Was the success of Makybe Diva and Glen Boss in their Genes?
Glen Boss made history when he last rode Makybe Diva past the post at Flemington in November 2005. With a record breaking three consecutive Melbourne Cup triumphs, Boss is without doubt Australia’s most victorious jockey.
Despite Boss’ success, his career as a jockey was almost dashed when he fell from his saddle on a racecourse in Macau in June 2002. Sustaining two breaks in his neck, one of which being the infamous C2 vertebrae which disabled Christopher Reeve, Boss’ prognoses was grim. After just 6 months in a neck brace and the care of a top neurosurgeon, Boss was back where he belonged on horseback.
Thousands of modern families are turning to their family trees for evidence of a ‘grand design,’ to guide them with what they should be doing with their lives; it begs the question of whether Boss’ accomplishments were already in his genes.
Of the 3000 respondents to a survey on the website, 71 per cent say they’ve researched their family history to seek out patterns, trends and traits, such as a bias towards a particular occupation or a penchant for a certain talent.
Among those under 25 years old, that number climbs to almost 80 per cent.
According to 69 per cent of members, knowing the facts of who their ancestors were and what they did for a living will offer inspiration on how to live their own life today.
Around three-quarters of those under 40 believe this to be true. This kind of inspiration also turns out to be more important to men than women.
The website’s controllers say they are staggered by the number of emails they receive from members who say they have ended up following in the ways of their forebears without realising it.
Vicki Dawson, Head of Friends Reunited Australia said: “Intriguingly our research shows that for some people, the old adage of ‘be careful what you wish for’ applies, because around 50 per cent of people don’t end up actually pursuing the pattern that is suggested by their ancestry.
“This may be because they are too timid or they can’t afford to. More likely it’s because they feel they have left it too late, given that the majority of our members say they would encourage their children down a path suggested by their family tree.”
Genes Reunited can be found at www.genesreunited.com.au
About Genes Reunited
Genes Reunited was launched in Australia in 2004 as a sister-site to the Internet phenomenon Friends Reunited. Since then it has grown to become Australia’s largest family-tree website. It marked a revolution in genealogy and ancestry by combining them with Internet social-networking. Members become ‘cyber detectives’, building their family tree by posting it on the site and investigating which ancestors they share with other members. It currently has over seven million members worldwide and over 110 million ancestors and relatives listed. One new name is added to the site every single second
For interviews or more information about Friends Reunited Australia please contact
Vicki Dawson on (02) 9836 3587 or Mob: 0413 088 260
or email vdawson@friendsreunited.com.au