QFHS Snippets - February 2010 Volume 10, No. 2


Join us on 17 February at our monthly general meeting; where Ms Lisa Jones from Queensland Police Service will talk on 'Transport through the Ages'.

Book your spot for the March training session on 'CD-based resources at Gaythorne'.

Start planning for your attendance at The 13th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry being held in Adelaide in 2012.

Learn how to convert any address to Latitude and Longitude.
 
Pauline Macfarlane

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. Queensland State Archives 2010 Saturday Openings
  6. Queensland State Archives 2010 Seminars
  7. Cumberland Mercury newspaper index 1883
  8. Inverell District Family History Group Destroyed by Fire
  9. Congress 2012
  10. Otago Settlers Museum's Archives Section to be Closed
  11. The Open Doorway
  12. Yorkshire Family History Fair
  13. Convert an Address to Latitude and Longitude
  14. You Know You're a Genealogist When...
  15. 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/

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.html#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. Ms Lisa Jones from Queensland Police Service will talk on 'Transport through the Ages'
________________________________________

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, 12 April 2010.

Contact Maureen Mutton on 3265 4378 if you would like to attend.   Top of page
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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 March2010 at the QFHS library. Bring your questions in for the experts to answer!

For further information, contact Eric Kopittke on (07) 3376 4339 or email kopittke@tpg.com.au OR centraleuropean@qfhs.org.au
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Computer Training Courses, 2010

Do you want to know how to make best use of the computer-based resources at the QFHS library? Perhaps you would like more information on family history research in the Internet. In 2010, the Society will be holding two computer training courses to introduce the use of computers in family history research. Each course comprises two sessions. One course will be held in the first half of the year; and will be repeated in the second half of the year with all sessions being held at the QFHS library at Gaythorne.

Please note these courses are offered to QFHS members only.

Saturday, 6 March 2010 from 9am - 12 Noon
    'CD-based resources at Gaythorne'
The aim of the session is to familiarise participants with the layout of the computer room, the types of resources available, and how to access these resources.

Saturday, 1 May 2010 from 9am - 12 Noon
    'Check These Out!
This session will introduce just some of the many genealogical sites on the Internet. The session will cover the use of search engines, Internet security, the range of resources available, and how the information available is collected. 

Please note that due to limitations in computer hardware, both of these sessions will be in a demonstration mode, as we do not have the facilities at this time for a hands-on approach. The numbers are limited to 16 places at each session. If you are not confident in the use of computers and the Internet, there is an optional introduction at starting at 8.30 am on both Saturday, 6 March and Saturday, 1 May.

More sessions will be held on Saturday, 7 August and Saturday, 4 September.

The cost is $11 per session; however, if you are a library assistant, the cost is $2.75 per session. Both prices include GST. Should you wish to attend either or both of these sessions, please email Sue Reid on: smreid@tpg.com.au   Top of page

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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
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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, 25 March 2010.

For further information contact Robert Browning on (07) 3359 9801 or email: robertbb2@bigpond.com   Top of page
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Family History Writing Group

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

Next meeting: Saturday, 20 March 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
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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:

For further details, please contact Kerri Kleidon or Joe Greaves or email: familytree@qfhs.org.au   Top of page
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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. Charlie Nolan will present. "Did They Swim?". This talk will contain the latest news on Shipping records and much more.

For more information about Irish Interest Group contact Mary King on (07) 3205 3353 or email irish@qfhs.org.au
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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
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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
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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, 28 March 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. Queensland State Archives 2010 Saturday Openings

In 2010, Queensland State Archives will be open to the public on the second Saturday of every calendar month from 9am to 4:30pm. The Saturday opening dates for the first half of the year are:
Queensland State Archives are located at 435 Compton Road, Runcorn, Queensland. For more details, go to http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/research/hours.asp   Top of page

6. Queensland State Archives 2010 Seminars

An ArchivesSearch seminar will be held on Tuesday, 16 February 2010 from 10am. This seminar will give researchers an introduction to finding records using the Queensland State Archives' online catalogue, ArchivesSearch.

The Russian community in Queensland will be the subject of a seminar and display which will be unveiled as part of Harmony Day celebrations on Friday, 19 March 2010 from 10am.

For more information on the above seminars, go to: http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/events.asp#seminars To book your seminar seat, call (07) 3131 7777.   Top of page

7. Cumberland Mercury newspaper index 1883

This index contains over 5,200 entries, and is available in either A4 book format or on CD-ROM, at $35 each (postage free within Australia). It is the third index in this series; with the two previous indexes for the years 1875-1878 and 1879 having already been published.

Further details are available on the web site including all entries stating Name, Event, Age (where stated), and District.

Check it out at: http://www.gownewspaperindexes.com.au/cland1883.html

8. Inverell District Family History Group Destroyed by Fire

On Sunday, 24 January the Inverell District Family History Group lost all their archives, books, family histories and various other records on paper and film as well as their CD collection due to a fire.
 
Read the full story at: http://www.inverelltimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/fire-destroys-historic-building/1734091.aspx   Top of page

9. Congress 2012

The 13th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry - "Your Ancestors in their Social Context" will be held in Adelaide, South Australia on 28 - 31 March, 2012. It is being hosted by the South Australian Genealogy & Heraldry Society Inc.

A form is available for you to download and register your details to receive updates and other information relating to this event, and "Congress Chronicle Issue 2" is now accessible for download here: http://www.congress2012.org.au/

10. Otago Settlers Museum's Archives Section to be Closed

Most of the Otago Settlers Museum's archives section in Dunedin, New Zealand will be closed to the public until the museum's redevelopment is completed in late 2012, but the portrait photograph collection will remain available and will soon be online.

After 2012, the new archive would be more than twice as big and better than the previous facility; offering greater access and space for researchers and collections.

You can read more at:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/89201/redevelopment-closes-settlers-museum-archives/
  Top of page

11. The Open Doorway

This interesting website is mostly centred on the north-east of England but also with some old views of London.  The content of the site is being added to all the time.  There is a small cost to download PDF files. 

Check it out at: http://www.theopendoorway.co.uk/index.php

12. Yorkshire Family History Fair

For those of you lucky enough to be in England in June, you may wish to attend the Yorkshire Family History Fair. It will be held on Saturday, 26 June 2010 at Knavesmire Exhibition Centre at York Racecourse from 10am to 4:30pm.  Admission is £4.00 and car parking is free.

Further details from: http://www.yorkshirefamilyhistoryfair.com/   Top of page

13. Convert an Address to Latitude and Longitude

You can pinpoint any place on Earth using a single set of coordinates: latitude and longitude. These coordinates look like a string of numbers. Once you have those numbers, you'll be able to plug them into a web map, GPS, or other mapping device and find what you're looking for.

Using latitude and longitude information makes it easy to find your ancestors' homestead, your own house, or any other location of genealogical interest.

This simple site is easy to use and was made for this purpose. It website asks for a "place name," such as a city, but you can type in a post code, an airport code, or a full address.

Have fun at: http://www.GetLatLon.com/   Top of page

14. You Know You're a Genealogist When...

15. 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   Top of page