GSQ

GSQ Members Meetings
2026-04-13 19:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
All GSQ Members are invited to attend the Members Meetings going to be held 3 times a year.
Second Monday evening of the month at 7:30 PM via Zoom
13 April 2026
13 July 2026
9 November 2026
please advise secretary@gsq.org.au of attendance. Notice with link will be sent in the days before the meeting.

WeAre.xyz Interest Group Meeting Dates 2026
2026-04-16 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-06-18 18:30 - 20:30 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
WeAre.xyz Interest Group

Aims:

To help others understand the benefits of preserving the memories and research you have done, so that it will live on forever.
Introduce the group to new ideas and how to share the information and details only with the family members you wish to share with.

WeAre.xyz is a site like no other, it is nothing like Ancestry, MyHeritage, FindmyPast or the many others, but if you are interested in learning how to preserve your family history and stories and you want it available for your own family to use and see in the future, then this might be a solution for you.
Come and join this newly establish group, the only one so far in Australia, all are welcome to contact the convenor, and GSQ members to come and see how you could benefit from using it.
Meetings: The third Thursday Night of every even month at 6:30 pm (Brisbane Time) via Zoom.
2026: 19th Feb; 16th Apr; 18th June; 20 Aug; 15 Oct;
please contact convenor Fleur Creed on weare.xyz@gsq.org.au to be added to the list so that you can receive the link to come along.

Obsidian Workshop 3 and 4
2026-04-18 09:00 - 23:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
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!** This Obsidian workshop is perfect for genealogists and family historians juggling research leads, source notes, historical documents, and case studies.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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Writing Interest Group Meeting Dates 2026
2026-04-19 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
Writing Interest Group

Aims:

to provide a forum in which members can learn more about the writing, editing, and publishing processes.
meetings will include discussion and presentations. Guest speakers will be invited from time to time.
members are invited to submit pieces of writing for comment and suggestions by other members.

Meetings: Meetings are held on the 3rd Sunday of even months of the year, unless otherwise advertised. Via ZOOM.
2026: 15th Feb; 19th April; 21st June; 16th Aug; 18th Oct.
The Writing Group was formed in 2012 and grew out of two education sessions presented in 2011. We meet five times per year except December. From our beginnings as a small cohort of 10 members to a regular attendance of between 20-30, the group’s activities have also evolved.
As at June 2021 our meetings are held virtually via Zoom from 10am to 12 noon. It is hoped that we can have a mix of Zoom and face-to-face meetings in the future to provide members with the opportunity to do some personal research as well as engage with other members over morning tea and lunch, as well as meet the needs of those members who do not use Zoom.
The format for the meeting varies depending on the main topic to be discussed. Regular features include short practice sessions on a random topic; review of writing submitted by members in advance; an opportunity for members to share their achievements. Main topics we have covered include grammar, writing and style, evidence and proof, citation and referencing, copyright, different formats and structures for family histories, and many more. We have had guest speakers from time to time.
Members are encouraged to share their writing as group members may be able to provide suggestions for enhancing the style, format, etc. All comments are constructive, and the writer has discretion on whether to accept them or not. It does help, however, to have input from those not connected with a story.
Group members are at different stages of their writing; some are published authors, whereas others are just beginning. It is exciting to note that most of the winners of the Joan Reese Memorial Short Story Competition are members of the Writing Group. We regularly review how the group operates in order to meet the differing needs of beginning and more experienced writers.
Attendees are asked to contribute a gold coin donation.

Contact Convenor Pauline Williams on writing@gsq.org.au for the Zoom Link or further Information.

GSQ Closed ANZAC Day
2026-04-25 | Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia
GSQ is closed on ANZAC DAY
April 25, 2026

DNA Interest Group Meeting Date 2026
2026-04-26 09:30 - 13:30, 2026-06-28 09:30 - 13:30 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
The DNA Interest Group

The DNA Group launched in May 2015 and its aim is to assist members understand how DNA works and how it can assist you with your research.
Meetings: Are held on the 4th Sunday of even months and begin at 9:30am sharp, with the Zoom room open to login from about 9:15am. These can be long meetings and can go up to 1.30pm depending on needs.
2026: 22nd Feb; 26th April; 28th June; 23th Aug; 25th Oct.
GSQ members are welcome to join our meetings as well as our closed Facebook group.
We meet currently only via Zoom and an invitation with the meeting link goes out a few days before the event.
During the meeting we have a presentation on recent updates in the DNA world, usually one other presentation and Q&A sessions.
Another feature of the group is the Mentoring sessions where those attending decide which Zoom room they’d like to join to learn more about a specific subject ie DNA general, DNA Painter, Clustering, Y-DNA/FTDNA, MyHeritage/23&Me/Ancestry etc.
DNA Clinic:
GSQ members with DNA problems can arrange a one-on-one virtual help session with one of our admin team during our DNA Clinic nights on the 5th Wednesday of specific months from 7 – 8:30pm. Dates can be found in the GSQ Events calendar.
Attendees are asked to contribute a gold coin donation.
Contact Convenor Greg Carlill on dna@gsq.org.au to be sent the Zoom link or further information.

DNA Clinic Dates 2026
2026-04-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
DNA Clinic Help Sessions

The Aim is to assist members with any problems they need assistance with outside of learning from the DNA Interest Group meetings.
The DNA Clinic help sessions are available to all GSQ members only, and will be in your home with a one-on-one virtual meeting through Zoom.
It is held on the 5th Wednesday of the month.
2026: 29th April; 29th July; 30th Sept;
The appointments will be for approximately 1 hour each on that Wednesday evening between the times of 7pm – 8:30pm. A virtual meeting link will be sent to you the day before the DNA Clinic with your appointed time and the person’s name who will be assisting you.
If you’d like to make an appointment, please email dna@gsq.org.au by the Wednesday prior to the session, stating you would like an appointment and set out your DNA problem.

Obsidian Workshop 4
2026-05-02 09:00 - 23:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
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.

Scottish Interest Group Meeting Dates 2026
2026-05-03 09:30 - 14:00, 2026-07-05 09:30 - 14:00 | Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia
The Scottish Interest Group

Aims:

To provide assistance to those researching Scottish ancestors.
To provide resources to assist in research; providing opportunities to talk to other researchers; and organising presentations about subjects connected with Scottish genealogy, culture and history.
Via attending the Gaelic Festival each year and not only having a great time talking to everyone about GSQ and the Scottish Group, but to encourage those interested to come along and join us.

Meetings: Meetings are held on the 1st Sunday of the odd months of the year, unless otherwise advertised.The meetings are Hybrid, meaning the meeting is held at the GSQ Resource Centre but also via Zoom to assist anyone who is unable to attend in person that day.
2026: 4th Jan; 1st March; 3rd May; 5th July; 6th Sept; 1st Nov.
Topics for 2026 will be:
March 1st: East Lothian – Ailsa Corlett
May 3rd: Intro to Research with ScotlandsPeople & GSQ Records – Alistair Henderson
July 5th: Bute & Arran Records – Marie Rosborugh
Sept 6th: Using NRS Records & Sasines – Alistair Henderson
Nov 1st: Selkirk Records – Leanne Taylor

The GSQ Resource Centre, 25 Stackpole Street, Wishart opens at 9:30 am and closes at 2:00 pm. The meeting commences at 10am and runs for about two hours, with the remaining time for members to conduct their own research.
Attendees are asked to contribute a gold coin donation.

Contact Convenor Alistair Henderson on scotgroup@gsq.org.au to obtain a Zoom link or further information.

GSQ Closed Qld Labour Day
2026-05-04 | Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia
GSQ will be closed on Qld Labour Day

Monday 4 May, 2026

Becoming a fan of FANS:
2026-05-09 09:00 - 11:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
Let your family’s friends, associated and neighbours reveal more of your family’s history.
It’s not just our families who shape our history and share our stories, but also friends, associates and neighbours (FANs). FANs can reveal more nuances to our families’ lives and may turn up completely different information or confirm family anecdotes. Whether your brick wall comes tumbling down or not, researching FANs will certainly add texture to your story.

Presenter:
Pauleen Cass

Pauleen has been researching her family history since 1986 and remains obsessed with the joys of discovering new family information and sharing it with family. In 2003 she published her Kunkel family history, Grassroots Queenslanders: the Kunkel family, which was the winner of the 2004 Alexander Henderson Award (AIGS) and joint winner of the 2004 QFHS Queensland Family History Book Award. In 2006 she gained an Advanced Diploma in Local Studies by online study through Oxford University. She took the leap into the blogging world in 2009 and writes about family history as well as her interests in East Clare and Dorfprozelten emigrants to Australia. Pauleen’s interest in the emigrants from Dorfprozelten started with her own ancestor, George Mathias Kunkel, a swimmer, who arrived in Moreton Bay pre-1857. Listening to a Congress presentation by the late Jenny Paterson in 1994, she was amazed to discover that others had emigrated from the same Bavarian village. Since completing her Kunkel family history she has delved into these other emigrants to learn more about them and their life experiences. Some 66 emigrants arrived in Australia in the 1850s and 1860s from Dorfprozelten which only had a population of about 1000 at the time. She has researched these people in Australia, and has been assisted by the published local history, Dorfprozelten Teil II and email discussions with the local historian Georg Veh. Pauleen has visited the village three times over the years, first exploring her own ancestry, and later learning more about the village itself.

Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 9th May 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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Family History Tech Interest Group Meeting Dates 2026
2026-05-10 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
The FHTech Interest Group

Aims:

To assist GSQ members with increasing their knowledge and skills in using technology which can assist with their Genealogical research.
Make members comfortable with Genealogical advancements that are happening in the world.

Meetings: Meetings are held on the 2nd Sunday of odd months of the year, unless otherwise advertised. Via ZOOM.

2026: 8th March; 10th May; 12th July; 13th Sept; 8th Nov.
The meeting commences at 10:00 am until 12:00 noon and generally consists of updates which have occurred, anything New; a Presentation and then Discussion on the presentation and problems to be solved.
This group gives opportunities to look at many other technologies that may help you in relation to recording, preserving, and looking at various technology to help you with your family history.
We like to look at and discuss

File management and storage
Various Software Programs especially ones to use with family history
Help in relation to the many Genealogical Website usage.
Common Windows/PC or Mac problems.
Work together as a group to help others overcome issues and also to swap ideas which can assist others.

If you are not a member of GSQ yet, you can come along for 2 meetings before needing to join. Meetings are always via Zoom.
It was decided that each meeting as short overview of the current major genealogical programs that will run on your computer will be given:
8th March: Family Historian V 7
10th May: Roots Magic V 11
12th July: Legacy V 10
13th Sept: Family Tree Maker 2024
8th Nov: My Heritage Family Tree Builder
Attendees are asked to contribute a gold coin donation.
Contact Convenors Ailsa Corlett and Helen Connor on FHTech@gsq.org.au for the Zoom Link or further information.

The Manorial System in England and Wales
2026-05-16 09:00 - 11:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
The Manorial system lasted from 1066 to 1926 in England and Wales and provides one of the great repositories of family history information. The records can be difficult to access but this may change over time. Henry Chandler wrote in 1885 that manorial records enable us to drop down suddenly on an obscure English village five hundred years ago, and almost to see with our own eyes what the inhabitants are doing”. Geoff will give an overview of this broad subject and encourage you to investigate what might be available in areas where your English ancestors lived. The talk will be based on the work Geoff did for his book “Manorial Records for Family Historians” published by Unlock The Past in 2017.

Presenter:
Geoff Barber
Geoffrey Barber (Western Australia) has been researching his English family history since about 1983. He maintains his family history web site www.nynne.org as a means of making his own research more widely available. In 2015 he published his own family history “Barber alias Nynne: 500 Years of Family History in Rotherfield, Tonbridge and Brighton” and in 2017 his “Manorial Records for Family Historians” was published by Unlock the Past. Geoff has also written many articles for journals and has given talks on topics such as manorial records, wills, tithe maps, DNA and 17th century merchant tokens. Geoff is a long-time member of the Sussex Family History Group and a strong supporter of their Wills Depository project which has over 16,000 Sussex wills transcribed and indexed. He has published several e-books based on wills and his interest in particlualr surnames in East Sussex. Wills are so important for developing family trees, particularly in the earlier 16th and 17th centuries. Geoff graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in physics and a Graduate Diploma in Computing. Publications: Unlock the Past: Manorial Records for Family Historians (2017); Sussex Archaeological Society: Harriet Gladman’s Embroidery (2017); Token Corresponding Society: Margaret Reynolds (1625-1688), Merchant & Early Quaker of Chichester, Sussex (2022); Token Corresponding Society: A Token of Two Counties – John STRETFEILD of Rotherfield (Sussex) and Tonbridge (Kent) (2023); Henfield Museum (West Sussex): The Two 17th Century Merchant Tokens Issued at Henfield, West Sussex: Elizabeth Trunnell (1657) and Thomas Pilfold (1668) (2023);Various articles in the Sussex Family Historian and Western Ancestor (FamilyHistoryWA); Publications – Self-Published (freely available at www.nynne.org or the Internet Archive);History of the Old House (Originally Marden’s Farm) in Hildenborough, Kent (2014);Barber alias Nynne: 500 Years of Family History in Rotherfield, Tonbridge and Brighton (2015);George Meek’s Grandfather (2016);Benjamin Jeffery (1844-1912) – Life and Letters of an Otago Settler (2020);The AKEHURST Wills of East Sussex (1541-1858);The ALCE/ALSE Wills of East Sussex (1552-1858);The ASHDOWN Wills of East Sussex (1579-1858);The BREACH Wills of East Sussex (1548-1858);The LATTER Wills of East Sussex (1639-1858); The FREMOR/FARMER Wills of Rotherfield, East Sussex (1529-1700)

Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 16th May 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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GSQ Volunteers Morning Tea
2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia
The GSQ Morning Tea to appreciate all the work done by the volunteers
will be held on Saturday 16th May 2026 at 10:00 AM.
Each year GSQ likes to thank all the volunteers that help to run GSQ. No matter how small a role may be it is very important to the organisation and GSQ is a volunteer based society.
At the Morning Tea, the Margaret Coleman award is presented to the Volunteer of the year. It is a great honour to be presented this award and we all remember how much Margaret enjoyed her volunteer work and how helpful she was to everyone that had some sort of query regarding their family history.
The event will be held at the GSQ Resource Centre, 25 Stackpole Street, Wishart.
Please advise the secretary@gsq.org.au of your intention to come along.
More information closer to the date.

Chinese Research Interest Group Meeting Dates 2026
2026-05-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
The Chinese Research Interest Group

Aims:

To provide members with knowledge about family history research of Chinese families in Australia
To share findings, ideas and techniques on successfully researching Chinese ancestors and others

Meetings: Meetings are held on the 3rd Sunday of odd months, unless otherwise advertised. Via ZOOM.
2026: 18th Jan; 15th March; 17th May; 19th July; 20th Sept; 15th Nov.
The meeting commences at 10:00 am until 12:00 noon and are run via Zoom.
The Group is for GSQ members who are interested in researching their Chinese ancestors who have come to Australia or in exploring the life stories of Chinese people in Australia.
Throughout the centuries, many Chinese people have migrated to Australia to pursue various undertakings and to lead interesting lives in diverse places around Australia, from cities to regional areas.
Members of the Group are encouraged to bring examples of problems they are having in tracing various Chinese people, as well as examples of successes they have had with their research.

Attendees are asked to contribute a gold coin donation.
Contact Convenor Marg Doherty on chineseresearchgroup@gsq.org.au for the Zoom Link or further information.

Scandinavian Interest Group Meeting Dates 2026
2026-05-17 12:30 - 14:30 | Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia
The Scandinavian Interest Group

Aim is to provide assistance to members researching their Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish or Icelandic Ancestors.

Meetings:
Meetings are held on the 3rd Sunday of the odd months of the year, unless otherwise advertised, at the Resource Centre, 25 Stackpole Street, Wishart.
2026: 18th Jan; 15th March; 17th May; 19th July; 20th Sept; 15th Nov.
Please NOTE 17th May 2026 will start at 2:30 pm.

The Resource Centre opens at 12:30 pm and closes at 2:30 pm. Meetings usually commence at 12:30pm and take the form of discussions or guest speakers about Scandinavian research, migration or customs.
Attendees are asked to contribute a gold coin donation.

Contact Convenor Steinar Johansen on scangroup@gsq.org.au for further information.

German Interest Group Meeting Dates 2026
2026-05-31 10:00 - 14:30 | Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia
The German Interest Group
AIMS:

to offer support and research assistance to all who are searching for their German Ancestry.
to encourage and exchange information in an informal setting.
to provide guest speakers when possible to help guide us through the maze of information available to us.
to learn the history of Germany and immigration and why our ancestors chose to leave.
to get to know about German people and their customs.

Meetings:
Meetings are held on the Last Sunday of odd months of the year, unless otherwise advertised. The meetings are Hybrid, meaning held at the GSQ Resource Centre, 25 Stackpole St, Wishart as well as via Zoom. This enables anyone how is unable to attend in person on the day.
2026: 25th Jan; 29th March; 31st May; 26th July; 27th Sept; 29th Nov.
The Resource Centre opens at 10:00 am until 2:30 pm, allowing time before or after the meeting for research or discussion.
The German Interest Group is a small, but very knowledgeable group and would love to have you attend their meetings.
Please contact via email in relation to any questions or suggestions that you might have in relation to how the group may assist you with your research.
Any GSQ members who think they may also benefit from listening to the QFHS Central European Group Zoom meetings of which are held on the 1st Sunday in the even months, please contact the convenor so that she can arrange for the link to be sent to you.
Attendees are asked to contribute a gold coin donation.
Contact Convenor Lesley Roebig on germangroup@gsq.org.au to obtain a Zoom link or further information.

Interest Group Convenors Meetings
2026-06-01 19:30 - 20:30 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
Meeting for all the Convenors of the GSQ Interest Groups
will be held on the First Monday night of following months. – 4 times a year.
Meetings will be held at 7.30 PM via Zoom. A link will be forwarded to all in the days before the meeting.
2 March 2026
1 June 2026
7 September 2026
7 December 2026
any apologies to be sent to secretary@gsq.org.au

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 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
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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English/ Irish/ Welsh Interest Group Meeting Dates 2026
2026-06-07 09:30 - 14:30 | Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia
The English/ Irish/ Welsh interest Group

Aims to assist members with their research into their English, Irish or Welsh ancestry through discussion, guest speakers and acquisition of resources.
Meetings:
Are held on the 1st Sunday of even months of the year, unless otherwise advertised. The meetings are Hybrid meaning they held at the GSQ Resource Centre, 25 Stackpole Street, Wishart, as well as via Zoom so that anyone who is unable to attend on the day can still participate in the meetings.
2026: 1st Feb; 5th April; 7th June; 2nd Aug; 4th Oct; 6th Dec.
Please NOTE: The 5th April meeting will now be held on the 12th April from 1:00pm

The Resource Centre opens at 9:30 am and closes at 2:30 pm, the meeting begins at 10:00 am with a discussion followed by one of the members giving a presentation relevant to one of the counties the Group covers. There will be opportunities to ask questions of the group, seek help with a research problems you may have and to share your knowledge. You will have time to do personal research and talk to members.
Attendees are asked to contribute a gold coin donation.
Contact Convenor Kim Davis on irisheng@gsq.org.au to obtain a Zoom link or further information.

Colonial and Convict Interest Group Meeting Dates 2026
2026-06-14 10:00 - 14:30 | Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia
The Colonial and Convict Interest Group
Aims:

to provide a specialist forum for members with a particular interest in the history of settlement from 1788 through the colonial period, before the colonies united to become the nation of Australia in 1901.
to seek to collaboratively explore all aspects of this fascinating period of our history and our colonial heritage, Develop insights into your ancestors’ life experiences, including the horrors of transportation. Join, research, learn and share information. Hear the stories of others.

Meetings: Meetings are held on the 2nd Sunday of even months of the year unless advised. The meetings are Hybrid being held at the GSQ Resource Centre, 25 Stackpole Street, Wishart and via Zoom so that anyone unable to attend on the day can still participate in the meeting.
The Resource Centre opens at 10.00am and closes at 2.30pm. The meeting begins at 10:00 am until 12 noon, to allow members to conduct research after the meeting.
The Annual General Meeting of the Group is held in February each year.

2026: 8th Feb; 12th April; 14th June; 9th Aug; 11th Oct;13th Dec;
Please NOTE: Sunday 12th April meeting will start earlier at 9.30am
Attendees are asked to contribute a gold coin donation.
Contact Convenor Bev Murray on CandC@gsq.org.au to obtain a link for Zoom or further information.
