Meetings, Speakers and Topics from previous years.

Select relevant year: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006

2021    Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker Subject
2021 Jan John STEWART Getting the best out of newspapers using TROVE
2021 Feb Chris ELMORE, International Settlers Group The Changing borders of Europe and how this impacts on family history research.
2021 Mar Colin MOCKETT Another history of Geelong
NOTE: – 5th Wednesday of the month
2021 Apr Roy HAY ‘Scots wha hae’ made Australian football ‘for guid or ill’
2021 May Prof Hamish MAXWELL-STEWART History on the Run: Mapping convict absconding patterns and State reactions
2021 Jun Susie ZADA You can’t research Irish ancestors – all the records have been destroyed!
2021 Jul Jill WHEELER Linton and District resources for Family History research
2021 Aug Carmen QUICK GFHG AGM plus speaker – State Library of Victoria resources for Family History research
2021 Sep Jennifer BURRELL Ballarat and District resources for Family History research
2021 Oct Dr David ROWE Some surprises from the Greater Geelong Thematic History.
2021 Nov Members’ Christmas night Jennifer BANTOW – Getting to the end of the line
Jen BAXTER – Irish eyes are smiling
Judith OKE – When is a Smith not a Smith – uncovering a family mystery

Short presentations from our members.
2021 Dec – No meeting
2020    Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker Subject
2020
2020 Jan Susie ZADA Geelong Infirmary and Benevolent Asylum records – an absolute treasure trove
2020 Feb Dr Liz RUSHEN Marshalltown and the MARSHALL Family
2020 Mar Colin MOCKETT A Condensed History of Geelong
2020 Apr Geelong Cemeteries Trust The present and the future
2020 May Colac & District FHG Colac resources for Family History research
2020 Jun John STEWART Searching for Wills and Probates in Australasia online.
2020 Jul Col HUTCHINSON Connewarre District History
2020 Aug Michael KING GFHG AGM plus speaker – Michael KING – The History of Undertakers and Funeral Directors in Geelong
2020 Sep Louise COAKLEY Practical Tips for Working with Speculative Trees – DNA and non-DNA
2020 Oct Lorraine SMITH Author of Journey of a Lost Manuscript – signed copies of her book will be available for purchase at the meeting.
2020 Nov Member’s Christmas night Cheryl BAULCH – Pages from My Album
Kerry COOPER – Henry George
HOLLAND: exploring a Convict’s origin
Irene MORGAN – Are we really O’Keeffes?
Carollyn WILLIAMS – Grave Mysteries
Short presentations from members followed by supper – please bring a plate – so YOU have something to eat during our Christmas Zoom meeting
2020 Dec – No meeting
2019    Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2019 Jan Return of our DNA gurus – Louise COAKLEY and Heather COX – Australian DNA Facebook Page and terrific DNA Blog site DNA Testing for Family History: Part 2 – So you’ve done your DNA test – what now?  A webinar / online presentation with a question and answer session at the end (technology permitting).
2019 Feb Susie ZADA Norfolk Island: Its settlements and its cemeteries.
2019 Mar Peter BEGG The creation of his book – Geelong – The First 150 Years – from his Geelong Advertiser day by day articles.
2019 Apr Michael MENZIES Researching your Railway families in Victoria.
2019 May Peter MANSFIELD The History of Geelong Cemeteries and the Geelong Cemeteries Trust.
2019 Jun Mary-Anne GOURLEY FIBIS: Families in British India Society.
2019 Jul Kristen THORNTON Family History resources at the Deakin University Library (Geelong).
2019 Aug Chris GANLY GFHG AGM plus speaker – Chris Ganly and the MERCER family.  Chris is the author of Major Mercer: no ordinary life.
2019 Sep

27th Oct

 John STEWART

Susie ZADA
Heather GARNSEY
Danielle LAUTREC

 Searching for BDMs in Australasia online.

SEMINAR: New South Wales Research – bookings essential
2019 Oct Rob HAMILTON Rob is a Masonic researcher for local and world wide research accessing Masonic historic records.
2019 Nov Member’s Christmas night Short presentations from members followed by supper – please bring a plate.
2019 Dec No meeting.

2018    Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2018 Jan Interactive online session Getting the most out of FamilySearch.
2018 Feb John GREENWOOD, Conservator Protecting your own Family Archives.
2018 Mar Chris GANLY, author Chris has published books on the MERCER family and Geelong including Gold on Mercer’s Hill.
2018 Apr Graeme HORSTED Self Publishing of some Family Memorabilia.
2018 May John STEWART Getting the most out of TROVE.
2018 Jun Max BECK Max will talk about his book A Different Earth – about his gg-grandparents journey from Cornwall to the Burra copper mines in South Australia.
2018 Jul Two DNA gurus – Louise COAKLEY and Heather COX – Australian DNA Facebook Page and terrific DNA Blog site DNA Testing for Family History: Basics & Examples.  A webinar / online presentation with a question and answer session at the end (technology permitting).
2018 Aug Col HUTCHINSON GFHG AGM plus speaker – Football Families – Geelong Football Club.
2018 Sep Daryl McLURE James HARRISON – the Geelong Advertiser.
2018 Oct Judith OKE Family History resources at the Geelong Heritage Centre.
2018 Nov Member’s Christmas night Short presentations from members followed by supper – please bring a plate.
Ian DUNCAN
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.Don MACKINNON
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John STEWART		 two brothers, his gg-grandfather and gg-uncle, who came out from Scotland, and their lives here.

his research into his ship-jumping Swedish gg-grandfather.

new information on his gg-uncle.

2017    Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2017 Jan John STEWART Genealogical Proof Standards.   Case Study – first person buried in Mt Duneed Cemetery.
2017 Feb Kevin HUGHES Research into Chinese g-grandfather James Ah Huey who married an Irish convict.  Surname changed to HUGHES c.1908.
2017 Mar Erlo PIETSCH Life in East Germany as a child and a young man.
2017 Apr Neil THOMAS Cornish Collection.
2017 May Susie ZADA Minor and Inter-Colonial Ports of Eastern Victoria.
2017 Jun John STEWART Parish of Duneed in the 19th century.
2017 Jul John STEWART Some of the intricasies of the new version of FamilySearch.
2017 Aug Jan MORRIS History of education in Victoria.
2017 Sep John STEWART DNA tests and their usefulness to Family History.
2017 Oct David WILSON Family History from inherited items.
2017 Nov Ian DUNCAN Peter HARVEY and Charlotte WALLACE.
Hazel SPENCE John HERD and family.
Susie ZADA GFHG web site.

2016  Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2016 Jan John STEWART Where was Arthur STREETON really born?
2016 Feb Jason McGREGOR The history of Fort Queenscliff and its many buildings and characters.
2016 Mar Ted STEPHENS Researching the LANGLAND and STEPHENS family backgrounds.
2016 April Jo MITCHELL The Barwon River – People & Places
2016 May Bruce HUNTER From Cornwall to Geelong – a History of the CURNOW family.
2016 Jun Margaret COOPER Primary Teacher, wife, gardener and prolific author of local and family history books relating to Meredith.
2016 Jul Bernard CLANCY The Battle of Long Tan in Vietnam (50th Anniversary) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
2016 Aug John HARRISON As an apothecary John showed different plants, herbs and potions use to help cure people of their maladies.
2016 Sep Susie ZADA The Lady Squatters – Anne DRYSDALE and Caroline NEWCOMB.
2016 Oct Roadshow – various speakers Scottish Roadshow in lieu of monthly meeting
2016 Nov John STEWART The Stewarts of Mt Duneed.
Sue WOOD Great-Aunt Amy Marie PYLE.

2015   Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2015 Jan John STEWART Researching Street Names.
2015 Feb Susie ZADA Researching Victorian Land Titles and associated documents.
2015 Mar Marg FREWIN History of dental surgery and registration in England and Australia, followed by the MAWSON family – a dental dynasty.
2015 Apr Julie STEFFANOFF / MAXWELL The history of  Bethany – the female refuge in Kildare (Geelong).
2015 May Ted STEPHENS The ORMONDs of Borriyalloak – Scottish family who sailed to Melbourne in 1843.
2015 Jun Doug BRADBY History schoolteacher who works at the Ballarat Gold Museum educating visitors, local schoolchildren and adult groups about history.  Doug’s grandparents walked to Ballarat in 1858.
2015 Jul Bellarine Historical Society WW1 display at the Old Court House Museum, Drysdale.
2015 Aug Dr Dorothy WICKHAM The influence of Women on the Australian Goldfields.
2015 Sep Cheryl BAULCH World War I soldiers named on Honour Boards, Monuments and Carins in the Surf Coast Shire.
2015 Oct Susie ZADA Australian Wills and Probates, and indexes.
2015 Nov Darryl PHILLIPS Researching his ancestor who was a publican in Sydney in 1827 – before that he was a convict!
June PARROTT Told us about her gg-grandfather HIGGINS found after many years of fruitless research.
Gwen and John THRELFALL Researching the history of Duneed.

2014  Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2014 Jan David WILSON An ‘Easyjet Tour’ of Moliagul in central Victoria and the LING family.
2014 Feb Stanley and Moira YOUNGMAN The siblings from Norfolk told of the history of their g-grandfather Charles GREENWOOD who was transported to Australia in 1830.
2014 Mar Bob WILLEY About his book ‘Drysdale Boys & One Girl’ – those who served during WWI.
2014 Apr Bob MARMION The story of murder and mayhem in 1942 at Queenscliff during the war.
2014 May Spencer LEIGHTON History of Torquay and the Torquay Historical Society.
2014 Jun Pam JENNINGS Old Mount Moriac.
2014 Jul Anne STEWART Overview of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation and many resources for family historians.
2014 Aug SLV Visit to the State Library of Victoria.
2014 Sep John STEWART Demonstrated accessing the State Library of Victoria’s eResearch options.
2014 Oct Rhonda COFFEY The history of the Cottage by the Sea at Queenscliff.
2014 Nov Sue WOOD Solving a brick wall with American connections.
David COOK The story of David’s wife’s uncle who enlisted in the army in 1942 then changed to the Air Force in 1943.
David WILSON Old family photographs and how much they can reveal when studied properly.

2013  Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2013 Jan Alan BUCHTER The history of Batesford – update on his research.
2013 Feb Deb ROBERTSON History of Geelong Gaol.
2013 Mar John STEWART Tips and Tricks using TROVE.
2013 Apr Alan HART Illicit whiskey in the Western Districts.
2013 May No meeting – winter recess.
2013 Jun No meeting – winter recess.
2013 Jul No meeting – winter recess.
2013 Aug John STEWART Detached Parishes’ and boundary changes – things that can affect your research. – England and Scotland.
2013 Sep John STEWART and David WILSON Demonstration of Ancestry Library Edition.
2013 Oct John STEWART Traps and pitfalls of family history.
2013 Nov John STEWART Family History Trivia Quiz.

2012  Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2012 Jan 11 participants Show and Tell.
2012 Feb Stephen DUE The Australian Medical Pioneers Index.
2012 Mar Marg FREWIN and Brendan Getting the most out of Online Research.
2012 Apr John STEWART and Pam JENNINGS Beginning your Family Research and discussion on genealogy programs.
2012 May Jenny COLEMAN Early postal history in Victoria.
2012 Jun Marg FREWIN Public Record Office Victoria – searching and accessing records.
2012 Jul Margaret HAYWOOD, Marg FREWIN, John STEWART Three Brick Walls – all different, all interesting.
2012 Aug Victorian Pioneer Index revisited.
2012 Sep Pam JENNINGS The Loch Ard Disaster.
2012 Oct Marg FREWIN Genealogy Quiz on occupations.
2012 Nov GFHG Christmas Party – no formal meeting.

2011  Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2011 Jan Marg FREWIN Early dentistry in Victoria.
2011 Feb Bob NICHOLLS History of the Geelong Mission to Seafarers.
2011 Mar James DIMMICK History of the Geelong Art Gallery and some of the important works of art owned by the Gallery.
2011 Apr Col HUTCHINSON European settlement in Connewarre.
2011 May Phillip MANNING The history of the building from 1886 through to the development of the National Wool Museum.
2011 Jun Heather Le GRIFFON Her research and discoveries for her book ‘Campfires at the Cross’ – Francis and Sarah TUCKFIELD.
2011 Jul Trevor PESCOTT Birdlife around Geelong and district.
2011 Aug Lady TEVIOT Afternoon meeting in lieu of general meeeting.
2011 Sep Dr Bob MARMION Victoria’s Naval Forces from the 1850s.
2011 Oct Alan HART The story of his father, Jack HART, RAF navigator in Sweden.
2011 Nov John STEWART His ancestor Alexander WEBB, famous Geelong artist.
Photo guessing competition – Members as babies.

2010  Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2010 Jan Alan BUCHTER History of Batesford.
2010 Feb Marg FREWIN Searching the Internet for Family History.
2010 Mar Rod CHARLES The history of bicycling in the Geelong region.
2010 Apr Peter MANSFIELD The history of Geelong Councils and his recent book ‘In Perfectly Safe Hands’.
2010 May Jennifer COLQUHOUN History of the Geelong High School.
2010 Jun Merrill O’DONNELL Researched the women from the Colac region who signed the 1891 petition.
2010 Jul Jane SALMON History of the Geelong Botanic Gardens.
2010 Aug Pam JENNINGS Photographs and Letter to the Editor, Geelong Advertiser, from Daniel BUNCE.
Viv WORTHINGTON Her ancestor, Mr WITHERS, began the Pioneer Bus Tours.
David and Eva WILSON The role of pets in our extended family.
2010 Sep Elizabeth NORTH History of Legacy in Geelong.
2010 Oct Marie DALLMAN Basic research on Irish ancestors and their history.
2010 Nov Christina MIDDLETON Memorabilia, poetry, song and recitation telling the story of her Scottish mother and Australian father – wartime bride and suitor.

2009  Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2009 Jan John STEWART The importancce of questioning and corroborating all family history stories.
David WILSON Old Geelong area photographs needing identification.
2009 Feb Dianne HUGHES Photographing and recording many old cemeteries and burial places in Victoria.
2009 Mar Joan HUNT Resources in the Ballarat area for family historians.
2009 Apr Ralph STAVELEY Early years of the Police Force in Victoria.
2009 May Vince ROSS The aim and history of Narana Creations and Cultural Centre – an Australian Aboriginal cultural tourism and educational facility at Grovedale.
2009 Jun Marg FREWIN Marg’s visit to the east cost of the USA and the historical and genealogical aspects of her trip.
2009 Jul Neil THOMAS Seven Cornish fishermen who made the journey to the Victorian Goldfields.
2009 Aug Pam JENNINGS Public Record Office / Geelong Insolvency research competition.
John STEWART Name variations and why they may have occurred.
2009 Sep Jenice COOTS The ‘art’ of prize-winning at the Geelong Show.
David WILSON The building partnership of TREVENA & GUBBIE.
2009 Oct A lively Question and Answer session.
2009 Nov Susie ZADA Searching for Laurence RYLAND and finding Priscilla RYLAND.

2008  Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2008 Jan Lloyd WORTHINGTON The WORTHINGTON family beginning with J W E WORTHINGTON, born in 1829.
2008 Feb Dr Peter MUNSTER George Ward COLE and the founding of St Leonards.
2008 Mar Karen MATHEWS History of the Geelong Fire Brigade.
2008 Apr Michael LAWRIWSKY The story of Albert JACKA, Australia’s first VC winner, and the Great War with its heroes.
2008 May Captain Colin SPRINGALL His 26 years as a ship”s pilot, latterly on Port Phillip Bay.
2008 Jun Les SANDERSON History of Little River and the Little River Historical Society.
2008 Jul Michael & Louise KING The history of the funeral directing businesses in Geelong.
2008 Aug Linda TRUSACK Researching her aunt’s life at Lakeside, Ballarat Asylum.
2008 Sep Jenice COOTS Byromine Homestead at Yarrawonga and Elizabeth and John HUME.
Gwlad McLACHLAN Geelong Voices’ – the oral history CD project.
2008 Oct Sheila DAWSON Early theatre, opera and pantomime in Geelong and the Geelong Association of Music & Art.
2008 Nov Members’ Christmas Party

2007  Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2007 Jan Liz HEAGNEY Told the to the Prisoners of War memorial wall project at Ballarat totalling 3,800 POWs being memorialised.  (Has grown to 8,600.)
2007 Feb Peter MANSFIELD The story of Grame BERRY, controversial and passionate Victorian and Geelong politician in the late 1800s.
2007 Mar Jenny GLARE Jenny from McKillop Family Services explained the history of Catholic Orphanages in Victoria.
2007 Apr John HARE A child evacuee to Australia from air-raids in London and surrounding areas in 1940.  He published a book on the subject titled No Time to Say Goodbye.
2007 May Noel LINDSAY With technical assistance from Bob & Lynette WILLEY, Noel related his early life, night school training at the YMCA, enlistment in WWII in 1942 to his discharge in 1946.
2007 Jun Russ STEPHENS Russ, archivist at the Geelong Football Club related the history of the ‘second oldest football club in the world with codified rules’ – Melbourne is the oldest.
2007 Jul Lindsay COX Outlined the research holdings of the Salvation Army.
2007 Aug Graeme JEBB The history and practicality of Heraldry.
2007 Sep Marg FREWIN Workshop on how members can help with compilation of the Pivot Tree.
2007 Oct Sue WOOD Breaking down her Anglo-Saxon brick walls with the release of the 1881 Census.
Ian DUNCAN Grandma, alias Florence EDWARDS, alias Florence BETRIX identified with the help of McKillop family services and some oral history at Fyansford.
John STEWART Showed 2007 winning Mysterious Memorial in England – epitaph of Sarah JOHNSON who died in 1819.
Brian FALLON 6,000 munitions workers sailed from Australia to England in 1916-1920 for training – details in National Archives UK – MT1139-4-1, MP421-3 and MT1384-2.
2007 Nov Members’ Christmas Dinner at Leopold.

2006  Use Browser BACK arrow to return to the top
Date Speaker(s) Topic
2006 Sep Russ PRESTON History of Scouring in Geelong.
2006 Oct Ian GRIBBLE Ian talked about his ancestor, Duncan GRIBBLE, who was involved in mining.  His history and records yielded wads of interesting information and stories.
Pam JENNINGS pam highlighted a number of projects that GFHG members were working on including photographing headstones and transcribing them.
Brian FALLON
2006 Nov Members’ Christmas Dinner.