One of the first question’s Fiona is asked when she tells people that she is a genealogist is “how far back have you got?” However, it’s not how far back that she has got, but what she has discovered about her family, combined with experiences, like touching the document at National Archives in England that her five x great grandparents had signed in the early 1800’s, that gets her excited.

Fiona’s family history addiction started over 35 years ago with two marriage certificates from the late 19th century. Now she is breaking through brick walls with DNA and making connections with new family members.

Fiona is a member of PHANZA and the Association of Professional Genealogists. She has served as both President and Treasurer of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists (NZSG) and worked with local branches, including convening the 2008 and 2018 national conferences. While living in England, Fiona studied with the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies. and obtained a Higher Certificate in Genealogy.

Memories in Time (www.memoriesintime.co.nz) grew from her desire to help others trace their family history. As a professional genealogist she has helped others get started; get through road blocks; understand their DNA, get organised and find cousins and heirs to estates. Fiona loves to teach family history and memory keeping and believes there is nothing better than getting someone else addicted to the hunt for their ancestors.

Oh and if you really want to know, she can trace her family tree back to the mid-17th century. Finding out about her bigamist great, great, grandmother… that’s another story.