FHACT February Monthly Meeting
25th January 2026
By Engagement Committee
Family History ACT February Monthly Meeting: Tuesday 3 February at 7pm. (In person at the FHACT Education Room, Cook Community Hub, Templeton Street, Cook, or online via Zoom]. All welcome. Members and guests interested in attending should register for this event here.
Everyone is invited to stay on after Andra’s talk for supper and conversation. It’s an opportunity to meet fellow members in a relaxed setting.
Topic: Stories my Grandmothers Didn’t Tell Me
Special Guest Speaker: Andra Putnis
Set against the backdrop of one of the darkest periods in modern history, Stories My Grandmothers Didn't Tell Me by Andra Putnis chronicles the harrowing experiences of Andra's Latvian grandmothers who were forced to flee their homeland amidst the chaos of World War II. Through vivid storytelling and family history research, Andra brings to life the trials and triumphs of these remarkable women, offering a glimpse into their extraordinary journey to freedom here in Australia.
In her talk, Andra will reflect on why we need the stories of the people who came before us to better understand where we come from and who we want to be. She will offer insights into her research and writing process and how she became clear on the purpose of her project along the way.
Andra is a writer and the Artistic Director of the Canberra Writers Festival. Her debut family history book, Stories My Grandmothers Didn't Tell Me was published by Allen & Unwin in July 2024 and Zvaigzne in Latvia in July 2025. It received the Canberra Critics' Circle Award in 2024 and was shortlisted for ACT Book of the Year in 2025. Andra has a passion for assisting people research and write memoir and family histort and has given many talks and workshops that aim to inspire and help people with their projects. Andra was also awarded a Highly Commended in the 2025 Calibre Prize for her essay The Art and Atrocity of Disaster Scenario Planning, published in The Australian Book Review, September 2025, and continues to write about place and our environment.