No longer Doubting Thomas

Chart demonstrating some O'Dea DNA relationships

At the end of April 2023 I was still unsure if I had the correct Thomas O'Dea as the son of my gt -gt. grandparents Patrick and Mary O'Dea who arrived in South Australia in 1854.

Now through the wonders of DNA I have confirmed this connection through not just the two DNA matches found with his descendants through Ancestry, but also another one found through MyHeritage. 

The diagram above was created in  Word using the hierarchy SmartArt feature to demonstrate the relationship of some of my DNA matches to myself. I found this video by Julie Cahill Tarr useful.

The black labels at the side down to 3rd cousin level indicate relationships across each line. 

The last two black labels indicate relationship to me.  DNA match 1 and DNA match 4 are indeed 4th cousins to each other, but they are my 3rd cousins once removed, meaning they are one generation away from me.

Whilst on the subject of DNA matches I see MyHeritage has some new "Theory of Relativity" matches. There they use existing family trees to suggest the way matches may exist. I have managed to confirm a few of these matches but several rely on an incorrect identification of my mother's grandmother. Some indeed are just "theories."

With a wide range of DNA tools available to the researcher it is indeed an interesting time to further extend one's family tree.

MyHeritage now displays that I have 879 people in my family tree who have a common ancestor and hence share DNA with me. Of these 879 just a few have taken DNA tests.

MyHeritage chart

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

Sugar, coal and coast

The long road north

After 42 years since a last trip north there was much to see on the route Rockhampton to Mackay. No more putting hands on the windscreen to avoid the stone chips that flew into us all those years ago. Now a decent highway with B-Doubles by the dozens, the road freight trains that substitute for Australia’s lack of adequate train networks.

Our first stop after passing through rugged cattle country with few signs of habitation along the way, was at the Waverley creek rest area. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere but specifically 170km from Rockhampton, still 160km distant from  Mackay this is a well cared for and much needed roadside stop in a long stretch. We were easily amused seeing these promotional icons outside the hotel Koumala.

ST LAWRENCE

Further along a short turn off the highway saw us in St Lawrence. A small community with some interesting older buildings.

A beautifully maintained Isaac Shire Council building

A view of times past and present - general store

Clairview is on the water, further up the coast and here we saw colourful conveniences. The community appears to be about 90 houses spread along the foreshore with many large sheds for boats and fishing gear.

Before Sarina we turned off the highway hoping to see Hay Point, the huge bulk coal port. The outlook is closed but from various spots along the road we could see the lengthy coal trains pulling in to the gigantic loaders. We counted at least 24 bulk carriers standing out to sea.

Approaching Sarina sugar canefields appear. The mill dominates the town. Travelling north of there any flat land is covered in kilometres of waving sugar cane.

Walking in central Mackay I managed yet again to put my thumb in front of the camera when photographing one of the bridges that cross the Pioneer river.

At Slade Point, we had fabulous views from Lambert’s Lookout, 360° out to the Whitsundays and south to Hay Point.

To complete the day we visited Mackay Harbour and Marina dominated by a giant breakwater wall and marina accomodation towers. The hundreds of huge catamarans and others in marina indicate the wealth of this area and its reliance on the tourist trade.