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How does being a family historian change you?

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By Bob McAllister Many years ago (when I filled most of the time now devoted to family history with a full-time job), I read The Gatton Mystery by James and Desmond Gibney¹. It explored the issues surrounding a still-unsolved horrific triple murder that took place near Gatton on the evening of Boxing Day 1898². One of the authors was a judge and his brother a senior public servant. I recall their book laid out in some detail the events as … Continue reading

March – Women’s history month.

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By Shauna Hicks. Each year 8 March is recognised as International Women’s Day and many countries around the world, including Australia, celebrate Women’s History in March. It is only fitting that at the beginning of March we remember our female ancestors and the lives they led. How did these women contribute to history? Was it something wonderful or totally significant on a national scale or was it something smaller and more at a community level? Very few of us have … Continue reading

A Question for Great Grandfather James Dickson

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By Lyndall Maag It started with a note, a small, white piece of what looked like scrap paper, with handwriting that seemed slightly familiar but we couldn’t quite place.  The note was a short recollection of my great grandfather’s life, telling us of family interaction in Scotland and the people he met on the voyage out to Australia.  Most tellingly, this short, seemingly innocuous document, called into question his maternity. I had heard stories of my great grandfather James’ parentage … Continue reading

The Pacific Island Monthly.

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By Sharyn Merkley Many of us use Trove every day. The newspapers reveal genealogical, society and personal details found nowhere else. However, don’t forget that Trove is more than just newspapers, and often a full site search returns interesting and previously unvisited resources. I have been looking into the life of Ernest Henry Craig, born in Cooktown in 1911. He eventually settled on a plantation on Samarai Island, a former administrative capital in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. The … Continue reading

It’s almost Christmas!

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GSQ would like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and safe and happy new year. On this day – 23 December 1834 Joseph Hansom of London receives patent for Hansom cabs   1893 Opera “Hansel und Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck and his sister Adelheid Wette premieres in Weimar, conducted by Richard Strauss   1914 World War I: Australian and New Zealand troops arrive in Cairo, Egypt     1954 The first human kidney transplant is performed by Dr. Joseph E. Murray at Peter … Continue reading