Soul Search might be a tiny journal with a small readership. Still, its publication of a reworking of my Blog article Thomas Solly – Explorer, Mounted Policeman and Publican (29 November 2012) marks my international publishing debut!

The Sole Society aims to engage in comprehensive worldwide research into the history of families carrying the name of Sole and all its variations, including Solly. Further, the intent is to “promote and engage in any aspect of the study of Genealogy, Family History and Local History that may further such research.”

For family historians, the Covid-19 era has been a boon with the exponential growth in webinars and Zoom meetings. So the opportunity to join in the 2021 annual general meeting last October via Zoom was particularly pleasurable for me. While it was at the ungodly hour of 2:30 am Northern Territory time, it was great to put faces to committee officers’ names. And after years of anonymous membership, it was good to really participate.

As a bonus, Mr John Titterton gave a presentation on DNA and his use of autosomal DNA to solve some mysteries in his own family history research. I, for one, hope that the Society will agree to future online meetings.