting my attention. )
It's good to have the threads combined. :)
Dee :)
-
What I would like to know is ..... where is everyone? They were both good episodes but surely there are some things that need our attention, that was missed, that could have been done better, that worked really well, etc retc etc .... ?
I wonder if people just don't know this series has started.
Diana, how are the viewing figures for this series?
Dee, with the UK bmd's as recent as 2005 on Ancestry for the world to see, imagine how easy it would be to trace these celebs before the programme if we also had the same resources available. I've done a bit of detective work with some of my English friends and acquaintances - mind you I've felt a bit like a stalker when after about 10 minutes I've managed to go back a few generations and find out if any of them have married and had children .... it's a bit scary really.
So just be grateful you don't have the same resources to distract you. :) (what is your story about?)
-
Here is a sneak peek at Melissa George's episode to be broadcast on Tuesday 10th April on SBS1 @ 7:30pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnGbyrwJbU8
Ruskie to answer your Q about my favourite this series - I have researched Kerry, Melissa and Michael's episodes. Each are very special to me for differing reasons: Kerry because it was such an honour and a joy to work with him and resurrect a couple of well and truly forgotten ancestors; Melissa because it took a lot of sleuthing to work out the orphan story and Michael because we have uncovered some fascinating and inspiring Indigenous history.
John Wood, Shaun Micallef and Vince Collosimo were researched by my esteemed colleagues. All are strong episodes too.
Look forward to your comments.
Happy Easter
Diana
-
p.s. The show is rating really well (for SBS).
-
Thanks Diana.
p.s. The show is rating really well (for SBS).
That's good - so it should do too. :)
-
Missed this episode last Tuesday so have just caught up with it - I loved this one - enjoyed it even more than the Micallef session. What a story!
I felt Kerry's reactions were genuine - interested and sad about what they'd been through but not over the top!
Wiggy
-
I felt Kerry's reactions were genuine - interested and sad about what they'd been through but not over the top!
Wiggy
Yes, I only recall one sniffle and a camera zoom in in an attempt to catch a tear ... so not over sentimental and snivvling. He's not an actor though. ;) I think an over the top reaction can come across as mawkish, but that's just my take on it and I'm sure many would disagree.
-
I suppose we tend to judge others by how we'd react in a similar situation. ;D
-
I suppose we tend to judge others by how we'd react in a similar situation. ;D
True ... ;)
-
Ruskie, you hard-hearted Hannah!
Think about it this way: if all your years of family history research had been revealed to you over two weeks - and for the first time in your life you were completely in your ancestral zone. Then you too might get quite emotional.
I've been on quite a few of the shoots and witnessed with my own eyes how genuinely affected our celebs are about discovery.
Kerry O'Brien was overwhelmed with just how much he cared about Charlie O'Brien - a man whose name he hadn't heard of two days previously. He couldn't make sense of his emotional response either!
But yes, we are a television program and we do "zoom in" on these moments!
Not sure what you'll make of actress Melissa George's emotional response to her very sad discovery next week - but I am sure you will let us know. Please do!
Happy Easter RCers.
Diana
-
Morning all.. and Happy Easter.
Do try to catch these shows, but don't always succeed, what with only one TV and two teenagers to fight over the remote with........ well, you can imagine... ::) ::) ::)
Must say that I did enjoy the second episode most but that might simply be because I was so familiar with so many of the place shown being a Brisbane resident with Irish roots. ;D
Diana.. Ruskie is a bit of a marshmallow underneath that tough exterior, believe me. ;)\
Karenlee
-
Diana.. Ruskie is a bit of a marshmallow underneath that tough exterior, believe me. ;)\
Karenlee
Yeah, ok ... maybe I am .... ;).
...... Or, maybe not. ;)
I'm a bit of an old cynic. ;)
I'm sure sometimes the overload of information, especially when the family stories are sad ones, must be overwhelming. The Australain WDYTYAs are nowhere near as focused on the tears as the UK (which I love) and American (which irritate me) programmes.
I liked seeing all the familiar places in Kerry O'Brien's story too Karen.
Um, I am expecting a 'show' from Melissa George - I'll let you know what I think. ;D
-
Diana, I agree with you completely. I can understand the celebs' reactions. More than once I have been moved to tears by discoveries I have made, and I've found myself caring greatly about these people. But thank goodness I have not had a camera zooming in to catch my emotional reaction!!!
There you go - I've sometimes envied the celebs all the help they get, but I've just realised that there are reasons that I would definitely NOT want to be in their shoes! :o There is always a quid pro quo...
It's really good that you are here to talk about WDYTYA when it is on.
Happy Easter to yourself too, and all other Rootschatters!
MarieC
-
quite enjoyed this weeks show aswell.
couldnt understand why kerry was shown a plaque that didnt have his family on it though. seemed to be trying to build tension when there wasn't any
:)
-
Watching Melissa George episode at present. Currently reading David Hill's, The Forgotten Children: Fairbridge Farm School and Its Betrayal of Child Migrants to Australia. David Hill being the former Managing Director of the ABC, and a former Fairbridge Farm School boy, eventually reunited with his mother.
Another book on the subject of child migration is Empty Cradles by Margaret Humphreys, which was a feature film as "Oranges and Sunshine" in 2011.
The Leaving of Liverpool (1992) was a mini series based on child migration in the 1950's.
Missing bits... taping, will rewatch.
-
I enjoyed it - some powerful stories in that family!! Phew!
I've seen 'The Leaving of Liverpool' and read some stories about those child migrants - touch times weren't they!
-
I quite enjoyed the Melissa George story. The bit about the prison warder on Rottnest Island didn't really grab me - just seemed to revolve round the point that the ancestor could have been brutal towards the aboriginal prisoners like his bosses, but she proved that he wasn't. Not a lot about the ancestor apart from that. I really enjoyed the other story, though, exploring the issue of child migrants and some of the many factors that lay behind it. Fascinating social history and a poignant exploration of a tragic family situation. Very well done! Maybe the point could have been made, briefly, that inquest files do not usually survive in England and that is why they would have been looking at the report in the newspaper (or did I miss it?) (Sorry, Diana, I always seem to find a small issue!)
I reckon this series is going pretty well, though! Have to make sure I am home on Tuesday nights and take the phone off the hook!
MarieC
-
Very tough times, Wiggy! No Centrelink or much in the way of other support systems to speak of back then......
So hard on the children - but would it have been any easier if the aunt had remained looking after them, I wonder?
I really enjoy the glimpses of different aspects of Australian history that we see in these episodes.
(Thought I was going to miss the final episode as I'd be travelling by train to Sydney! Thank goodness I'm now going after episode #5 and will be in Sydney for episode #6. I would have hated to miss it!)
Dee :)
-
I really enjoyed this episode, and not as many tears as I expected. ;)
I agree with Marie about the Rottnest family. It seemed that her ancestor might have been a nasty chap, but she seemed to be in denial that a member of her family could have been less than nice. Then she set out to prove he was a kind and true man. She found the nice obit about him, but I'm not sure that would be proof enough. Surely obits always focus on the positives of the recently deceased. I'm also not sure the two prisoners protecting him during the altercation in prison is proof enough of what a good bloke he was either. There could have been any number of reasons that they went to his aid. Maybe the truth lies somewhere in between. However she seemed satisfied that he had been wrongly portrayed.
I really enjoyed her mother's side of the story. I don't think that she managed to look up one single document though - except the newspaper (but the relevant article was pointed out to her). This may have been a record as far as being handed the relevant documents goes. Nevertheless a very interesting story. I think I liked this because the family was so ordinary. I think all of us have stories such as this in our history, strings of tragic events, and remarriages to deceased wives sisters. We do, don't we. Or maybe it's just mine. ;)
Another excellent episode.
PS. Diana, what hotel did Melissa George stay in when she stayed in Dorset (I think it was)? Some papers were delivered to her there and she was shown walking up the stairs to her room.
-
I really enjoyed her mother's side of the story. I don't think that she managed to look up one single document though - except the newspaper (but the relevant article was pointed out to her). This may have been a record as far as being handed the relevant documents goes. Nevertheless a very interesting story. I think I liked this because the family was so ordinary. I think all of us have stories such as this in our history, strings of tragic events, and remarriages to deceased wives sisters. We do, don't we. Or maybe it's just mine. ;)
Spot on, Ruskie!! :) 8)
I wasn't even going to mention the spoon feeding because I seem to always be harping on it, but yes, I did notice how much there was!
And quite agree about the way the family struck common chords for me as well as you, and possibly others. I had a ggrandfather who was sent out here from Ireland, age 14, in the middle of the 19th century when his family fell on hard times. He was keen to come, and made good, but was sent to two uncles who may not have been ideal guardians for a young lad! ::) So there were some common factors.
Perhaps this is the main strength of WDYTYA - when it manages to engage family historians with themes that are common to many families.
MarieC
-
I think the marrying of the wife's sister seems to have been quite common - as was the remarriage fairly quickly when there was a family to look after - with no social support, how else was the family to be looked after - seems a very reasonable solution to me - and one which has also occurred in my family a couple of times - probably for the same reasons!
I think most of the documents are probably 'spoon-fed' - even if they don't appear to be - how else would they make the programme?? - pretty boring taking all the time it takes for find out things!! ;) ;)
Looking forward to next week already!
Wiggy
-
True Wiggy, but I remember in some of the past UK episodes of WDYTYA, they actually showed the celebreties looking through the censuses, through parish records etc. Of course the page has already been marked for them to 'find', but it did give an inkling of what kind of searching is involved to find these details about our ancestors. It wasn't shown in real time either so not boring at all. A couple of times a celeb would simply be handed an ancient tome and be left alone to get on with the searching. I presume there was someone around to lend a hand behind the scenes though, but you did get the impression that they were going to be there for some time. :)
I think Melissa George's family seemed to leave a fair paper trail, and it just seemed like they might as well have just passed on a pile of photocopies to her. Pertinent documents were repeatedly being pulled out from between a pile of papers. But, her family story was explained well by the experts, and she had Nick Barratt there to help her. I have not seen him in any other Australian WDYTYAs and would like to ask Diana how they got him on board to help with Melissa's story? Another question Diana, which you may not wish to answer ... Would someone like Nick Barratt be paid to appear in this show? Presumably he had some minions to gather the evidence - certificates etc and put the story together, or did he himself do the reasearch? Just curious. ;)
Another question for Diana - did Melissa purchase a headstone for her ggg(?)grandparent's grave, as she implied she was going to do?
-
I would like to know what happened to the aunt/stepmum. Did she go to Canada? Make another life there?
-
Cocksie: Florence did remarry in Canada where she went to join another sister. I couldn't trace any records of any further children born but to be honest I didn't spend too much time looking further for her after establishing that she had arrived and remarried in Canada as our focus was on Lilian, Doris and Reg.
Ruskie: Nick Barratt has been affilliated with Aus WDYTYA? since it's conception. He appeared in Ben Mendelsohn's episode and his company Sticks Research Agency http://www.sra-uk.com/home.html
have provided us with research services across all the series. In Melissa's case, I was in the UK for three months (part work/part holiday) and did most of the research for Melissa in London and in Somerset.
Melissa's family and those of Reg and Doris had done some family history research but no one had ever got to the bottom of EXACTLY what had happened to Fred and Helen - nor did the cousins know what the story that their mother had passed down about a dead baby meant. So "we" picked up the trail and researched for them. It took months to order certificates and apply for documents and piece everything together ..........................months that we don't have with our talent, in Melissa's case we only had her for a total of 16 days both here in Aus and in the UK (including travel).
The hotel that they stayed in in Somerset was :The Mount Somerset, Lower Henlade 1, Somerset.
-
Thank you for answering my questions Diana, and for clarifying the Nick Barratt connection with the show.
I will check out the nice hotel in Somerset on Trip Advisor - I wouldn't mind a stay there next time I'm in the UK. ;)
I didn't realise you were the researcher for this episode.(Sorry, minion sounded a bit derogatory - apologies for that. :-[) I really liked the way the story about the dead baby was resolved. That must have been so traumatising for the child that it stayed with them and passed down the generations. I know of someone who was made to kiss their dead sibling and this had also stayed with them - and not in a good way.
I think that this side of the family story was resolved well, and didn't leave many unanswered questions. I hadn't thought about became of Florence until Cocksie asked. As you researched Florence to the point that you knew she joined another sister and remarried in Canada, and that was not mentioned in last night's programme, I've got to thinking about all the other wasted research - there must be tons of it. Maybe any important findings could be shown with the credits at the end of the programme? This may just resolve some of the events that there was not enough time to cover in the show. It wouldn't cost anything ... :)
You must have the best job in the world Diana.
-
Maybe any important findings could be shown with the credits at the end of the programme? This may just resolve some of the events that there was not enough time to cover in the show.
I think Ruskie's idea is excellent!
Thank you for answering my query about Florence and where she ended up. That whole few years when pregnant mum died, father marrying sister, scalded dead step baby/cousin, dad dying and suddenly the orphaned children are on a boat to OZ must have been a traumatic whirlwind. It was interesting to me that the only child who said anything to her children about all this was the youngest sister, Florrie Doris. Elder sister (Lilian), it appeared, never said much to her children ..... or perhaps no-one asked. Interesting. What happened to Reg?
Another question on the other side - do you know what happened to Cecil (I think that was his name)? The younger brother who the mother (wife of minister) DID not send to OZ? Did he stay in UK or end up in OZ later?
cocksie
PS regarding the prison warden on Rottnest .... I "think" that generally the British/Australians treated the indigenous population harshly (and cruelly) and probably, incredibly harshly in prison. To think (hope) otherwise is fairly naive is it not?
-
Wiggy, I think that it must have been very commom for a man to re-marry soon after loosing a wife. In my wifes side there are at least two that I can verify.
In both cases there were young children involved, so a man needed a woman to look after them, and if he knew there was an unwed sister, I think that would have been the thinking to remarry. Sounds a bit cold, but......... the children needed a "mother"
A Chesters
-
I'm glad you like my idea Cocksie. :)
regarding the prison warden on Rottnest .... I "think" that generally the British/Australians treated the indigenous population harshly (and cruelly) and probably, incredibly harshly in prison. To think (hope) otherwise is fairly naive is it not?
These were my thoughts too.
I'm not sure there would have been such a thing as a kindly prison guard in those days. He would have had to dish out some severe punishments on orders from above even if he did not believe they were justified. He would have to have become hard, even if he didn't start out that way.
I thought it seemed that the programme almost cut short this story when Melissa seemed content after reading the obit, that her ancestor WAS a nice guy after all. Once again maybe Diana can tell us if this was skewed to make Melissa happy as she was so upset? Was there any further evidence about this ancestor that was omitted?
I'm sure we all have horrible ancestors in our family history. (I know I do. Or maybe it's just mine ... ;)) I don't see why they all have to be pillars of the community and lovely people. It's not realistic.
Cocksie - Another good question about Cecil. :)
-
Agree with you Ruskie.
It intrigues me why Ms George was so upset about the possibility (likelihood?) that an ancestor may not have the same social/moral "code" or behaviour that one may well have in today's world. There is no way that ALL our ancestors have been squeaky clean and righteous souls (in their era and when viewed from years away) - life just doesn't work that way.
My lot seem to stray or very nearly "cross that line" fairly regularly - but I am not sure I can judge as I was not there at the time, neither was I living in their world. Doesn't make me feel bad or upset - although I do feel for them and the "victims" (which I often trace as well, out of interest and end up going "sideways" for quite a while).
After all, if my ancestors had not made their choices then I probably would not be here!
cocksie
-
Talking about squeaky clean - I find with mine that those who 'travelled free and with a push' to this fair land remained squeakier clean than those who came with the silver spoon in their mouths and thereafter managed to fall into bankruptcy, fraud, embezzlement etc etc!! :o ::) ;) One even went to prison for 16 months!! :o :o
It is all part of the rich tapestry which is our ancestry!! Long may it remain so!
Yes A Chesters - I have two verifiable remarriages with sisters too - seems the obvious choice really doesn't it! Sorts out all sorts of things!
Wiggy
-
Couldn't agree more Cocksie - different worlds. In fact I wonder if Melissa's ancestor may even have been commended at the time for his harsh approach.
Yes A Chesters - I have two verifiable remarriages with sisters too - seems the obvious choice really doesn't it! Sorts out all sorts of things!
Wiggy
I have a second marriage to a brother, and a second marriage to a step-son ;). ;) I've not found any criminal activity, but do have family stories of not very nice people. :-\
-
Just been checking how often my male ancestors were marrying the sisters of their dead wives. Not uncommon in my family particularly in the 1800s in UK and OZ.
Seems logical to me .... am imagining ... if I am younger sister, living at home with mum and dad, my older married sister dies leaving husband and children. Mum says "right we have to help out. You, cocksie, are to go over and help with the children - poor old hubby "John" has to work and there are nappies to be changed. Off you go, cocksie". I don't have a car (or horse) and it is easier to stay at my brother-in-law's house as he has an early start and someone has to be there to look after the children. This goes on for a couple of months, all relatively comfortable, am helping brother-in-law grieve, keeping house & children in order, cooking, washing ........ couple of hugs turn into a couple of kisses, turn into ....... next logical step is a piece of paper!
cocksie
-
I'm sure that is how things often worked out.
I see the male as the winner in these situations. The poor woman might get a roof over her head and a bit of food, but generally gets the raw end of the deal, cooking, cleaning, and toiling over her brother in law and his children - not to mention 'marital favours'. :-\ Whereas the husband gets an unpaid housekeeper with added benefits. :P
-
Ruskie - I agree!
However, the problem for the male is that the new wife/cleaner/cook/bedmate will probably end up pregnant (a number of times) which will mean more mouths to feed. If the bloke had any sense he would partner up with the OLDEST unmarried sister he could find and thus minimise the child bearing years available and possibly minimise the number of future mouths to feed.
cocksie
-
Update from Melissa's mother roday - the tomb stone for Frederick and Emma Helen Tames is nearly completed and will be soon installed at the cemetery.
-
Thanks to a screaming migraine that's been haunting me since about last Saturday.. I missed the show last night. Bummer.
Oh well, I am sure that I can catch up on it some other time, no doubt it will be repeated.
Sounds like it was a good episode though, judging from all the comments you lot have made.
Karenlee
-
I was quite surprised. To me Melissa comes across as very stilted, but in this episode I thought she was very relaxed, polite and friendly when greeting people.
I too thought she was overly upset about the Rottnest Island part of it, but in those days they didn't try to rehabilitate you when you went to prison. You had 'done' the crime and that was it. Though some of the 'crimes' people committed and were sent to jail for are laughable now. You could have stolen a loaf of bread, but you were considered just as bad as a murderer.
Glad to hear about the tombstone - rather nice thought.
Now, as with everyone else I think it would be a good idea for an ordinary rootschat member to be picked and have their genealogy done for them by WDYTYA! I am also waiting for pigs to fly!!
Kind regards
Bev
-
Great about the tomb stone!
It's what I'd love to be able to do for some of my ancestors. :-\
Dee :)
-
Now, as with everyone else I think it would be a good idea for an ordinary rootschat member to be picked and have their genealogy done for them by WDYTYA! I am also waiting for pigs to fly!!
Yes, I agree. Being whisked off to Taunton, Somerset would be very convenient. Was good to see a visit in my genealogical neck of the woods.
Thought Nick Barratt looked very familiar. Now I know why.
Interesting to hear about the aunt's remarriage and the tombstone, and where Melissa stayed in Somerset.
I was unaware of the aboriginal history of Rottnest Island, never having been there. I guess Kerry O'Brien's career background and mature age (sorry Kerry) would lead to vastly different reaction to difficult news. I think if you do genealogy and want fact rather than fiction you have to be prepared for warts and all. It probably also depends on how much prior knowledge you have of the family background. Nowadays it must be hard to find people you can still surprise with something unknown.
-
Well I have a candidate for WDYTYA - one of my brickwalls! So I have been looking and looking for a famous descendent which I could then offer as the "celebrity". Can't find one so I have no "carrot".
The story starts with my brickwall, her (at least) 3 partners/husbands, includes mythical link to Charles Dickens, possible scandalous link with an OZ NSW premier (in mid 1800s), arrests for murder (publican accused of supplying drinks to customer until he was dead), lively 1800s OZ pubs, religious problems, unorthodox wills, a judge, possible convict connections, couple of world war brave soldiers, British scum make good in OZ. I can also offer interviews with some of the still living descendents of the 3ggmother brick wall - all from different 3 ggfathers (we have managed to find eachother online some 160+ years later). Could be good - I can even imagine re-enactments!
-
I'm sure that is how things often worked out.
I see the male as the winner in these situations. The poor woman might get a roof over her head and a bit of food, but generally gets the raw end of the deal, cooking, cleaning, and toiling over her brother in law and his children - not to mention 'marital favours'. :-\ Whereas the husband gets an unpaid housekeeper with added benefits. :P
Don't forget the unmarried daughter needed some support when parents died, and probably had no training for anything other than 'service'. - and surely being married with some rights was better than being the 'poor relation' waiting on an aged aunt as one sees in Jane Austen!
Reckon there was something to be gained in both directions! the bloke got a housekeeper, the woman got some status and some inheritance rights possibly! And sometimes it must have been an OK situation possibly better having a step-mother who was in the family than someone with no connection to the children. You are probably going to have some feeling for your nieces/nephews.
fascinating stuff trying to put oneself in their place isn't it!
Wiggy
-
The thing is, we mustn't judge our ancestors by our present day social conditions and values!
I think women generally had a rotten deal in the past and I am S-O-O glad that I am living now and not then! But our ancestresses would not have had any idea of an independent life for women. By and large, all they could have expected was marriage and children - or poverty - and could only have hoped that they would marry someone who would treat them well and be a good provider for them and their children.
That comes out clearly in Jane Austen, who has been referred to. Even a lively, intelligent woman like Lizzie Bennett had to marry or face a life of marginalisation and poverty. We can see her facing that possibility when she had the spunk to reject the awful Mr Collins, but her friend wasn't willing to risk it and sold her soul to marry him.
I am very, very pleased that the tombstone has been erected for Frederick and Emma!
MarieC
-
Update from Melissa's mother roday - the tomb stone for Frederick and Emma Helen Tames is nearly completed and will be soon installed at the cemetery.
That is wonderful. I don't suppose there would be any chance of a photo when the stone is in place? :) A great ending to the story.
I see your point Wiggy, but I still reckon the guys generally got the better end of the remarriage bargain. ;)
(Cocksie, what interesting ancestors you have. ;))
-
another good episode this week.
did anyone follow up on cecil and his mother to see what happened to them?
-
Hi All, Vince Colosimo's episode on tomorrow night , Tuesday 17th April at 7:30pm.
Here's a sneak peek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWSYVd78ask
Regards
Diana
-
Looking forward to this tonight! :)
-
Vince Colosimo
Enjoyed this episode and as I was watching it I made a mental note of questions/comments, which I have prompty forgotten. ::) I wasn't bowled over by it for some reason, though his story was an interesting one. I did like his comment about how he was worried how the public might judge his family when he found out that his ggrandfather was a black shirt.
When he saw the comments made regarding his grandparents 'poor' English, and he asked for the same of the person who wrote the report, I half expected him to jump up, rush off to trace their descendants and beat 'em up ... :P
I will add some more comments later ... ;)
-
When he saw the comments made regarding his grandparents 'poor' English, and he asked for the same of the person who wrote the report, I half expected him to jump up, rush off to trace their descendants and beat 'em up ... :P
Interesting wasn't it! And you can just imagine the person doing the interview of the person and getting irritated at the lack of English - maybe at the end of a long day of similar interviews and just writing 'hopeless' in sheer frustration - with no idea that it would be read again down the years!
Very Interesting episode - pity my son rang right in the middle of it! ::) ;D
-
I too had an interruption from a phone call - but I really enjoyed what I saw! I found the stories quite gripping. Not so much, this time, of what irritates me about some episodes - the plethora of librarians and archivists bearing pre-researched info to dump in front of the celebs. Well, it was more behind the scenes, not so obvious! I liked the way he travelled around and spoke Italian to various people to find out about his ancestors' lives.
MarieC
-
Wiggy and Marie - you can always rewatch the programme on the SBS website. :)
I agree with you Marie - no certificates handed to him by archivists which was refreshing.
I know that migrants today have to undertake English lessons, (and there is that ridiculous Australian cultural knowledge test :P) and I think they are expected to reach a reasonable standard, but I think it's non-formal and a pass or fail basically doesn't mean much. With Vince Colosimo's grandparents, was a reasonable standard of English a requirement for citizenship? The programme implied that there was a later test or interview and by that time their English had improved.
Maybe you are right Wiggy - the word 'hopeless' was probably never intended to be read by more than a couple of officials.
-
Hi,
I quite liked it. Also the fact that it started with him and his daughter and ended with them. Also keeping in touch with his family by computer.
I also liked the fact that he was able to talk to people who if they didn't know his ancestors at least took the time to explain things (if they could) to him.
He also found a couple of relatives and seemed to enjoy their company.
What I would like is that as we in WA can't join in and talk to the people after the show is aired, can there be something in writing as to what was said to these people. At least we can get over the idea that we are being left out all the time ;)
Kind regards
Bev
-
BevL you can view a transcript of the live chat with Vince (and the others) on the SBS website. Here is the link:
http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/whodoyouthinkyouare/tab-listings/page/i/2/h/Live-Chat/
-
Some interesting comments on the live chat transcript - many unanswered questions though - it must be impossible to keep up when people are firing loads of comments and questions at you.
I did notice many of the comments were about the "hopeless" reference. All seem to say that this was written about VC's grandmother. I thought it was referring to her grasp of the English language rather than her personally, which, though a poor choice of words by today's standards, is not the same thing at all. Did I get this wrong?
-
It was about her English - I think - Wasn't it? . . . . That's what is so mad - ::) ;)
-
I will have to watch that part of the programme again I think Wiggy. I was sure they were talking about the grandmother's English.
It is not surprising that her English was not good as she was a recent immigrant - that is not casting any aspertions on his grandmother at all. Can anyone remember how long she had been in Australia when that report was written? It was not a very thoughtful choice of words perhaps, but the report was not intended for public viewing. In this game we often come across harsh things that were written about our ancestors. :(
Everyone on the SBS chat must have got the wrong end of the stick. ::)
-
And I'm another that had phone calls during the programme. >:( I think I'll take the phone off the hook next week! ;)
I was talking on the phone and trying to watch at the same time. What I saw properly, I really enjoyed. I'll get to watch it properly at a future date, as I'll buy the DVD when it comes out.
Dee :)
-
Or they were just following Vince's lead . . . . ;)
-
Or they were just following Vince's lead . . . . ;)
That crossed my mind too Wiggy.
-
Was wondering why there was no WDYTYA thread, glad I found it eventually.
Loved the Vince Colosimo show. His family story about his grandmothers family was similar to my own.
My grandmother was one of eight children. Five had died young (all under 15 months old) including one that had passed while the family was at the cemetery for another. Story goes that when a sixth died aged only a few months my Great-Grandfather screamed at the cemetery for God to take him instead of his other two children. He passed two weeks later and my grandmother lived 88 years and her brother was 84.
I need to learn Italian so I can travel to Italy and do a proper search of that side of the family.
-
John Wood's WDYTYA up next this Tuesday 24th April on SBS1.
Here's the promo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7NhlAT0-oc
-
Really enjoyed this one - best yet for my money!!!
What a great story!! Do you have any idea what you are going to dig up when you start Diana?
Wiggy
-
Agree with you, Wiggy. I really enjoyed this episode! Brilliant programming to have it so close to Anzac Day and I learnt a lot about what happened in Greece during WW2 - didn't realise it was so bad there. Fascinating story about the Swedish great-grandfather also! Two great stories, well told. Well done, Diana and co!
I imagine that they would only make an episode about a particular celeb if they start digging up really interesting stuff - is this right, Diana?
MarieC
-
I enjoyed this too. John Wood came across extremely well - very down to earth and interested in all that was found. I loved the banter between him and the old boy who now owns his gr grandfather's property by the Murray River. I think this episode seemed more laid back despite the grim WW2 subject matter. Maybe it was the personalities involved - both the Greek expert and John's Swedish cousin were very good.
Great programme - well done Diana and team.
-
I also enjoyed the fact that the threads of knowledge which the family had received from their ancestors proved to have some foundation.
- this is what I also have found - usually it is there - if only you can find it - and mostly - I've found that what has come down has been basically correct.
-
Yes, Wiggy, agree about the threads of knowledge. Many of mine have some basis in fact, though some have no basis at all! ??? ::) :(
Love your sprig of rosemary for Anzac Day, by the way!
MarieC
-
Thanks !! ;)
Maybe the series makers only take up the threads which have some grain of truth in them . . . :D
-
Have just found that Queensland State Archives has online the story, complete with the digitised records that they hold, of Kerry O'Brien's ancestor Charles. You can view all the records by clicking on them. Well worth a look!!
http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/Researchers/History/Pages/story-charles-obrien.aspx
MarieC
-
Thanks RC-ers for your feedback on this episode as always. We are glad that you enjoyed John Woods's WDYTYA?
Wishing you all a respectful ANZAC in memory of your diggers and all of those whose lives we have explored across this program.
The last episode of this series is next week - Michael O'Loughlin an ex Sydney Swans football player. I'll post the promo in the next couple of days.
After that it will be heads down and you know what up until the next series goes to air - later this year or early next year.
Regards
Diana
-
Have just found that Queensland State Archives has online the story, complete with the digitised records that they hold, of Kerry O'Brien's ancestor Charles. You can view all the records by clicking on them. Well worth a look!!
http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/Researchers/History/Pages/story-charles-obrien.aspx
MarieC
That's interesting - thanks for posting it Marie. It's an eyeopener to see the number of records which were searched to put that segment of his story together. :)
-
Thanks Marie for posting this.
In this case the Qld State Archives and the v lovely Saadia were instrumental in helping Kerry find out about his O'Brien ancestry via the records.
-
I didn't know about the records kept by the gold museum at Ballarat - I have a GG-grandfather who was a partner in a mine at Ballarat - might be able to find out a bit about it and him through that
- trouble is, I suspect some things are open to a TV programme that aren't available to mere public.
-
... the v lovely Saadia ...
I often have the need to request help from her when I visit the Archives. She is wonderful. (all the staff there are great actually ;))
-
Michael O'Loughlin's "Who Do You Think You Are?" on SBS1 on Tuesday 1st May at 7:30pm. Eastern States peeps can jump online for post-broadcast chat.
Here is a sneak peek:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJYYTojhkT8
Regards
Diana
-
i was a bit disappointed with the john wood episode.
it looked to me like they tried to make a story out of what was to be honest just what most of us have.
the pic that was given to john of his mother, it was made to seem like they had had it in greece all these years and nobody knew of it. im assuming it came from his family.
all the shots of the big house in sweden and it turns out he was just an ag lab like 99.98% of the rest of us.
:-\ :-\
-
I don't mind the fact that he is just like the rest of us!! And couldn't you just see it coming - the pictures of the big house and then . . .
What I really enjoyed was seeing someone who really had kicked over some gold - you read about it all the time but I've never before heard of someone who actually did it!! :D
-
it was the whole trying to make it interesting and seem more than it was that got me.
if he's born in a cottage on a farm then show us the cottage and not someone elses house
-
I found his story quite boring and switched off half way through, sorry John.
Trish
-
I'm now in Sydney and my Sydney family have promised I can have the uninterrupted use of the television for tomorrow night's epsiode about Michael O'Loughlin.
I'd have hated to miss it. :)
Dee :)
-
I am planning tomorrow evening around my need to be left alone between 7.30 and 8.30.
-
I'll be taking the phone off the hook! ;D
MarieC
-
Don't forget to join in the online chat with Michael, the Director and me after broadcast tomorrow night at 8:30pm EST.
Regards
Diana
-
Being in Sydney for this one, I might even be able to do so. :)
Dee :)
-
Found tonight's episode very powerful in the stories that were told of Michael O'Loughlin's ancestors, what happened to them and how they still lived proudly. This and similar documentaries should be made available to schools so that the stories may become well known to the next generation. It was great to see Michael growing so much in knowledge and pride about his people and where he belonged.
Sorry Diana, I can't come to terms with the chat. It goes so fast, and probably because of this, people ask lots of questions that the celebs never answer. It's nice for them to have all that positive affirmation, but apart from that it seems rather pointless to me.
MarieC
-
I agree with MariaC. Great program tonight, he must have felt so proud of his ancestors.
Trish
-
I enjoyed tonight's programme more than I thought I would. Michael seems like a very nice man.(I had never heard of him prior to this).
A very interesting story about his grandfather and an amazing amount of documentation surrounding him and his work to keep his heritage alive for future generations. That bust of him was a bit spooky though - I think it could have done without the red eyes. ;)
I was a bit worried to hear about Michael's great great (?) grandmother meeting his gg grandfather when she was 14. How old was she when they married? Do we know any more about this story? I am hoping this marriage was not forced upon her. :-\ I would like to how her people felt about her marrying a white man.
I did not bother with the after programme chat this season either. I read some of the transcript of Vince Colosimo's chat, but even after the event I found it difficult to follow, the comments made by the viewers were very repetitive, boring and samey, and the one or two reasonable questions remained unanswered.
I think rather than a live chat, perhaps the viewers could post questions after the show, and the celeb could answer them within the next 24 hours. This way any unsuitable questions could be vetted. :) If your question got a reply, then you would receive some kind of notification. Just an idea. I'm sure many of us have questions we would like answered but are too daunted to get into the live chat with little chance of a reply anyway.
-
She was 16 when they married - it said so!! ;) ;D
Great story and very good to know a little more of the history of the Aboriginals in South Australia - really enjoyed the episode.
Wiggy
-
She was 16 when they married - it said so!! ;) ;D
Ok thanks Wiggy, I must have missed that bit. Any idea how old the husband was?
-
37 - or 27 ?? Can 't remember! :D
just looked it up! He was born 1811 and she 1831! So 37!
-
I was very moved by Michael's episode, especially Milerum's foresight in making sure the cultural heritage of his people lived on. I can only begin to guess how Milerum might have felt poised on that razor edge of history, understanding that only he stood between a looming blackhole and the thousands of years of knowledge of his forebears.
Well done SBS for this great insight into Australian history, and thanks for taking on Aboriginal genealogy stories, when it would have been very easy not to.
Mo
-
Totally agree, Mo!
Very moving episode!
-
Everyone in our household knew that I was not to be interupted during last night's episode, and so it was viewed on both our TVs and within the opening minute they had all crept into our lounge room and were fixed on the big TV.
So, here's some comments from us all.
1. This should be compulsory viewing for all politicians of every party/non party, at local and state/territory and federal levels.
2. This should be compulsory viewing for all school students
3. This should be compulsory viewing for all government agencies staff
4. THIS PARTICULAR EPISODE should be nominated for a Walkley Award http://www.walkleys.com/walkley-awards
None of us felt able to get involved in the chat session at all, we were all still coming to terms with the fact that land originally occupied by his maternal forebears for generations and generations had been initially awarded back to her and then later colonial governments had taken it away again and again and again. We knew of the TINDALE efforts to map the languages to the locations but not of the Great Warrior connection to the $50 note.
Very very humbling experience to be privleged to have watched this episode. It was not just the best WDYTYA but the best factual program ever watched, and causes us all to rethink so much about how each of the six colonies separately determined how land was to be occupied, allocated, used, and mis-used.
JM
-
I quite enjoyed the program last night. I am sure that if I found out every thing he did about his ancestors I would be bragging about them everywhere.
I felt happy for him with some of the things he found out and sad with the way some of it turned out.
He seems a quiet but friendly man and put his point of view over intelligently and didn't go one way or the other and that he felt he could feel his forebears every place he went.
If everyone was like Michael what a nice world we would live in.
Kind reegards
Bev
-
Hi all thanks for your feedback on Michael's episode, the last one of this series.
We are in production for Series 5 with another six people cast. SBS hope to get this to air at the end of this year or early next year. I'll keep you posted nearer the time.
Kind regards and bye for now,
Diana
-
37 - or 27 ?? Can 't remember! :D
just looked it up! He was born 1811 and she 1831! So 37!
Umm, thanks Wiggy - I thought as much ... possibly a little worrying. (I did miss the very beginning of the programme - Home and Away always runs a bit over time. :P). Something I did wonder about was why he gave up the two boys. I know that reasons were given, but I didn't feel quite comfortable with them. I think I need to watch it again to recap, as I obviously missed some vital bits. ;)
I agree with all that has been said. Michael came over really well, with a very balanced point of view, and no bitterness, despite the fact that he understandably had the right to feel that way. Nice man.
-
As it turned out, I had to wait till today to watch a recorded episode of last night's show, due to a family emergency.
Wonderful episode and I can only agree with the comments made by others.
It has special significance for me, as I live in the Lake Alexandrina area, and have in the past tried to research without any results a probable connection of my children's paternal great grandmother with the Ngarrindjeri people of the Coorong. It has given me the impetus to try again.
Hurry up Series 6!
Dee :D
-
Might have to wait a while Dee !! :D
- Diana said they are in production for series 5. ;D ;D ;D but if it is half as good as this series then 6 is certainly a must! ;)
-
OOOOPS ..... make that Series #5.
Please excuse me ....grandchildren at my bedroom door at 4.30 a.m. has left me rather fuzzy today! ;D ;D
-
Hi, does anyone know if there are any plans to show this series in the UK? I'm guessing not as I've not seen any of the others yet.
It seems such a shame as we seem to get everything else such as bondi beech and bondi vet. It doesn't matter that we may not know the celebrities it would still be interesting to watch especially as the two country's share so much history.
Regards
Andrea.
-
And also as so many of our celebs end up going back to UK to find their roots !! ;)
Wiggy :)
-
Is anyone continuing to watch the (UK) WDYTYAs which are being shown in the same timeslot? I've seen them before but will watch them again. Bruce Forsyth was featured last night. They uncovered a fascinating story about his great grandfather. Recommended if any of you get the chance to see it.
A rootschat discussion about it here:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,467991.0.html
Andrea, I hope you eventually get the Australian series in the UK. I'm not sure if any of the previous series have been aired on UK TV. Diana may know? :-\ I agree, it is irrelevant whether or not you are familiar with the celebrity - it can still be enjoyed.
-
Watched Bruce Forsyth last night - it was interesting I have to say.
Specially liked the reaction of the US family when he told them the news! ;D
-
I totally agree that the Australian series screened in the UK would be very relevant given the shared history. In Australia we get both the UK and the US versions. Come to think of it show it in the US - now that will never happen! The US version tends to be of the connection to the Mayflower variety, which gets a little much for foreign viewers.
I want to say that Michael O'Loughlin episode - agree with comments - outstanding episode. The most dignified and respectful person.
-
Did I dream it, or did I see something about a South African version of WDYTYA, maybe in a TV Guide?
Though I love the whole concept of the show, I'm afraid I find it difficult to watch the American version - they've messed with it so much (no surprise there), with so many "recaps" as to make it virtually unwatchable ........ in my opinion. ;)
-
Yes Ruskie, I am sure that there was a South African version on SBS last year.
-
Agree with second sentence Ruskie!
-
Yes Ruskie, I am sure that there was a South African version on SBS last year.
I thought I saw mention of it more recently than that - a couple of weeks ago perhaps. Maybe they are repeating it?
Agree with second sentence Ruskie!
Glad I'm not alone Wiggy. ;) I could go on about it ... but i won't, as this thread isn't the place for whinging about American WDYTYAs. ;D
Diana-:
I think I already know the answer to this, but I wonder if you will give us any clues as to who will appear in the next series?
Also, you usually tell us who your favourite celebrities were after the series finishes. Who was your favourite this time? Who was the best to work with? Which story you enjoyed researching the most? Any difficulties with any of the research? (This is something I'm sure we would all like to know as we all come across little, and big, brick walls in our own research)
-
I agree with all that has been said:
* Yes, it would be great if the Australian series could be shown in the UK
* Yes, I too am watching and enjoying the English WDYTYA programs again. What a colourful rogue Bruce Forsyth's ggrandfather was!
* I have given up trying to watch the American WDYTYA - they irritate me too much
* I too would love it if Diana would answer some of Ruskie's questions!
MarieC
-
I think you may have to wait a while for a some answers, as I have a feeling that when a series ends, those involved with producing the programme get to have a holiday. :)
Dee :)
-
Agree with Dee!
Also perhaps while I too really really want the answers perhaps it could embarass the Aussie team to know that I think they are the No. 1 team not just at producing WDYTYA but in producing historically researched documentaries "full stop". !
-
I think you may have to wait a while for a some answers, as I have a feeling that when a series ends, those involved with producing the programme get to have a holiday. :)
Dee :)
Hahahaha. If only Dee. I have been very busy researching content for Series 5. In fact am currently working on the 6th episode of this next series. No rest for the wicked :) It has been the fastest turn around yet.
Ruskie your answers under separate post
-
"Diana-:
I think I already know the answer to this, but I wonder if you will give us any clues as to who will appear in the next series?
Also, you usually tell us who your favourite celebrities were after the series finishes. Who was your favourite this time? Who was the best to work with? Which story you enjoyed researching the most? Any difficulties with any of the research? (This is something I'm sure we would all like to know as we all come across little, and big, brick walls in our own research)"
Ruskie you are right - no clues allowed :-X but suffice to say we have got another six great and enthusiastic contenders on board for Series 5. Two episodes have already been shot, one is one the road at the moment and the other three in pre-production.
As mentioned previously, on this series I researched Kerry O'Brien, Melissa George and Michael O'Loughlin's episodes. Shaun, John and Vince's episodes were researched by my esteemed colleague. So I am a bit biased :)
I really enjoyed working on all three of "my" eps:
Kerry's because it was a personal challenge to unearth family history for one of our best journalists (and a little daunting to interview Kerry I might add) and he was one of the most engaged, thirsty and committed participants I have worked with thus far;
Melissa's 'cause we were able to solve a very personal family mystery about the reasons why both her maternal great grandparents were sent to Australia under the child immigrant scheme as "orphans" and to explore the history of scheme;
Michael..............I think that everyone who worked on or was connected with this episode was truly blown away by the bitter sweet history of Kudnarto and Milerum and delighted to bring their stories to life to Mick and also a wider Australian audience. We are delighted with the responses that we have received to this episode and hope that it continues to resonate. As researcher, I feel honoured and humbled to have been involved in this process.
With all our research, just like yours, there are brick walls in every episode and questions that are unanswerable within our research period. We send our celebs all the research after broadcast and it is up to them and their families to follow-up and continue in the future. As you all know only too well it is an ongoing process, one that is never finished. Hopefully some of them will continue discovery as more and more records come to light and also as they become more accessible.
Kerry and his family are already making progress in moving forward with new leads about Patrick and Hannah since broadcast of his episode.
I am sure that we will hear more from him about this in the future. i.e. possibly a book.
Now your turn? Any particular stand out episodes this series?
Regards
Diana
-
Yes Ruskie, I am sure that there was a South African version on SBS last year.
I thought I saw mention of it more recently than that - a couple of weeks ago perhaps. Maybe they are repeating it?
:) :)
yes i put a thread up about it when it started
-
Thanks Perth. It doesn't matter and is not important, but I didn't hear about a South African WDYTYA here. No matter. ;)
Diana,
Excellent reply, and very fair. ;) Many thanks for taking the time to do that. It is appreciated. Good to hear that Kerry O'Brien now has the bug. I'm really looking forward to future series.
I'm not sure why this thread has not attracted more discussion. The Bruce Forsyth UK WDYTYA discussion alone is over 13 pages if I remember correctly! By the way, if anyone watched that episode and is interested in the discussion (link provided above) there have been some additional comments posted - apparently Bruce's gggrandfather had relationships with more women which resulted in more children! ;) Not mentioned in the programme.
Regarding which was a stand out episode for me in the Australian series ... it's difficult to say - I enjoyed them all. Oddly, possibly my least favourite was Vince's. I think maybe I liked Melissa George's and Kerry O'Brien's stories the best, but I also Michael O'Loughlin's because his indigenous ancestors left such a surprisingly excellent paper trail and he came across as a really nice balanced guy. I also liked Shaun's and John's but the events covered interested me a tiny little bit less than Melissa and Kerry's.
-
* Yes, it would be great if the Australian series could be shown in the UK
MarieC
Ooh wouldn't that be nice, I've ended up purchasing the first three series on DVD from Australia so it would save me some money and yes they are far more interesting than the US versions, although the odd one has been interesting. I have so many sidelines that went to Australia that I find it fascinating, and so few that went to the US. I wonder why the BBC seems to think that we only want to see that version.??? The Irish series was never shown in the UK either, well probably in Northern Ireland but not on the mainland ...
Nicola
-
I join with Ruskie in thanking Diana for what she has said. It's always great to have your input, Diana! I think we are privileged that you join us here in discussion - the researchers in other countries don't seem to do this.
Went looking at the Bruce Forsyth thread after what Ruskie said. A lot of it goes back to 2010 when the episode was first screened in Britain, and a lot of the posts are just "I don't like Bruce Forsyth", "I don't either", etc etc. So I think our thread isn't doing too badly!
I WAS intrigued, though, Ruskie, to read what you mentioned - that the ancestor was an even worse womaniser than the episode made him out to be, and even worse, an abandoner of his partners and children.
Diana, I'm delighted to know that Kerry O'Brien is moving on with his family research - I'm sure that there is indeed a book in all of it!
Like Ruskie, I enjoyed all the episodes, but like someone else (I think it was Majm), my favourite was Michael O'Loughlin's because of all the poignant social history it brought to light - things that all Australians should know. It was a beautifully filmed and researched episode! And because he came across as such a delightful human being. I'm sure if people in the UK can see these episodes, they will enjoy them.
All in all, well done, Diana and team, and I can't wait for the next series!
MarieC
-
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,165.0.html Berlin Bob has stickied and locked his thread http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,590509.0.html it to the top of the Aussie Board, and Berlin Bob's particular thread has been viewed several hundreds of times.
I sometimes wonder if some RChatters simply don't know to click on the live links in RChat threads ....
PS you all know ;D well at least I hope you were expecting me to add more two pennies worth even before I type it up
"JM Agrees with Ruskie ...... ::) " Excellent Reply and very fair, Diana"
Excellent reply, and very fair. ;) Many thanks for taking the time to do that. It is appreciated. Good to hear that Kerry O'Brien now has the bug. I'm really looking forward to future series.
..... I'm not sure why this thread has not attracted more discussion.
-
I join with Ruskie in thanking Diana for what she has said. It's always great to have your input, Diana!
I agree also Ruskie!! Nicely put MarieC
Cheers
Wiggy :)
-
Hi Nicola, aka smudwhisk, can you or anybody else tell me where I can purchase a DVD from? Something I'd never thought of doing.
Maybe we need to start a campaign, get fellow root chatters to write to the bbc, they could show it instead of the football ;)
I wonder if Diana's reading this if she would know if there are any plans to sell the series to the UK?.
Sorry if I have hijacked your thread, I hope you understand my frustration :)
Regards
Andrea
-
PM sent to Andrea with the details of who I purchased the DVDs from as I suspect Rootschat Mods won't be happy for me giving a commercial retailer a plug (especially as it's not the company that produces the DVD as their postage was too high). ;)
Nicola
-
Not sure if this is where you purchased yours Nicola:
http://shop.abc.net.au/products?utf8=%E2%9C%93&keywords=who+do+you+think+you+are
I think it is OK to post these sorts of links. :)
They cost a small fortune, I don't know the costs or if they post to the UK. I think it might be a better bet to see if Diana knows if any UK TV stations have bought the series.
-
im sure if you google them you will find a few very cheap ways of watching them
-
No I purchased mine from http://www.sanity.com.au/Search.aspx?sanquery=who%20do%20you%20think%20you%20are as they were only charging $15 postage and I've used them in the past with no hassle. SBS use Dymocks and they wanted $45. ::) Also found it was cheaper to purchase in Aus$ than use the sellers off on GB£ as the UK bank was giving a better exchange rate. Unfortunately the limit for personal purchases from outside the EU has been £18 for the last 20 years and above that amount you get hit with import duties. The duties aren't that high, it's the "administration fee" for collecting them that takes the joke, it tends to be a lot higher than the import duty. ::)
-
im sure if you google them you will find a few very cheap ways of watching them
Possibly but I value the integrity of my PC ;D and as we are outside of Australia, you can't watch the online reruns from the broadcaster.
-
im sure your pc wont feel like its lost its integrity.
not every site will corrupt it
-
im sure your pc wont feel like its lost its integrity.
not every site will corrupt it
No I'm sure they are not, but the security is tight on it anyway since IT is my livelihood, but these day's I tend to avoid a lot of those types of sites. In any case, I don't tend to spend much on DVDs these days so they are a little treat. ;) I get to see the UK and US versions on TV here anyway. I don't think the Australian version has ever been broadcast over here since I have cable TV and get all but the premium channels and have never seen them advertised.
-
Updater: I am delighted to announce that Melissa and her family have recently installed a magnificent, honouring and poignant headstone on the previously unmarked grave of Frederick Tames and Helen Mounsher.
Regards
Diana