Uncover family history

A FASCINATING upcoming workshop at Bendigo Library will explain the basics of DNA testing and how it can uncover hard-to-find information about your genealogy.

The workshop presented by the Bendigo Family History Group as part of National Family History Month builds on the tireless work of BFHG’s research volunteers.

These people donate their own time and extensive knowledge to members of the public at the library on Wednesdays and Saturdays, every week, between 10am and 2pm.

BFHG volunteer Annette Delaney said the session will look at the different applications that you can use, apart from just the ancestry sites.

“It might be DNA Painter, for example,” she said.

“If somebody matches you at a certain amount of centimorgans (the measurement of how far back that person matches you), you can take that number and put it into DNA Painter’s shared centimorgan tool.

“Then you’ll get a bit of an idea on what that relationship could be.”

Ms Delaney said participants may discover things they find confronting.

“In every single family you’re going to discover something that was not spoken about,” she said.

“So, it’s important that everybody understands that you may find something that yourself and other parts of the family might not be interested in.

“Once you know, it can’t be forgotten.”

Further information about the workshop on Wednesday 21 August is available via Eventbrite.