QFHS Snippets - December 2009 Volume 9, No. 12


We’ve come to the end of another year already.
 
You can still attend events celebrating Queensland’s 150th birthday.
 
Get your spot booked for the every-popular ‘Trout Game’ to be held in March.
 
Remember the QFHS library closes on 13 December for the Christmas break.
 
Watch out for the jolly red man in the red suit! Make sure to put out a carrot for the reindeer and a cold ‘lemonade’ for Santa!
 
All of us in the Snippets team wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous 2010.
 
Happy researching!

Please to send your Snippets pieces to us at: snippets@qfhs.org.au

Table of Contents

  1. About This Newsletter
  2. QFHS Gaythorne Centre
  3. QFHS Dates to Remember
  4. QFHS Trout Game
  5. Q150 Celebrations for Proclamation Day
  6. The Commissariat Store Museum Exhibitions
  7. Queensland Ancestors to be Honoured at Book Launch
  8. From River Banks to Shearing Sheds, 30 years with Flying Arts
  9. A Family History Networking Event
  10. Bathurst Free Press newspaper index 1851
  11. National Archives UK - Birth, Marriage and Death Records Available Online
  12. Early Irish maps at the National Archives UK
  13. Registration for 2010 NGS Family History Conference Now Open
  14. Introducing GenQueries.com - The Online Database of Genealogy Queries
  15. Full 1851 UK Census Now Available Online
  16. FamilyRelatives.com 1 Million New Military Records
  17. The Night Before Christmas...
  18. Acknowledgements

1.    About This Newsletter

Snippets is a monthly publication of the Queensland Family History Society Inc. (QFHS). QFHS Website http://www.qfhs.org.au/

Please do not click on reply to contact Snippets - the 'click on reply' facility is strictly for 'un-subscribing' to the mailing list.

You are encouraged to contribute items which you feel would be of general interest to the family historian hunting for that illusive relative. Humorous items and items relating to the technology of using computers in genealogy are also welcome. Submit your BRIEF items supplemented by hyperlinks to additional details.

Snippets will rarely include items of a commercial nature and only then when they are likely to be of interest to a majority of our readers.

Submit your items to us via: snippets@qfhs.org.au  Top of page

2.     QFHS Gaythorne Centre

Our address is:

    58 Bellevue Ave
    Gaythorne QLD 4051
    QFHS library - (07) 3355 3369

For details about QFHS Centre, including location map, transport etc, click here: http://www.qfhs.org.au/location_hours.htm#Library

3.     QFHS Dates to Remember

QFHS Monthly General Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month (but not in January and December), at the QFHS Library, and start at 7:30pm. Attendance is free, and visitors are welcome.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, 17 February 2010.
________________________________________

QFHS Daytime Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month (but not in January and December) at 20 Marmont Street, Geebung from 10am - 12 Noon.

Next Meeting: Monday, 1 February 2010.

Contact Maureen Mutton on 3265 4378 if you would like to attend.  Top of page
________________________________________

Central European Group

Meetings are held 10am - Noon on the 4th Saturday of each odd-numbered month. A $2 donation goes toward purchasing relevant records.

The next meeting will be on 23 January 2010 at the QFHS library.

For further information, contact Eric Kopittke on (07) 3376 4339 or email kopittke@tpg.com.au OR centraleuropean@qfhs.org.au  Top of page

________________________________________

Educational Workshop

Cost is $5.50 per person which goes towards purchasing more research materials for the Library. Time - 10am to 12 noon at QFHS Library.

Next workshop dates is:
For bookings - contact Desley Schafer - phone (07) 3204 4254 or email: educationofficer@qfhs.org.au  Top
________________________________________

English West Country Group

This group researches the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Meetings are held from 12 Noon - 2pm at the QFHS Library, on the fourth Thursday of the odd-numbered months.

Next meeting: Thursday, 28 January 2010.

For further information contact Robert Browning on (07) 3359 9801 or email: robertbb2@bigpond.com
________________________________________

Family History Writing Group

These meetings are held from 9am - 11am at QFHS Library.

Next meeting: Saturday, 16 January 2010.

For further information contact FHWriters@qfhs.org.au or Robert Adamson on (07) 3266 8353 OR Sue Reid on (07) 3378 2278.  Top of page
________________________________________

Family Tree Maker User Group

These meetings normally run from 10am - 11:30am venue at QFHS Library and are held on 1st Friday each month except January and last Saturday in each even-numbered month except December.

Next meetings will be held on Friday, 5 February and Saturday, 27 February..

For further details, please contact Kerri Kleidon or Joe Greaves or email: familytree@qfhs.org.au  Top of page
________________________________________

Irish Interest Group

Meetings are held from 10am - 12 Noon at QFHS Library on the second Saturday of the even-numbered months (not December).

Next meeting: Saturday, 13 February, 2010.

For more information about Irish Interest Group contact Mary King on (07) 3205 3353 or email irish@qfhs.org.au
________________________________________

Member Orientations - 'Old' & New Members Welcome

You will almost certainly learn new stuff about the Society, and helpful hints about using the Library and researching, all in a friendly atmosphere and informal setting. New members are especially welcome.

Next orientations: Saturday, 20 February and Friday, 19 March.

Numbers are limited to allow full participation. BOOKING is ESSENTIAL. Please note: Sessions are usually fully booked, with a waiting list, so please advise the organisers as soon as possible if you find you are unable to attend when you have a booking.

Contact Bev Bonning on (07) 3355 7389 or Wendy Annand on (07) 3395 2530 or email them at welcome@qfhs.org.au  Top of page
________________________________________

Scottish Interest Group

Meetings are held from 10am - 12 Noon at QFHS Library. Donations to buy more Scottish resources are welcome.

Next meeting: Saturday, 13 March 2010.

For further information: Email scottish@qfhs.org.au OR phone Sam on (07) 3266 9131  Top of page
________________________________________

Welsh Interest Group

This group meets on the fourth Sunday of the odd numbered months from 10am - 12 Noon at the QFHS Library.

Next meeting is: Sunday, 24 January 2010.

Contact Paul Wood on welsh@qfhs.org.au for further information.   Top of page

4.    QFHS Trout Game

Allow yourself the privilege of having a fun day in family history and play the Trout Game!

The game involves researching an English family (the Trout family) using eleven types of records. The aim is to see if you can get back to the 1500s. Use the game to see how good a researcher you are and find out why you may have brick-walls in your research.

It will be played on Sunday, 7 March 2010 from 10am to 4pm at the QFHS Library. Cost is only $5.00 per person with Game Master Ann Swain presiding

Numbers are limited and early bookings are essential. Morning and afternoon tea is provided; BYO lunch.

To book your spot, email president@qfhs.org.au or telephone (07) 3352 5537   Top of page

5. Q150 Celebrations for Proclamation Day

Visit the special Queensland Government website to see all the events and details of the celebrations at: http://www.q150.qld.gov.au/

A couple of the events are listed below:

Q150 Shed - 10, 11 and 12 December - various entertainment at Evandale Park, Bundall.

 Proclamation Day - 10 December - Brisbane. Events include:

6. The Commissariat Store Museum Exhibitions

The Commissariat Store Museum was built by convict labour in 1829 and has the distinction of being the oldest occupied building of the original Moreton Bay Penal Colony. There are currently two exhibitions celebrating Queensland's 150th Birthday at the museum.

Signs of Separation - Hidden Treasures - until the end of December. Treasures from the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, other museums and private collections includes medallions, portraits, advertisements, albums, government seals, early printing equipment, musical programs and the workbox of Isabella Petrie.

Mission Australia also celebrates 150 years of service to the community with a display of memorabilia which includes antique dolls. Mission magazines from 1940 to 1990 are also on display.

The museum is located at 115 William Street, Brisbane. Direct access from William Street is by a wheelchair-friendly ramp to the second floor of the building. There is also an internal lift to all floors.

Opening hours are: Tuesday - Friday 10am - 4pm. Closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Entry fee for Adults $5 with Children and Seniors $2.50. On-site volunteer tour guides are available most days.

The Museum will be closed from 25 December and will re-open on 5 January 2010. All enquiries to: (07) 3221 4198 (Tuesday to Friday between 10am and 4pm).   Top of page

7. Queensland Ancestors to be Honoured at Book Launch

Queenslanders have honoured their ancestors by submitting details on their forebears who lived in Queensland between 1859 and 1901 for inclusion in a quality book that has been compiled by the Genealogical Society of Queensland Inc (GSQ). 

The period 1859 to 1901 is one of the important periods in Queensland's history when we started to evolve our own unique identity - we were neither part of the colony of New South Wales nor yet a state within the Australian Federation.

The book titled Queenslanders: Pioneer Families 1859-1901 will be launched by Stirling Hinchliffe, Queensland Minister for Infrastructure and Planning at the GSQ Research Centre on 12 December. The book contains over 400 pioneer stories of Queenslanders who helped forge our early identity.

For further details on obtaining a book contact the Genealogical Society of Queensland Inc at http://www.gsq.org.au/ or email via gsq1@optusnet.com.au or Telephone: (07) 3891 5085 or visit the Research Centre at 38 Fisher Street, East Brisbane during opening hours.   Top of page

8. From River Banks to Shearing Sheds, 30 years with Flying Arts

For people who may not know about Flying Arts, the organisation began in 1971 when Brisbane artist, Mervyn Moriarty, learned to fly a small plane to take his art school to the bush. In those days there were only two Regional galleries in Queensland and no art schools outside Brisbane. The school became so popular with country people that they drove for miles on rough bush roads to get to Mervyn Moriarty's art workshops.

As well as stories about the politics involved and the difficulties the school faced to keep flying there are over forty stories from bush artists who attended the school, and if you have friends or relatives in the west some of the names may be familiar to you.

The books will be on sale for $30 at Gallery 54 in Paddington as part of the Paddington Galleries Summer Gallery Walk on Saturday, 5 December from 4-8 pm.

For further information email Marilyn England at: marilyn@smartype.com.au   Top of page

9. A Family History Networking Event

Get to know Family History industry members at this annual morning tea event. You'll be joined by Family History librarians, members from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints family history centres, Genealogical Society of Queensland and the Queensland Family History Society.

Representatives will give the lowdown on resources and services, what's new, and will be available for questions and discussion.

The morning tea will be held on Saturday, 9 January from 10am-12:30pm at the State Library of Queensland Auditorium 2, level 2. Tickets are $12.50 which includes morning tea.

To make your booking, go to: Qtix at: http://www.qtix.com.au/show/SLQ_Family_History_Networking_10.aspx  or Telephone:  136 246.

For more State Library of Queensland Family History workshops and information sessions visit: http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/events/training/   Top of page

10. Bathurst Free Press newspaper index 1851

This index contains over 5,400 entries, and is available in either A4 book format or on CD-ROM, at $35 each (postage free within Australia).

This is the third index in this series and covers the time-frame of the discovery of gold in many districts, and the consequent influx of the thousands of prospectors; quite a number of which are mentioned in the newspaper's columns. The two previous indexes for the years of 1848 to 1849, and 1850 having already been published.

 Further details are on our web site including all entries stating Name, Event, Age (where stated), and District at: http://www.gownewspaperindexes.com.au/bathurst1851.html

A print-out service of articles from the newspaper microfilms is available at $5 per article and require a stamped self-addressed envelope, whether you purchase the newspaper index or not. This is a more economical and convenient way for some researchers to obtain the articles, rather than purchasing the whole index. 

For a complete list of the 52 newspaper indexes and 19 local history books available, go to: http://www.gownewspaperindexes.com.au/  Top of page   Top of page

11. National Archives UK - Birth, Marriage and Death Records Available Online

The National Archives UK has added records from the General Register Office: Miscellaneous Foreign Returns, 1831-1964 (RG 32) to the online service at BMD Registers. Searching the records is free, but there is a charge to download images of the original documents.

The records contain largely non-statutory documents relating to births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials abroad, and on British as well as foreign ships, of British subjects, nationals of the colonies, the Commonwealth and countries under British jurisdiction. Events affecting some foreign nationals are also included.

More information can be seen at:  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/381.htm?news=rss

12. Early Irish maps at the National Archives UK

The National Archives UK has made available for the first time online a collection of early Irish maps from c.1558 - c.1610.  They depict plantations, fortifications and townships from the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I.  The maps often name the local chiefs and major families in an area, providing useful information for family historians. 

You can obtain more information at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/irishmaps.asp  Top of page

13. Registration for 2010 NGS Family History Conference Now Open

The 2010 National Genealogical Society's Family History Conference will be held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah between 28 April-1 May 2010.

A major focus of the conference will be increasing research skills in foreign countries.

You can find more information or register online at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conference_info

14. Introducing GenQueries.com - The Online Database of Genealogy Queries

This is a free service that provides an online database for genealogy queries for individuals as well as advertisements for societies, professional and amateur genealogy researchers, authors, publishers, genealogy web sites, adoptee searches, and others.

Check it out and perhaps enter a few queries of your own at: http://www.GenQueries.com/  Top of page

15. Full 1851 UK Census Now Available Online

With the completion of the 1851 census, you now have access to every record from every England and Wales census between 1841 and 1911. FindMyPast.com is the only site where you can search the complete 1841-1911 census collection.

1851 was the first census to reveal the precise age of each householder. On the 1841 census everyone over 15 had their age rounded down. If an ancestor was alive in 1851 but had perished by 1861, the new records could well be the only way you'll track down their birth record.

You can learn more at http://www.FindMyPast.com/   Top of page

16. FamilyRelatives.com 1 Million New Military Records

Familyrelatives has announced the addition of 1,000,000 New Military Records spanning over 100 years. The records cover the years from 1808 through to the soldiers of World War I. Access is via an annual subscription fee of £30.00

The records can be found at:  http://www.familyrelatives.com/pre_loginforgot.php?e=l&p=/post_subscribe.php?

17. The Night Before Christmas...

It was the night before Christmas when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even my spouse.
The dining room table with clutter was spread
With pedigree charts and with letters which said....
"Too bad about the data for which you wrote
Sank in a storm on an ill-fated boat."

Stacks of old copies of wills and the such
Were proof that my work had become much too much.
Our children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.
And I at my table was ready to drop
From work on my album with photos to crop.

Christmas was here, and of such was my lot
That presents and goodies and toys I forgot.
Had I not been so busy with grandparents' wills,
I'd not have forgotten to shop for such thrills.
While others had bought gifts that would bring Christmas cheer;
I'd spent time researching those birthdates and years.

While I was thus musing about my sad plight,
A strange noise on the lawn gave me such a great fright.
Away to the window I flew in a flash,
Tore open the drapes and I yanked up the sash.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear?
But an overstuffed sleigh and eight small reindeer.

Up to the housetop the reindeer they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys, and old Santa Claus too.
And then in a twinkle, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of thirty-two hoofs.
The TV antenna was no match for their horns,
And look at our roof with hoof-prints adorned.

As I drew in my head, and bumped it on the sash,
Down the cold chimney fell Santa - KER-RASH!
"Dear" Santa had come from the roof in a wreck,
And tracked soot on the carpet, (I could wring his short neck!)
Spotting my face, good old Santa could see
I had no Christmas spirit you'd have to agree.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings, (I felt like a jerk).
Here was Santa, who'd brought us such gladness and joy;
When I'd been too busy for even one toy.
He spied my research on the table all spread
"A genealogist!" He cried! (My face was all red!)

"Tonight I've met many like you", Santa grinned.
As he pulled from his sack a large book he had penned.
I gazed with amazement - the cover it read
"Genealogy Lines for Which You Have Plead."
"I know what it's like as a genealogy bug,"
He said as he gave me a great Santa Hug.

"While the elves make the sleighful of toys I now carry,
I do some research in the North Pole Library!
A special treat I am thus able to bring,
To genealogy folks who can't find a thing.
Now off you go to your bed for a rest,
I'll clean up the house from this genealogy mess."

As I climbed up the stairs full of gladness and glee,
I looked back at Santa who'd brought much to me.
While settling in bed, I heard Santa's clear whistle,
To his team which then rose like the down of a thistle
And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight,
"Family History is Fun! Merry Christmas! Goodnight!"
  Top of page

18.    Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all those who have taken time out to send items of interest to our "Snippets" mailbox at: snippets@qfhs.org.au

The more we receive, the more frequently we can produce a Newsletter. If your submission does not appear in this issue, we will try to include it in a future edition. Please note that reference to any product does not imply endorsement. Members are cautioned to evaluate products prior to purchase.

Pauline Macfarlane

Disclaimer: This newsletter is produced in good faith, and information received is deemed to be accurate, but the editor takes no responsibility for incorrect information supplied. [Editor's note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editor or of QFHS]

Permission to reprint articles from QFHS 'SNIPPETS' NEWSLETTER is granted unless specifically stated otherwise, provided: (1) the reprint is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the following notice appears at the end of the article: "Previously published in QFHS 'SNIPPETS' NEWSLETTER" with the appropriate date and volume number (eg QFHS 'SNIPPETS' NEWSLETTER January 2009 Vol 9 No. 1). The last six months issues of Snippets are available from: http://www.qfhs.org.au/snippets.htm

If you do not wish to continue to receive the QFHS email Newsletters, please click on "REPLY" at the top of your window and simply type "unsubscribe" in the subject line. You do not need to write a message.