Perhaps the inscription is well preserved and you can link the grave to a family member. Or perhaps the inscription is weathered and vital parts are difficult to read. Do you know where the grave is located? Headstones don’t include that information, although the name of the monumental mason may be of help.

This grave (pictured) is the resting place of a child. Looking at an old family photograph, he probably had severe cerebral palsy and developmental delay. Victor Thomas Jarman was the only son of TE and Elizabeth Jarman, and was my great uncle.

He was the youngest of three children and was born to my grandmother when she was in her forties. He was never talked about. The family also included two girls who helped out in the family business. My grandfather was a builder but also ran a large chicken hatchery in Carlingford.

Victor was cared for at home until he was about four by which time he was a big, heavy, baby unable to do anything for himself. His parents made the difficult decision to place their only son in an institution somewhere in the Newcastle area. He died when he was about seven.

A search for cemeteries in that area came up with Sandgate Cemetery and a web-link. Inserting Victor’s name into the user-friendly search facility instantly showed the location of his grave. Wow, if only all family research was so easy!

If you would like to know more about how old cemeteries can be mapped using modern technology you are invited to the talk arranged by Goulburn and District Historical Society.

The guest speaker is Terry St George who, as a retirement project, has combined his knowledge as a surveyor with his interest in technology to develop a cemetery mapping system.  

Terry lives in Newcastle but was born in Goulburn. He is the brother of local man Patrick St George. He has used Google maps and GPS technology to map several large cemeteries, including Sandgate, Gore Hill and others in Sydney.

There are two benefits to the project; it makes easier for people doing family histories to find graves but it also allows local history staff to direct researchers to a database rather than looking up multiple sources.

The event will be held on Thursday, July 27, 10.30am at Goulburn Soldiers’ Club. Please RSVP by July 23. People can do so by emailing wollondilly@netspace.net.au or phoning  4823 5088 and leaving your name on the message bank. There is no charge for the talk.

People from Yass, Marulan and the archivist from the Anglican Diocese of Canberra/Goulburn will be attending the talk. It’s the type of project which can make a huge difference in Goulburn.