Fundamentals Course 2026
2026-01-15 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-01-22 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-01-29 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-02-05 10:30 - 12:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
Join GSQ’s Fundamental Course in Family History
it is then followed by the Digging Deeper Course in June

If you are just starting out with your genealogical research or if you would like a refresher on what, where and how to do it, then this course has been designed for you.
It is a four week course starting on Thursday 15th January 2026 at 10:30 AM via Zoom.
All sessions are recorded and will be available for attendees to view for the following 4 weeks.
If you are new to researching your family history and are not already a member of GSQ, but decide to join us during the course, then you will be refunded the $15 difference that occurs between the GSQ member and non member registration fee for this course.
Topics and Dates:
15 Jan 2026
Where do I start? The basics of family history research. Certificates, civil registration, and Australia’s convicts.
1st Session: – Marg

Basic’s – Start with yourself, write down what you know, ask family members who might know some details etc.

2nd Session: – Bev

Civil Registration in Australia, what is on Certificates, and early church records available. The UK BDM’s civil registration and information regarding Australia’s convicts.

22 Jan 2026
Finding records, primary and secondary, citations, standards, other sources of information and research plans.
Both Sessions: – Kim

Primary and secondary records, citations, with examples from personal research. Advantages of looking at cemetery and funeral directors records. Research plans and logs and Standards.

29 Jan 2026
Using Australian census and census substitutes, UK census. Practicalities of research and Repositories
1st Session: – Bev

Australian 1828 and 1841 Census and their substitutes – Electoral Rolls and Post Office Directories. Census of the UK 1841 – 1921 and the 1939 UK Register.

2nd Session: – Marg

Repositories – using them and what to expect to find in them. Practical details of research and being prepared for your visit.

5 Feb 2026
Putting it altogether in a Family History Program or an online tree and filing.
Both Sessions: – Ailsa

Genealogical Programs – Family Tree Maker, Legacy, RootsMagic, Family Historian.
Online Trees – Ancestry, MyHeritage, WikiTree and FamilySearch.
Filing on your computer.

All sessions are with experienced GSQ researchers: Marg Doherty; Kim Davis; Bev Murray; Ailsa Corlett
Please book in early to ensure you have a spot and get the Early Bird discount.
Early Bird – up to 5th Jan 2026 is $70 for GSQ/QFHS/ Affiliate and Corporate Members and $85 for Non-members
After the 5th Jan 2026 prices will be $80 and $95

Tickets will close at 8am Thursday 15 Jan 2026
The link is included in your registration payment – Please make sure you retain this.
Registrants will be able to view the recording for the following month.
QFHS and any GSQ Affiliate members you will require to put in your Member No or Branch as well as the code given to you to use.

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Family Tree Maker 2024: An Overview of New and Enhanced Features - FREE GSQ Members
2026-01-17 09:00 - 11:00
The most popular Genealogical Recording program, got better in 2025 with the release of Family Tree Maker 2024 – FREE to GSQ Members
Duff Wilson plans to cover the latest updates and significant enhancements in Family Tree Maker 2024. The specific content will be tailored to the interests and discussions of your group, ensuring we address the most relevant aspects and common queries among your members. This flexible approach will allow for a dynamic and engaging session focused on what truly matters to the Genealogical Society of Queensland.
So if you are using this version of the program, or wondered what it was all about, come to this session and talk to Duff regarding it. We are sure he will be able to answer all your queries.

Presenter:
Duff Wilson
Duff Wilson is Executive Director of Family Tree Maker and has been involved in the design of every edition of Family Tree Maker since 2004. He has more than three decades of software design and development experience working with products and people from many countries and cultures across the world.

Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 17 Jan 2026

The link is included in your registration payment – Please make sure you retain this.
Registrants will be able to view the recording for the following month.
QFHS and any GSQ Affiliate members you will require to put in the code given to you to use.

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Who, what, why in nineteenth century maternity care practice
2026-01-31 09:00 - 11:00
In the era before compulsory regulation applied to nurses, midwives and others attending at bedsides, there are few records which explain what maternity practice was about: who did it, what their motivations were, what preparation people had for it, and what practice involved. Useful sources to fill the gap are investigations into maternal deaths, coronal inquests and magisterial inquiries. In developing these investigative systems in the nineteenth century, Australian jurisdictions imported conventions from Britain and applied local considerations, of necessity. In this presentation, I will discuss maternity practice in Australia during the nineteenth century and the outcomes for pregnant women, with particular reference to colonial Queensland. Content alert: Please note that some material in this presentation is grim.

Presenter:
Dr Madonna Grehan
Madonna Grehan was born and grew up in Queensland. She is an independent historian, a Registered Nurse and Midwife and holds a PhD in history (Melb.). She is an Honorary Fellow in the Melbourne School of Health Sciences. Her research interests in history include: women and society in Australia from 1795; nurses, midwives and maternity care; oral history; biography; aspects of women in war. Madonna is in her 18th year as a volunteer, social-history, tour guide at the Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne.

Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 31 Jan 2026
The link is included in your registration payment – Please make sure you retain this.
Registrants will be able to view the recording for the following month.
QFHS and any GSQ Affiliate members you will require to put in your Member No or Branch as well as the code given to you to use.

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The Mary Toole Case Study
2026-02-14 09:00 - 11:00
The Mary Toole Case Study series examines the complexities of her lineage, familial connections, and the ties to the Buchanan name. Across four parts, the study transitions from an introductory exploration of genealogical challenges to the sophisticated application of genetic genealogy tools, culminating in the genealogical reports adhering to the Genealogical Proof Standard. It demonstrates the integration of DNA evidence with conventional research, employing a variety of methodologies, tools, and analyses to shed light Mary Toole’s ancestry. This series not only unravels Mary Toole mysteries, but also serves as a guide for genealogists navigating the nuanced realms of family history research, DNA analysis, and report writing.

Presenter:
Greg Carlill
Greg Carlill is an experienced genealogist with more than 35 years of research experience. His research has taken him into Ireland, Scotland, England, and the early days of the Australian and New Zealand colonies. As the Convener of the Genealogical Society of Queensland’s DNA Interest Group, Greg has spent the past eight years applying advanced genetic genealogy techniques to confirm and expand his research. He excels in using tools like DNA Clustering, WATO (What Are The Odds), and DNA Painter, and is skilled in managing and analysing multiple DNA tests to solve complex genealogical puzzles. Greg has a special interest in using DNA to confirm his existing research.

Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 14 Feb 2026
The link is included in your registration payment – Please make sure you retain this.
Registrants will be able to view the recording for the following month.
QFHS and any GSQ Affiliate members you will require to put in your the code given to you to use. (please contact your secretary if you do not know it)

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Obsidian Workshop - Part 1
2026-02-21 09:00 - 11:00
Part 1: Getting started with Obsidian, setting the program up, running through a workshop example
Parts 1 and 2: **Organise your genealogical research with clarity and control !** This Obsidian workshop is perfect for genealogists and family historians juggling research leads, source notes, historical documents, and case studies. The strategies taught — such as note linking, ancestor-centric hubs, and research trail mapping — are critical to understanding complex relationships and hypotheses that genealogists frequently encounter.

Presenter:
Greg Carlill
Greg Carlill is an experienced genealogist with more than 35 years of research experience. His research has taken him into Ireland, Scotland, England, and the early days of the Australian and New Zealand colonies. As the Convener of the Genealogical Society of Queensland’s DNA Interest Group, Greg has spent the past eight years applying advanced genetic genealogy techniques to confirm and expand his research. He excels in using tools like DNA Clustering, WATO (What Are The Odds), and DNA Painter, and is skilled in managing and analysing multiple DNA tests to solve complex genealogical puzzles. Greg has a special interest in using DNA to confirm his existing research.

Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 21 Feb 2026
The link is included in your registration payment – Please make sure you retain this.
Registrants will be able to view the recording for the following month.
QFHS and any GSQ Affiliate members you will require to put in your the code given to you to use. (please contact your secretary if you do not know it)

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Obsidian Workshop - Part 2
2026-02-28 09:00 - 11:00
Part 2: More advanced topics, making the most out of the data in your Obsidian Vault dataview queries, bases.
Parts 1 and 2: **Organise your genealogical research with clarity and control !** This Obsidian workshop is perfect for genealogists and family historians juggling research leads, source notes, historical documents, and case studies. The strategies taught — such as note linking, ancestor-centric hubs, and research trail mapping — are critical to understanding complex relationships and hypotheses that genealogists frequently encounter.

Presenter:
Greg Carlill
Greg Carlill is an experienced genealogist with more than 35 years of research experience. His research has taken him into Ireland, Scotland, England, and the early days of the Australian and New Zealand colonies. As the Convener of the Genealogical Society of Queensland’s DNA Interest Group, Greg has spent the past eight years applying advanced genetic genealogy techniques to confirm and expand his research. He excels in using tools like DNA Clustering, WATO (What Are The Odds), and DNA Painter, and is skilled in managing and analysing multiple DNA tests to solve complex genealogical puzzles. Greg has a special interest in using DNA to confirm his existing research.

Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 28 Feb 2026
The link is included in your registration payment – Please make sure you retain this.
Registrants will be able to view the recording for the following month.
QFHS and any GSQ Affiliate members you will require to put in your the code given to you to use. (please contact your secretary if you do not know it)

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Banished women: convict hardship in colonial NSW
2026-03-14 09:00 - 11:00
Fascinated to discover her 2x great grandparents, Sarah and Thomas Bell, had been matron and keeper at the Parramatta Female Factory, Sue Bell decided to research their lives. Her ancestors had arrived in Sydney from Ireland in 1832 and four years later were appointed to the factory.
Using records, newspaper reports and the stories of individual convicts from the period, Sue reconstructed their story in her book, Academy for Young Ladies, which reveals what happened as the number of female convicts in the factory grew and the Bells were buffeted by events beyond their control as well as their serious misjudgements.
In her presentation, Sue will provide a background to female factories in colonial NSW and Tasmania and in particular the Parramatta Female Factory, highlight stories of the Bells and the convicts and staff who were in the factory during their administration and then outline the ongoing work of the Parramatta Female Factory Friends which includes seeking world heritage listing after becoming a national heritage site.

Presenter:
Sue Bell
Sue Bell was a librarian, and policy advisor in the Queensland Government. She majored in history when studying for her BA at University of Queensland and has become interested in family history over the last 15 years. She has written articles for the Society of Australian Genealogists’s magazine Descent, GSQ’s Generation, and is a regular contributor to the GSQ blog. She has also contributed to the Parramatta Female Factory Friends’ publication Her Story Series Vol 1, and the regular PFFF newsletter.

Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 14 March 2026
The link is included in your registration payment – Please make sure you retain this.
Registrants will be able to view the recording for the following month.
QFHS and any GSQ Affiliate members you will require to put in your the code given to you to use. (please contact your secretary if you do not know it)

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Diving into Ancestry DNA - FREE to Members
2026-04-11 09:00 - 11:00
You have done an Ancestry DNA test. The results are in. Now what? This hands-on workshop dives into the Ancestry DNA website and the many Ancestry tools available to help you with your DNA results.

Presenter:
Helen Smith
Helen is a speaker, author and professional researcher who has been researching her family for more than 36 years (and no she isn’t finished yet!). She also has a Quested One Name Study (anywhere anytime) and has a particular interest in social history, medical history, the influences on and the contexts of our ancestors lives as well as DNA and its use in genealogical research.

Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 11th April 2026 – This event is FREE to GSQ and QFHS Members
The link is included in your registration payment – Please make sure you retain this.
Registrants will be able to view the recording for the following month.
QFHS and any GSQ Affiliate members you will require to put in your the code given to you to use. (please contact your secretary if you do not know it)

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Obsidian Workshop 3 and 4
2026-04-18 09:00 - 23:00
Part 3: Review and Questions
Part 4: Review and Questions
Parts 1 and 2: **Organise your genealogical research with clarity and control !** This Obsidian workshop is perfect for genealogists and family historians juggling research leads, source notes, historical documents, and case studies. The strategies taught — such as note linking, ancestor-centric hubs, and research trail mapping — are critical to understanding complex relationships and hypotheses that genealogists frequently encounter.
Parts 3 and 4: Review and questions

Presenter:
Greg Carlill
Greg Carlill is an experienced genealogist with more than 35 years of research experience. His research has taken him into Ireland, Scotland, England, and the early days of the Australian and New Zealand colonies. As the Convener of the Genealogical Society of Queensland’s DNA Interest Group, Greg has spent the past eight years applying advanced genetic genealogy techniques to confirm and expand his research. He excels in using tools like DNA Clustering, WATO (What Are The Odds), and DNA Painter, and is skilled in managing and analysing multiple DNA tests to solve complex genealogical puzzles. Greg has a special interest in using DNA to confirm his existing research.

Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 18th April 2026 (for both Workshops)
4th Workshop will be on 2nd May 2026 same time.
The link is included in your registration payment – Please make sure you retain this.
Registrants will be able to view the recording for the following month.

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Obsidian Workshop 4
2026-05-02 09:00 - 23:00
Part 4: Review and Questions
Parts 1 and 2: **Organise your genealogical research with clarity and control !** This Obsidian workshop is perfect for genealogists and family historians juggling research leads, source notes, historical documents, and case studies. The strategies taught — such as note linking, ancestor-centric hubs, and research trail mapping — are critical to understanding complex relationships and hypotheses that genealogists frequently encounter.
Parts 3 and 4: Review and questions

Presenter:
Greg Carlill
Greg Carlill is an experienced genealogist with more than 35 years of research experience. His research has taken him into Ireland, Scotland, England, and the early days of the Australian and New Zealand colonies. As the Convener of the Genealogical Society of Queensland’s DNA Interest Group, Greg has spent the past eight years applying advanced genetic genealogy techniques to confirm and expand his research. He excels in using tools like DNA Clustering, WATO (What Are The Odds), and DNA Painter, and is skilled in managing and analysing multiple DNA tests to solve complex genealogical puzzles. Greg has a special interest in using DNA to confirm his existing research.

The link is included in your registration payment – Please make sure you retain this.

Digging Deeper into Family History
2026-06-04 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-11 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-18 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-25 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-02 10:00 - 12:00
Progress your family history research by learning additional knowledge at the intermediate level.
Presenters are experienced GSQ researchers.
All sessions are recorded and will be available to view as often as you like for four weeks to the registered participants.
The course is run over 5 weeks, starting on Thursday 4th June 2026 from 10:00am via Zoom
Dates : 4th June 2026; 11th June 2026; 18th June 2026; 25th June 2026; 2nd July 2026.
Program:
4th June 2026
British Courts and Convicts, from 1788 to 1900
Presenter: Jan Richardson
11th June 2026
Immigration to Australia, from 1788 to today
Presenter: Helen Connor
18th June 2026
Australia’s Military Past and Short intro to the British Military
Presenters: Sharyn Merkley and Marg Doherty
25th June 2026
Beginning your overseas research: England/Wales, Scotland and Ireland
Presenters: Pauline Williams, Ailsa Corlett and Helen Connor
2nd July 2026
Introduction to DNA basics
Presenter: Ailsa Corlett

Bios of the Presenters:
Jan Richardson:
Jan Richardson is a PhD candidate at Griffith University investigating the presence of non-European convicts and indentured labourers (‘coolies’) in Queensland prior to 1860, including ethnic minority individuals of African, Asian and Pacific Island ethnicity. She is also a Research Assistant at Griffith University’s Harry Gentle Resource Centre contributing to a biographical dictionary of Queensland’s early colonial residents. Jan’s publications include ‘Out of sight, out of mind: Ex-convict female paupers incarcerated in Queensland’s benevolent asylums’ in the Journal of Australian Colonial History (Vol. 24, 2022), available to download (open access) via this link: https://blog.une.edu.au/convicthistory/2022/11/18/publications/

Helen Connor:
Passionate about history and addicted to family history, Helen has researched her family in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, England, Scotland, and Barbados for over thirty years.Helen strongly believes that family history societies, like GSQ, are valuable resources for researching their family history. Helen is very involved in GSQ as being one of the Webcoordinators, running MTZoom, FHTech Interest Group and until lately the eNews editor. Helen has completed the Society of Australian Genealogists’ Certificate in Genealogical Research and has completed the University of Tasmania Diploma in Family History. In addition, she holds a Master’s in Health Policy (by research), a Graduate Diploma in Health Promotion, and a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons).

Sharyn Merkley:
Sharyn Merkley is a family historian with a life-long passion for history. She has researched her family history for over thirty years with an interest in the impact of political, social and historical events on the lives of ordinary people. After encountering a newspaper article while researching her early Brisbane family, she became fascinated by the victims of the 1864 Brisbane fire. In 2017, she published “Brisbane Burns: How the great fires of 1864 shaped a city and its people.” She has also contributed articles to the Genealogical Society of Queensland’s blog, and magazine, Generation. As a researcher for the Genealogical Society of Queensland, she has assisted with indexing projects such as the Wheeler Index, which compiled information on the lives of over 2,500 World War 1 soldiers, and the Waterloo Index, which lists soldiers involved in the Battle of Waterloo who later settled in Australia. Consequently, she has a continuing interest in Australian military history and its impact on families. As a volunteer with the Queensland Women’s Historical Association archives team Sharyn collects and researches women’s stories, concentrating on women without descendants. Determined to give forgotten women a voice, she uses modern family history techniques to write them back into history. After careers in computer programming and primary education, Sharyn has also completed a Diploma of Family History. Among her current interests are the stories of the women involved in the early years of aviation in Queensland.

Marg Doherty:
After retiring from a public service career in auditing and health, Marg returned to her passion for family history research, which she had been doing since her twenties. Also, since retiring, she completed a Graduate Diploma in Local, Family and Applied History and a Master of Philosophy researching Queensland’s First World War nurses.Marg was President of the Genealogical Society of Queensland for eight years, President of History Queensland for twelve years and the Secretary of the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations from around 2014 until 2023.
Marg is currently on the GSQ Management Committee, serves as Education Coordinator for the Society and writes book reviews for the GSQ’s Generation. Over the years, Marg has become knowledgeable about family history.

Pauline Williams:
Pauline Williams has been researching her family history for almost 40 years. Her research has primarily been in England, with links on her maternal line to Wales, America, and Norway. She has undertaken numerous research projects across a wide range of topics. As a life member of the Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), Pauline has filled a variety of roles including convenor of the GSQ Writing Group since 2011. She was editor of the quarterly journal Generation for several years and joint editor of Queenslanders: Pioneer families 1859-1901, published by GSQ in 2009. The author of many articles, Pauline is a frequent blogger for GSQ as well as a regular presenter of courses at GSQ, Brisbane City Council Libraries, and elsewhere. Pauline holds a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Public Administration, and Graduate Certificate in Arts (Writing, Editing and Publishing) from The University of Queensland.

Ailsa Corlett:
Ailsa has always been interested in family history, starting in 1989 after a trip to Central Otago, New Zealand and seeing photos and dresses of her Paternal Gt Gt Grandparents in the Cromwell Museum. Being the eldest grandchild, her grandmother also told her stories, and she inherited many of those wonderful little trinkets that get handed down.
Worked as a professional genealogist in the 1990’s specialising in NZ research for Australians. She was accredited under AAGRA. Now retired has become very involved with GSQ, is one of the Webcoordinators, the Monday Morning and Wednesday Night Zooms, the FHTech Interest Group and on the GSQ Management Committee. Very interested in Scottish research with having 70% Scottish DNA due to 3 of her Grandparents coming from Scotland. DNA features very strongly along with her Historical Research.

We have an Early Bird registration again which is up until 21st May 2026, so please register before this time or it will cost you more.
But you will still be able to book in right up until 8:00am on the morning of 4th June 2026.
EARLYBIRD up to 21st May 2026
$85 for GSQ/QFHS members
$100 for Non-members
After 21st May 2026
$100 for GSQ/QFHS members
$115 for Non-members

Tickets will close at 8am Thursday 4th June 2026
The link is included in your registration payment – Please make sure you retain this.
Registrants will be able to view the recording for the following month.
QFHS and any GSQ Affiliate members you will be required to put in the code given to you to use. This will then action the discount for you. (please contact your secretary if you do not know it. It is NOT your membership number)

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