Category Archives: family histories

Two Weddings.

GSQ Blog Posted on by

By Meg Carney. For many years I have been intrigued by wedding fashion, in particular the bride’s gown, and how much thought and consideration goes into the planning of this dress. A dress which is usually only ever worn once then packed away carefully, treasured but then mostly forgotten, the glory days of the preparations and the wedding itself fading into the background as the cares, worries and humdrum of everyday life take centre stage. The wedding of my grandparents, … Continue reading

My ancestor’s folklores – true or false?

GSQ Blog Posted on by

By Bev Murray. Way back in 1962, I went to Canberra on a year six excursion and we paid a visit to the old Parliament House (the current Parliament house was built in 1981). I have embarrassingly vivid memories of announcing to a somewhat stern-faced tour guide, that I was related to Alfred Deakin, second Prime Minister of Australia. I felt quite devastated when his interest bordered on apathy and his scepticism caused me to wonder about the validity of … Continue reading

What about you?

GSQ Blog Posted on by

                As family historians, we avidly search for details about our ancestors from records about their births, deaths and marriages, immigration documents, electoral rolls and census records etc, and then pad out the details of their lives using various other documents and newspaper articles. If we’re lucky there will be family tales passed down through the generations or someone may even have a collection of photos that they are willing to share. Hopefully … Continue reading

Every picture tells a story

GSQ Blog Posted on by

They say that every picture tells a story. My picture, the only one I have of my grandfather and his sisters, and its associated story was one of those featured at the February Writing Group meeting. The simple caption ´Arthur Stirland, front centre, with sisters Edith and Emily, with their respective husbands Albert Hall and Joseph Evans – taken c. 1915-1919‘ does not do justice to the narrative that I wrote: My paternal grandfather, Arthur Stirland, sits front and centre … Continue reading

Finding my grandmother Lizzie

GSQ Blog Posted on by

My previous post was about my dad, Joe Stirland. One of the images included in that post was my mum and dad’s wedding photo from August 1946 (see my post of 21 September 2020). I had copied this photo from my mother’s collection on one of my trips back to England. As is typical of group wedding photos, the groom’s parents are placed on ‘his’ side, whereas the bride’s parents are placed on ‘her’ side. When the post was being … Continue reading