Blog

What is this blog about?

Welcome to my home, my family history and genealogy blog. Here, you’ll discover practical guidance for researching your family tree and connecting with both living relatives and historical ancestors.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or revisiting an existing family tree, this blog will help you:

  • Navigate the exciting journey of genealogical discovery
  • Build comprehensive family connections
  • Verify existing research and uncover new branches

Family history research is surprisingly straightforward once you begin. It often starts with a simple spark of curiosity—that lightbulb moment when you realise you want to understand your  family heritage and discover where you came from.

My own genealogical journey began with this same curiosity, and through sharing my experiences and research methods, I hope to inspire and guide you on your own path of discovery.

Every family has stories waiting to be uncovered. Your ancestors’ lives, struggles, and triumphs are part of your heritage, and this blog will show you how to piece together those fascinating family narratives.

Beyond simply collecting names and dates, I’ll guide you through the art of storytelling—bringing your ancestors to life by adding historical context to their stories. This approach transforms dry genealogical data into vivid family histories that truly honour your heritage.

Ready to begin? Let’s embark on this rewarding journey of family discovery together.

  • Great grandparents: Three.

    My name is Mildred Annie Ray. I am the second child of William and Hannah Ray (nee Allen). They will tell their own stories later. Allandale, Queensland. I was born on 2 February 1894 at a very small place called Allandale near Eton which is located about 19 miles south-west of Mackay. I have an… Read more

  • Great Grandparents: Two.

    You were previously introduced to my English great-grandmother as mentioned in “The Arrivals – 1912” on board the “Waipara“. More about what happened continues. Hopton, Suffolk. My name is Jane Garnham. I was born in Hopton, Suffolk, England on 11 May 1877. My parents were Frederick and Elizabeth Garnham (nee Wiseman). We were all living… Read more

  • Great grandparents: One.

    You were introduced to my English great-grandfather in “The Arrivals – 1912″ on board the “Waipara“. More about what happened after 1912 soon… Bradford, Yorkshire. My name is Albert Edward Austin. I was born in Bradford Yorkshire England on 23 August 1878. I am the eldest son of William and Mary Austin nee Tilbrooke. We… Read more

  • Great-grandparents: Summary.

    Coming Weeks. Over the coming weeks, I shall be looking into the lives of my great-grandparents – paternal and maternal. The series will cover seven weeks not eight as I have an unknown person within this group. I have previously mentioned this in earlier blogs. Of these seven, only two were born in Australia. To… Read more

  • The Arrivals – What I found.

    So, here we are – You and I, now know how my ancestors arrived in Queensland. As you can tell some of the ships have interesting tales whilst others have little to not much written about their journeys. I suppose it’s like life, some events are more eventful than others. One thing I have learnt,… Read more

  • The Arrivals – 1912.

    Waipara. Even though this is the last in the series – “The Arrivals”, it is not the end. Twenty-three years have passed since the last arrival back in 1889. The journeys are only just beginning – explore and discover. The last of my ancestors to arrive were my parental great-grandparents and my grandfather. The family… Read more