German Interest Group 2025
2025-11-30 10:00 - 14:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | 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.
2025: 26th Jan; 30th March; 25th May; 27th July; 28th Sept; 30th 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 meetings are hybrid so that anyone who is unable to attend on the day can still join in with the meeting using Zoom.
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.

4th Wednesday Night Zoom 2025
2025-11-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
GSQ extends its invitation to everyone that is interested in learning or finding out more about Genealogical Research to attend the 2nd and 4th Wednesday Nights of the month,
via Zoom starting at 7pm.
You do not have to be a member of GSQ in order to come along, they are FREE.

Are you interested in knowing about Family History, What does it involve, How can I find out about records available, How do I go about doing Research, Would like to listen to some experts ?
The 4th Wednesday Nights we have a guest speaker talking on a large variety of topics that are involved in Family History of some sort.
These meetings are FREE to attend, but a donation is always welcomed to help sponsor subscriptions to various sites.

The Guest Speaker for this 4th Wednesday Night 26th February 2025 is:

To attend, please email wedpmzoom@gsq.org.au to advise you would like to be added to the attendee list. This will enable us to send you the Zoom link as well as information each month on what is happening.

Your hosts for the meetings are:

Ailsa Corlett

Fleur Creed

Ailsa has always been interested in family history, starting in 1989 after a trip to Central Otago and seeing photos and dresses of her Paternal ancestors in the Cromwell Museum. Being the eldest grandchild, her grandmother also told her stories and she obtained many of those wonderful little trinkets that get handed out.
Worked as a professional genealogist in the 1990’s specialising in NZ research for Australians. She was accredited under AAGRA. Now retired is very involved with GSQ and helps to run the website, the Monday and Wednesday Zooms as well as the FHTech group.

Fleur developed an interest in family history from her father, who was active in family history research, also writing books about the early settlers of the Queanbeyan, NSW district prior to the selection of the Limestone Plains as the site for the Federal Capital. Her ancestors came from England, Scotland and Ireland, and Africa via America, and include convicts, assisted immigrants and some free settlers. She has completed the SAG Certificate of Genealogical Studies, as well as completed the Diploma of Family History at UTAS. Fleur has a PhD on the topic, “Australian churches building social capital in their local communities” and currently works part-time as an academic researcher. She also operates a Facebook group about the history the early settlers of the tiny town in the North Burnett where she and her husband are turning a little timber church into their home.

MT Zoom 2025
2025-11-24 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-11-17 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-11-10 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-11-03 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-10-27 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-10-20 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
Welcome to Monday Morning Zoom

Are you interested in learning more about Genealogy/ Family History?
What can you find regarding records on the various websites, in the books at GSQ, microfiche that have not been digitized, and what you can find in Archives and Libraries.
Do you like to be part of a very relaxed group that LOVE to talk and share information?
GSQ is not opened on a Monday so why not join us from the comfort of your home along with a cuppa and don’t forget the pets.
We have discovered that many of our pets love being on Zoom and enjoy the attention of everyone saying hello to them. So all pets are welcome to come along as well.
We like to discuss events that are occurring in the genealogical world.
As a group we try to help others by offering alternative ideas or websites/records to search when someone has a problem or a brickwall.
So come and join Ailsa and Helen, every Monday from 11am – 12.30pm, and find out more about the joys of belonging to a Genealogical Society.
We do not meet on public holidays, see the event calendar,
If you are not a member of GSQ yet, you can come along for 2 meetings before needing to join.
Send your request to join us to mtzoom@gsq.org.au and we will add you to our list.
Your Hosts are: Ailsa Corlett and Helen Connor

Ailsa Corlett

Helen Connor

Monday Indexing Team
2025-11-24 10:00 - 14:30, 2025-11-10 10:00 - 14:30, 2025-10-27 10:00 - 14:30 | Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia
This time is set aside for the Monday Indexing Team, who work at GSQ on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month from 10am – 2.20pm.
If you do need to have a meeting at GSQ during this time period please be aware of the team being there and keep meetings quiet and conducted as quickly as possible.

Regards
GSQ Indexing Team

Researching the Emigrant: Ship of Death
2025-11-22 09:00 - 11:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
In 1850, the Emigrant became the second ship to bring government-assisted free settlers directly from the UK to Moreton Bay. Tragically, typhus broke out on board, killing many of the travellers. The remainder were quarantined in dreadful conditions on Stradbroke Island for almost four months, during which time many more of the immigrants and two doctors attending them died. Jane Smith’s book Ship of Death tells the story of the voyage, the quarantine and the aftermath, focusing on a handful of the key players and bringing their stories to life. In this session she will outline her approach to researching the episode and the characters, explaining her strategy, her sources, and her method of selecting and organising her findings into a coherent structure.

Presenter:
Jane Smith:
Jane Smith is a librarian, archivist, freelance book editor and author. She enjoys bringing history to life through fiction and non-fiction for all ages, and has written more than twenty books with a history focus. Jane’s book Ship of Death: The Tragedy of the ‘Emigrant’ was shortlisted for the 2021 Frank Broeze Memorial Maritime History Book Prize. Three of her children’s books have also been shortlisted for literary prizes. Jane received a 2024 Visiting Fellowship with the Harry Gentle Resource Centre (Griffith University) to write the biography of the convict Hannah Rigby. Jane currently works part-time as a hospital archivist and part-time in her editing practice.

Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 22nd November 2025
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 Alliliate/Corporate members you will require to put in your Member No or Branch as well as the code given to you to use. This will enable you to receive the discount.

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WeAre.xyz Interest Group
2025-11-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
A new interest group for GSQ.
WeAre.xyz
If you are interested in learning how to preserve your family history and stories on a site that is nothing like Ancestry, MyHeritage, FMP or many of the others, and you want it available for your own family to use and see in the future, then this might be a solution for you.
Fleur Creed has established this Interest Group and is keen for GSQ members to come along and see what you can do.
The first meeting is on Thursday Night 20th November 2025, at 6:30 pm (Brisbane Time) via ZOOM
please email Fleur on weare.xyz@gsq.org.au to be added to the list so that you can receive the link to come along.

Wednesday morning Zoom meetings hosted by Bobbie Edes
2025-11-19 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
Wednesday morning Zoom meetings hosted by Bobbie Edes.
Starting at 11am on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month Feb to Nov.

Each of our friendly meetings is run for about 90 minutes or so. The sessions alternate between a Topic PowerPoint presentation with notes on the 1st Wednesday of each month and a help/learning aid session on the 3rd Wednesday with those present all sharing their contributions which are compiled into a handout on that subject so they can be kept for future use. Recently in these mid-moth meetings we have covered military, Australian births, immigration, land records, burials with more planned as well as helping members with their brick walls.
Our topic sessions have recently covered Plotting your ancestors journey using Google Earth, Preparations for visiting an archive, Education in Australia, Using short stories, Timeline creation, Using PowerPoint, and Using PowerPoint to tell your family story in movie format.
**Please email requests to join to: wedmorningzoom@gsq.org.au
2025 – 5th & 19th Feb; 5th & 19th March; 2nd & 16th April; 7th & 21st May; 4th & 18th June; 2nd & 16th July; 6th & 20th Aug; 3rd & 17th Sept; 1st & 15th Oct; 5th & 19th Nov; 3rd Dec Christmas Gathering.

Topic’s on the 1st Wednesday of the Month
Learning Aid/ Brickwall on the 3rd Wednesday of the Month.

Committee Meeting Dates
2025-11-17 09:00 - 12:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
The GSQ Committee meet on the 3rd Monday of each Month between 9am – 12pm
Committee Members will be unavailable during this time period, please leave them a message so they can return your call.

Scandinavian Interest Group 2025
2025-11-16 12:30 - 14:30 | Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia
The Scandinavian Interest Group aims:

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.
2025: 19th Jan; 16th March; 18th May; 20th July; 21st Sept; 16th Nov.
Please NOTE 18th May 2025 start is 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.

Chinese Research Interest Group 2025
2025-11-16 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.
2025: 19th Jan; 16th March; 18th May; 20th July; 21st Sept; 16th 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.

2nd Wednesday Night Zoom 2025
2025-11-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
GSQ extends its invitation to everyone that is interested in learning or finding out more about Genealogical Research to attend the 2nd and 4th Wednesday Nights of the month,
via Zoom starting at 7pm.
You do not have to be a member of GSQ in order to come along, they are FREE.

Are you interested in knowing about Family History, What does it involve, How can I find out about records available, How do I go about doing Research, Would like to listen to some experts ?
If these are questions you have, then please come along to our Wednesday Night Zooms. It is a self help group as well so that you can offer solutions/ideas/web sites/books and knowledge to anyone attending. Attendees are asked to participate in the 2nd Wednesday Night topic, thus sharing information about our ancestors.
The 2nd Wednesday Nights are topic based plus I have a Problem! night. (Please send in these problems or questions at least a week before the meeting)
The 4th Wednesday Nights we have a guest speaker talking on a large variety of topics that are involved in Family History of some sort.
These meetings are FREE to attend, but a donation is always welcomed to help sponsor subscriptions to various sites.

The topic for Discussion for this 2nd Wednesday Night 12th November 2025 will be:

To attend, please email wedpmzoom@gsq.org.au to advise you would like to be added to the attendee list. This will enable us to send you the Zoom link as well as information each month on what is happening.

Your hosts for the meetings are:

Ailsa Corlett

Fleur Creed

Ailsa has always been interested in family history, starting in 1989 after a trip to Central Otago and seeing photos and dresses of her Paternal ancestors in the Cromwell Museum. Being the eldest grandchild, her grandmother also told her stories and she obtained many of those wonderful little trinkets that get handed out.
Worked as a professional genealogist in the 1990’s specialising in NZ research for Australians. She was accredited under AAGRA. Now retired is very involved with GSQ and helps to run the website, the Monday and Wednesday Zooms as well as the FHTech group.

Fleur developed an interest in family history from her father, who was active in family history research, also writing books about the early settlers of the Queanbeyan, NSW district prior to the selection of the Limestone Plains as the site for the Federal Capital. Her ancestors came from England, Scotland and Ireland, and Africa via America, and include convicts, assisted immigrants and some free settlers. She has completed the SAG Certificate of Genealogical Studies, as well as completed the Diploma of Family History at UTAS. Fleur has a PhD on the topic, “Australian churches building social capital in their local communities” and currently works part-time as an academic researcher. She also operates a Facebook group about the history the early settlers of the tiny town in the North Burnett where she and her husband are turning a little timber church into their home.

Angie Bush - DNA Presentation
2025-11-09 10:00 - 15:00 | Hybrid: GSQ and via Zoom, 25 Stackpole Street, Wishart, Queensland, 4122, Australia
Angie Bush – DNA Presentation in Person or via Zoom
We are very privileged to have Angie conduct a live Seminar for us in November while she is here in Australia.
This is being arranged by the GSQ DNA Interest Group, and will be conducted as a Hybrid event so that if you are unable to attend in person (we have limited seating), then you will not miss out by viewing on Zoom.

Presenter:
Angie Bush
As one of the most sought-after genealogists and internationally recognized educators, Angie Bush combines years of experience in biotech with a passion for genealogical research and a unique ability to solve seemingly impossible cases. She is a Fellow of the National Genealogical Society and a recognized leader in the field of genetic genealogy. Angie blends deep technical expertise with a passion for connecting people to their roots. Her primary research interests involve using DNA test results to help people reclaim their heritage. This includes cases of unknown parentage, such as recent adoption and donor conception, slavery, or history lost through events like the Holocaust.
With an academic background in biotechnology, Angie brings scientific rigor to every project. A dynamic educator and frequent speaker at national and international conferences, Angie is known for making complex DNA concepts accessible to genealogists of all levels. Her work has been featured in publications, media, and high-profile research collaborations, and she continues to shape the future of the field through leadership, innovation, and mentorship. Angie is a Utah native and currently lives in Salt Lake City.
Degrees and Credentials
Molecular Biology – Bachelors
Biotechnology – Masters
Region Specialties
United States
Idaho, Ohio
Research Type Specialties
Adoption (documented), Other Unknown Parentage, People Finding (cousins, etc.), Consult, Verification

There will be 4 talks over the day from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon – lunch – 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

“Genealogical Gaslighting: Are You Your Own Brick Wall?”

Sometimes, the biggest obstacle in your genealogical research isn’t a missing record or lack of DNA matches—it’s your own assumptions. This session explores the unconscious habits, biases, and record misinterpretations that might cause you to hit dead ends. We’ll look at some real-world examples and learn how to critically evaluate evidence, challenge those sometimes pesky family stories, and adopt a more flexible, evidence-based mindset to break through those brick walls.

“Blueprints and Biology: Planning Your Genealogy Research with DNA in Mind”

Building a great family tree that will stand the test of time doesn’t happen by accident. This lecture walks attendees through how to create an effective research plan, with a special focus on integrating DNA testing into the strategy. We’ll discuss setting clear goals, evaluating sources, and determining the types of questions DNA can and can’t answer. Whether you’re just beginning or refining your research strategy, this session provides actionable steps to move your tree forward with intention.

“DNA Detective Work: Making Sense of Relationship Calculators from Simple to Sophisticated”

This lecture dives into DNA relationship calculators, from the basic tools provided by major testing companies and the Shared cM Project to more advanced tools like WATO and BanyanDNA. We’ll compare their strengths, limitations, and best use cases, giving attendees a practical guide for interpreting the amount of shared DNA, building targeted hypotheses, and leveraging these tools to guide your genealogical research.

“From Chaos to Clarity: Using DNA Clusters to Focus Your Genetic Genealogy Research”

Clustering transforms large match lists into meaningful networks of shared ancestors. This session will demystify how clustering works, highlight the strengths and limitations of common approaches, and show you how to apply clusters strategically in your own family history projects. By understanding what these groups represent and how to interpret them, genealogists can move from guesswork to targeted, evidence-based research.

Please contact DNA@gsq.org.au in relation to any questions you might have.

Tickets for attending in person on the day are limited due to the space at the GSQ Resource Centre.
Lunch is catered for in the attendance cost – Wraps of either Vegetarian or Meat lovers (please check the Platters via Woollies). If you have special dietary needs, we are sorry but we are unable to cater for them, so you would need to bring your own lunch.
Cost to attend in person: Early Bird $65 for GSQ/QFHS/Affiliate/Corporate Members and $75 for Non members
Cost to attend via Zoom: Early Bird $60 for GSQ/QFHS/Affiliate/Corporate Members and $70 for Non members
Early Bird tickets will close 31st October 2025
From 1st Nov 2025 until 8:00 am 9th November 2025: $75 GSQ/QFHS/Affiliate/Corporate Members and $85 for Non members for attending in person if any vacancies.
From 1st Nov 2025 until 8:00 am 9th November 2025: $70 GSQ/QFHS/Affilitate/Corporate Members and $80 for Non members attending via Zoom.
The event will be recorded for all that are registered and will be available to view only for up to 4 weeks from the date.

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The experience of one AIF Prisoner of War in Europe, WW11
2025-11-08 09:00 - 11:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
This case study focuses on Private Hugh Moran in the AIF who was captured in Libya in 1941, imprisoned as a POW in Italy until 1943, when he was moved to a German Stalag in current-day Poland. He, and others, were forced to labour in the mines and industry until early 1945. With the progress of the encroaching Russian Army, the Stalags were vacated by the Germans. The POWs and guards from Stalag VIIIB trudged westward across the bitter winter of 1945 in what became known as the Lamsdorf Death March for its high mortality. Hugh was fortunate and survived 4 years of life as a POW and returned to Australia in 1945.
We are less familiar with the POW experience in Europe and this presentation will provide records and resources that can assist Australian and New Zealand researchers.

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 8 Nov 2025
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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Wednesday morning Zoom meeting hosted by Bobbie Edes
2025-11-05 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia

GSQ TAG IT Meetings 2025
2025-11-04 09:00 - 10:30 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
TAG IT, meet every 1st Tuesday of the month at 9.00am
Link will be sent out to all via Convenor at least the day before.

Family History Tech Interest Group 2025
2025-11-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
The Family History Technology 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.
2025: 9th March; 11th May; 13th July; 14th Sept; 9th 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.
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.

Scottish Interest Group 2025
2025-11-02 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.
2025: 2nd March; 4th May; 6th July; 7th Sept; 2nd Nov.
Topics for 2025 will be:
March 2nd: Lanarkshire – Alistair Henderson
May 4th: Using Scotlands People – Ailsa Corlett
July 6th: Highland Clearence History – Helen Connor
Sept 7th: Using National Records of Scotland Records – Alistair Henderson
Nov 2nd: East Lothian – Ailsa Corlett

The Resource Centre 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.
The meetings are hybrid so that anyone who is unable to attend on the day can still join in with the meeting using Zoom.
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.

Leveraging AI in Family History
2025-11-01 09:00 - 11:00 | Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia
Artificial Intelligence is fast becoming integral to our work as Family Historians. In this presentation, learn about the latest updates in this fast changing landscape and see live demonstrations of some of the ways AI is being incorporated by genealogists into researching their ancestry. Utilising a variety of tools, both free and paid, participants will learn how to streamline their workflow and take advantage of the power of AI.

Presenter:
Andrew Redfern
Andrew Redfern is a passionate family historian with particular interests in Colonial Australia, the convict experience and DNA. He is a current director of the Society of Australian Genealogists where he contributes significantly to its education and IT programs. Andrew is particularly interested in how digital tools can be used to enhance our family history work and combined with his professional background in educational technology, Andrew has become a leader in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into family history research. He has presented at RootsTech and to many family history groups internationally.

Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 1 Nov 2025
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/ Corporate 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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DNA Clinic 2025
2025-10-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
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.
2025: 29th Jan; 30th April; 30th July; 29th Oct.

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.
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.

DNA Interest Group
2025-10-26 09:30 - 13:30 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
The DNA Interest Group aims:

The DNA Group launched in May 2015 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.
2025: 23rd Feb; 27th April; 22nd June; 24th Aug; 26th Oct.
GSQ members are welcome to join our meetings as well as our closed Facebook group. Because our meetings are usually attended by 30 – 40 members 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.

Mining the Genealogical Treasure: Making the Register of Deeds remotely accessible
2025-10-25 09:00 - 11:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
What is the Register of Deeds? Is it of any use to family historians? How can we get to use it? These questions will be answered in this presentation of interest to anyone with Scottish ancestors.
The Register of Deeds spans the activities of the full breadth of society over some 500 years. It is a huge record series which contains both original legal documents and their copies made by the clerks of the various courts all over the country. However, it has remained relatively inaccessible to researchers outside of Scotland due to a lack of published or on-line finding aids and calendars.
To improve this situation, a co-operative effort has started between Scottish genealogists and the Genealogical Society of Queensland Scottish Group to transcribe and index the records for future generations to use. This international project has become possible by the use of modern imaging techniques and communication methods to enable the volunteers to access the records remotely. Even so, the work requires a number of volunteers with palaeographic skills to read and interpret the historical images. Some examples of the deeds discovered during the process will illustrate the usefulness of these records to family historians.
This presentation will explore the ways in which the project can be speeded up to make the vast number of records available in a reasonable time frame. The rapid advances in artificial image interpretation hold promise in this area. The presentation will cover experiments using large language model AI systems to enhance the process and ways that the project can be improved by other societies. Examples and live interaction with the AI models will demonstrate the use of these systems in this important area of research.

Presenter:
Alistair Henderson
Alistair Henderson of Fordell, B.E., FSA (Scot) is a retired electrical engineer who travelled through all continents of the world endeavouring to clean the skies from the effects of dirty polluting industries, and has worked in those parts that tourists never get to see.
As hereditary Chief of the Name and Arms of Henderson, with a lineage stretching back over five centuries, he is also one of only six full Scottish chiefs resident in Australia. His duties as a Chief take him to all parts of Australia, Canada and the U.S.A. as well as to Scotland.
He has been chairman of the GSQ Scottish Interest Group for over 25 years, and has a daughter resident in Glasgow, which means he regularly travels to Scotland for family visits and research.
His interests include industrial archaeology, heraldry, woodworking, Scottish history, and of course, tracing his wife’s Scottish and Irish family history.
Tickets available until 8 AM Saturday 28th October 2025
The link is included in your registration payment – Please make sure you retain this.
Event via Zoom and recording available to all attendees to view for a month afterwards.
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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4th Wednesday Night Zoom 2025
2025-10-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtually via Zoom, QLD, Australia
GSQ extends its invitation to everyone that is interested in learning or finding out more about Genealogical Research to attend the 2nd and 4th Wednesday Nights of the month,
via Zoom starting at 7pm.
You do not have to be a member of GSQ in order to come along, they are FREE.

Are you interested in knowing about Family History, What does it involve, How can I find out about records available, How do I go about doing Research, Would like to listen to some experts ?
The 4th Wednesday Nights we have a guest speaker talking on a large variety of topics that are involved in Family History of some sort.
These meetings are FREE to attend, but a donation is always welcomed to help sponsor subscriptions to various sites.

The Guest Speaker for this 4th Wednesday Night 22nd October 2025 is

To attend, please email wedpmzoom@gsq.org.au to advise you would like to be added to the attendee list. This will enable us to send you the Zoom link as well as information each month on what is happening.

Your hosts for the meetings are:

Ailsa Corlett

Fleur Creed

Ailsa has always been interested in family history, starting in 1989 after a trip to Central Otago and seeing photos and dresses of her Paternal ancestors in the Cromwell Museum. Being the eldest grandchild, her grandmother also told her stories and she obtained many of those wonderful little trinkets that get handed out.
Worked as a professional genealogist in the 1990’s specialising in NZ research for Australians. She was accredited under AAGRA. Now retired is very involved with GSQ and helps to run the website, the Monday and Wednesday Zooms as well as the FHTech group.

Fleur developed an interest in family history from her father, who was active in family history research, also writing books about the early settlers of the Queanbeyan, NSW district prior to the selection of the Limestone Plains as the site for the Federal Capital. Her ancestors came from England, Scotland and Ireland, and Africa via America, and include convicts, assisted immigrants and some free settlers. She has completed the SAG Certificate of Genealogical Studies, as well as completed the Diploma of Family History at UTAS. Fleur has a PhD on the topic, “Australian churches building social capital in their local communities” and currently works part-time as an academic researcher. She also operates a Facebook group about the history the early settlers of the tiny town in the North Burnett where she and her husband are turning a little timber church into their home.

Writing Interest Group 2025
2025-10-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ), 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia
The 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.
2025: 16th Feb; 20th April; 15th June; 17th Aug; 19th 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.
At present meetings are being held via Zoom.

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