My interests over the decades . . .

I have organised this page by providing information about me, my qualifications, experience and skills, my main interest areas and many of my other memberships, hobbies and lesser interests. These are in no particular order. I think I have retired from full time work, and I am too busy to return to the workforce at present. This document has been substantially updated in November 2011.

overview
I grew up in a fairly strict and teetotal Methodist/Congregationalist family, and had a good childhood and up-bringing. I spent my first two years of schooling at Thebarton Infant School (1951-52), and the rest of my primary schooling at Linden Park Primary school (1953-59). High school was at Adelaide High School on West Terrace, Adelaide (1960-62). I left school just after my 16th birthday and worked for PMG/Telecom/Telstra from December 1962 till December 1991. I studied part-time till the mid 1980s to attain Year 11 and 12, then an Economics degree and an Accounting qualification (CPA). From 1998 to 2010 I worked as Finance Manager with Employment Options Inc in Mt Barker. I have now 'retired', and am a full time student, volunteer and supporter of family and grandchildren. My main skills are in not-for-profit organisations (strategy, management and accounting), computing and genealogy.

Family History
The following paragraph needs to be qualified with the statement that I was gathering family history information, but in hindsight, my methods were not rigorous enough. Much of the information was provided by various families to integrate into our wide family groups. Once my genealogy qualification is finished, I will be reviewing my data, sources and the quality of evidence.

I began research in the early 1970s, after gathering information for some time. I am researching both my own family, and that of my (former) marriage partner. I have been a member of the South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society Inc., since about 1975. I have gathered lots of information and documentation, but did not do much from 1990 to about 2003. For many years, I had a unique, hard coded genealogy site, but I now have too much info and photos that are un-organised. I need to get some structure back, so this TNG site is currently my data repository. For more info, click on the link to the right. I also bought a copy of 'The Master Genealogist', and am experimenting with it to find the best way to store and manage my data.

I currently have membership to 'Find My Past' (UK and Australia), and post queries in 'Curious Fox'.

In December 2010, I started studying a Certificate course in genealogy, through the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, based in Canada. They are affiliated with the University of Toronto. The course is 'the Australian Certificate in Genealogical Studies', and consists of 40 subjects. On completion, I will be entitled to use the post-nominals PLCGS (Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies).

Web Design
I am a capable Web designer and prefer to work with uncluttered but appealing web sites that are quick to load. I have previously set up a Drupal site, and am currently becoming proficient with PHP/SQL coding. I occasionally accept commissions for web design projects.

Landcare
I live on a rural property and have an interest in Landcare in the Harrogate area. We bought the land in 1983 because it had about 30 acres (12 hectares approx) of natural scrub. More information is at the Landcare link to the right.

I am currently Secretary of the Northern Bremer Catchment Group Inc (since 2003), and also Treasurer since 2010. I am Treasurer of the Bremer Barker Catchment Group (since 2006). I manage their web site at www.bremerbarker.org.au.

Employment
I worked at Employment Options Inc, a not-for-profit Job Services Australia (formerly Job Network) provider in the Adelaide Hills, from 1998 to 2010. I was Finance Manager and a member of the Board for twelve years. You can see their web site at www.employmentoptions.com.au.

I have now retired from full-time employment, but could be lured back into the not-for-profit sector, or for Excel, database or web related projects.

I have a Batchelor of Economics degree from the University of Adelaide, and am a Certified Practising Accountant and member of CPA Australia. I have considerable experience with QuickBooks (Australian version), and Excel. I also have considerable experience with Corporate Governance in the not-for-profit sector.

Other memberships
I first became Honorary Treasurer and volunteer accountant of the Down Syndrome Society of SA Inc. in 1994. I took a break from these roles in 2002, but re-joined the Board as Treasurer in May 2009. There have been funding challenges for a few years now, and a new direction was implemented in 2011. The new Board is charged with securing our funding base into the future, and new Board members have that mix of skills, contacts, and a desire to be challenged. I have a strong interest in the Society, and you can see their web site at www.downssa.asn.au.

I still volunteer for the Society at various functions, An important activity is the monthly Rock and Roll nights we host for young people with a disability, where I volunteered each month from 2002 til 2009. I was mostly sound and lighting technician. One of our great supporters is a local radio dj, Tommy Kaye. Check out his web site, Six O'Clock Rock.

I am a Justice of the Peace in and for South Australia, and a member of the Royal Association of Justices of SA Inc (RAJSA Inc). I have been a member of the Hills Branch since 2002, and Treasurer since 2007.

Friends from the past
This section contains family and friends from my past. I obviously have lost touch with them (or you if you are reading this). If my name confuses you, you need to read the following paragraphs. I would love to make contact again, or at least say hello.

• Roger Foster, Dean Foster, from Torrensville back in the fifties
• Val Benson, from Rose Park Congregational Church in the sixties
• Jim Angus, also from Rose Park Congregational Church
• Roger Wiseman, also from this time
• Bruce Rundle, David Rundle, Jennifer Rundle, cousins on my mum's side
• Bruce Lakin, from Linden Park Primary and Adelaide High Schools
• Judith Wilson and Ian Wilson from Primary school and Beaumont
• PMG, Telecom, Telstra colleagues - will add as I remember . . .
• more to come

Gender Difference
Since you have read this far, I can add a part of my life I kept hidden for many years. I was born Graham Squire, but from a young age, I felt something was not right. I gradually came to realise I felt different to most other boys. I was a confused teenager and adult before I reasoned that if I were female, my feelings and self identity made sense. In my forties, I made the decision that I had to live as a female, and began a transition process that was incredibly challenging for myself and my partner. Now, some 15 years on, life is good and I am happy with who I am. As this page shows, I have still achieved a lot. There is more about this part of my life at www.jansquire.com /pers /gender.htm (you will need to type this link manually without spaces because it is not meant to be accessible to search engines).

Travel and Photography
I first went overseas to England in 2003, and was hooked. That time, I presented two papers at an international Gender Difference conference in Harrogate, England. I had two weeks in a hire car and a week in London. I have been back in 2007 and 2009. In 2011, I travelled to Europe and England for eight weeks.

I have had a camera since the 1960s, and upgraded to a good digital camera for the 2003 trip. In 2010, I bought a Nikon D90 SLR camera and 85-200mm lens. I am a lifelong photography learner, but I have picked up some good skills along the way. Some of my better photos will eventually appear on this site, and many of my ordinary shots appear in my holiday photo section. Music
I am mostly a classical music lover, but I enjoy all sorts of styles as the mood takes me. I enjoy old style sixties and seventies, and often buy CD's of unusual (or crossover) music presentations. I even have a couple of techno CDs. My favourite performer is Wendy Carlos, and my favourite composer is John Rutter. My CD collection is too big to carry around, but much of it is on my Laptop.

Hobbies and Interests

• Predictably, I have an interest in computers, using my first Apple II for work in 1980. My first personal computer was a 'Dick Smith' System 80 with 16k of RAM. I learnt BASIC programming and 'machine language' using the Z80 processor. I wrote my original Family History program in Basic. I upgraded frequently and revelled in the new features, and saw how quickly my needs outstripped the machine's ability to deliver. I have used a laptop for some years now, but it takes quite a while for me to be convinced that each new operating system version provides new worthwhile features. I currently have a HP laptop with Windows 7 and Office 2010.
• In 1967-1969, I spent two years in the Australian Army (National Service), as a Signals corp technician. In the process, I gained an electrical trade certificate. I could have used this later to become an electrician, but chose to continue with a clerical and accounting career.
• For most of my adult life, I have been renovating and extending my various homes. I have done lots of carpentry work, and have worked with a qualified carpenter on many occasions. I consider myself a competent tradesperson, but try to avoid working the tools now.
• For much of my early life, I was interested in steam railway preservation and in model railways. My preference then was for an 'HO' model railway based on the South Australian prototype, particularly prior to 1970. I started a layout in the seventies, but my interest now has gone.
• In the sixties, I played table tennis competitively for a few years. Do not remember much except I played in a hall at Parkside (Adelaide suburb).
• I used to do crosswords, and regularly did the 'Mr Wisdom's Whopper' in the Australasian Post weekly magazine. I sometimes wish I could find the time to still do them.
• In the seventies, I played 'Contract Bridge' every lunch hour at work. I enjoyed this but never found a regular group since then, that fitted in my schedule. I also liked chess, but that also fell by the wayside for lack of a playing partner.
• In the seventies, I was involved in Cave exploration and mapping in the south east of South Australia. At one stage, I was a member of CEGSA (Cave Exploration Group of SA Inc), but did most of my work with an informal group of people, and with Fred in Mt Gambier.
• For most of the 1980s, I was a member of the Parents' Committee of the Belair Scout Group, and their honorary treasurer.
• In the eighties I was a member of the Australian Postal Institute Caravan and Camping Club (later the Post-Tel Institute Caravan and Camping Club), including two years as President. My camper of choice was a motorhome, and we had a few over the years, a Kombi, a converted Coaster mini-bus, and a full size converted bus. I would like to buy another, but time will tell.
• I have been a foster parent from about 1978 till the mid 1990s. During that time, we had many short term emergency care children, respite care placements, and two long term children in wheelchairs as a result of being affected with cerebral palsy. The many agencies we worked with included Emergency Foster Care, Interchange, Crippled Children's Association, and CSI.

You now know a fair bit about me, and can wander off to see the pages that interest you. I have lots of work ahead of me to get this site loaded with everything I want to include. I would really like to write my biography, but the Family History stuff is the main motivation for this site.