Thanks to BarrattFamily for some insider hints
I only buy transcripts of BDM certificates in Australia. There are a couple of people to use (all around the same price) but I have found a man named Laurie Turtle to be the fastest. He sometimes emails them to me within a day or two. It's roughly half the price and has the same information that the full certificate has. The death transcripts are really worthwhile because they list every child of the deceased and their ages at the time of the parents death. Also how many living & deceased children.
Below is an example of one of my Great Grandmothers death transcript to show you what is recorded.
NAME Ann Donaldson Rodger
DATE OF DEATH 24th December 1934
PLACE 17 Mintaro Avenue, Strathfield Municipality
RANK OR PROFESSION No entry
********** & AGE Female, 79 years
CAUSE OF DEATH (a) Chronic myocarditis (b) Cerebral thrombosis
LENGTH OF ILLNESS (a) 5 years (b) 1 month
MEDICAL ATTENDANT WD Keith Craig (registered)
DATE LAST SEEN 23rd December 1934
FATHER William Neilson
OCCUPATION Farm labourer
MOTHER Margaret Smeaton (unclear, Margaret S----ton?)
INFORMANT JM Rodger, widower, 17 Mintaro Avenue, Strathfield
REGISTRATION 27th December 1934, Burwood, signed by the registrar
DATE OF BURIAL 26th December 1934
PLACE OF BURIAL Presbyterian Cemetery, Rookwood
UNDERTAKER Arthur Ernest Walters of the firm of Walters & Son
MINISTER & RELIGION AM Ferrie, Presbyterian (unclear)
WITNESSES RP Hanley and R Walters
PLACE OF BIRTH Ardgibzean, Parish Scone, County Perth
TIME IN AUST COLONIES 6 months in Queensland, fifty two years in NSW
PLACE OF MARRIAGE Kincaple in Fifeshire, Scotland (unclear, Kin--ple?)
AGE AT MARRIAGE 27 years
NAME OF SPOUSE James Myles Rodgers
CHILDREN OF MARRIAGE Elizabeth M 40 years, Janet M 36 years living, four males deceased
OTHER DETAILS Parts of this register are unclear, especially where indicated above
I do admit they are still expensive but you get a lot for your money. Transcripts are $17 - roughly £9.80 I think. Here are their details as listed on the NSW BDM website.
Laurie Turtle
Tel: 61 (2) 4573 1559
Fax: 61 (2) 4573 0536
Email: lturtle [at] iprimus.com.au
Website:
http://home.iprimus.com.au/lturtle/
Joy Murrin
Tel: 61 (2) 9585 1187
Fax: 61 (2) 9585 1486
Email: joy [at] joymurrin.com.au
Website:
http://www.joymurrin.com.au
Marilyn Rowan
Tel: 61 (2) 9543 8156
Fax: 61 (2) 9541 1246
Email: marilynr [at] marbract.com.au
Website:
http://www.transcriptions.com.au/
Hope this helps you out.
Email addresses amended to prevent spamming - replace [at] with @ to use. MA