Redland Genealogical Society

29/04/2026

Never taken a DNA test, cost too much? Now is the time to start looking as the Mother's Day specials are starting to appear.

Taking a test can be a great gateway to starting your journey of discovery.

26/04/2026

Monday Murmerings

After the ceremonies for ANZAC, many of us are still thinking about the men and women who experienced the trauma that a war brings. Those that served, the fallen, the men and women (and children) who worked behind the scenes to aid those on the front lines and in battlefields on our behalf.

We can still honour them by researching their lives and writing down or recording what we find. Our Genie Room has a wealth of resources that may help you in your search for answers. Our volunteers (GRAs) who 'man' the room on Tuesdays and Thursdays (9:30am-12:30pm) and Saturdays (12:30pm-3:30pm) are there to help and guide you in that research.

Our members ancestors come from all over the world, so naturally our resources reflect that global community.

So why not come in and speak to us in the Genie Room in the Cleveland Library (cnr Middle and Bloomfield Streets, Cleveland)?

26/04/2026

A bit of local history. Do you remember this house and the family that lived there?

24/04/2026

Lest we forget.

22/04/2026

Christine from Coochiemudlo Island Heritage Society is seeking help from locals. Are you able to help her in her quest to uncover more details about the Whitehall family who ran the ferry service from Victoria Point and Coochie Mudlo Island?

LOCAL HISTORY INFORMATION REQUEST

Are you familiar with the Whitehall family of Victoria Point?

Dick Whitehall and his son Warren used to run the ferry service for many decades between Victoria Point and Coochiemudlo.

Christine Leonard from the Coochiemudlo Island Heritage Society is hoping to contact Warren Whitehall or any members of the family to see if they would be interested in giving a talk on Coochie on the history of their ferry service.

If you have any information on the family to assist Christine, please email the society on coochieheritagesociety@gmail.com

19/04/2026

Monday Murmerings,

As ANZAC Day approaches we naturally focus our attention on the ancestors and relatives we lost during the wars and other military conflicts. This is where their Military Records are so vital to complete the picture of what they did, where they were and where they may be buried.

We can help point you in the right direction in your quest to find out more.

Our Genie Room has a treasure trove of resources including the guidance and expertise of our GRAs who volunteer every Tuesday and Thursday mornings, from 9:30am until 12:30pm and Saturday afternoons from 12:30pm until 3:30pm, unless of course it is a public holiday when the Cleveland Library is closed.

If like me, you don't have any ANZACs in your family, there may be other ways that your family contributed to the war effort. All of their stories and contributions are important, whether or not they actively served or worked behind the scene providing vital support to the forces. Let's honour them all.

18/04/2026

Just in time for ANZAC Day, Ancestry is allowing free access for a limited time.

If you want to discover more when the time elapses, pop into our Genie Room at the Cleveland Library ( Libraries - Redland City Council ) and talk to our GRAs, they are on duty this afternoon at 12:30pm until 3:30pm.

12/04/2026

Monday Murmerings

Last week we had a great talk delivered by Tracey Olivieri and many of our members are now delving back into their records to see if they missed some information on the death records and headstones of their ancestors. Oh so much more details and information that what we originally thought.

In the meantime our GRAs will be helping visitors and members on their rostered Genie Room days (9:30am-12:30pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30pm-3:30pm on Saturdays).

Our Membership Officer, Russell has been coordinating information and familiarisation sessions for the Genie Room for new and existing members to help them make the most of our resources in the Genie Room. That is one great benefit of being a member, particularly as members can access the room anytime the library is open.

Plans are well underway for the member's excursion to the gatton Historical Village in May. If members are interested, please let a member of the committee know to add you to the list.

Another great benefit of being a member is that you can join the Writing Interest Group. Just for budding writers? No, not at all. It is a group that learns to improve their writing skill (short or long stories, poems, clearer detailed notes etc) and they at times have guest speakers. After all whether you are just writing a paragraph, short report or something more, we can all learn how to do it better when surrounded by others, especially when the group is lighthearted and fun to be with. Visitors are welcome to attend one session without becoming a member. Next group session is May 27th.

Our local Cleveland Library is hosting interesting talks on the "Local heroes: Redland stories from Boer War, WWI and WWII" Wednesday, 29 April 2026, 11am – 12pm. Registrations are free and available on the Redland City Council Library site. These talks are generally very popular and book out quickly.

Whilst we are on the topic of wars, did you know that you can find out a lot about your ANZAC ancestors and relatives by visiting the Genie Room? We have a lot of resources that can assist. What greater way to honour them then finding out more about them?

06/04/2026

I'm bored! What parent hasn't heard that in the last few days, now that the chocolates have disappeared?

Here's a little project that your kids can get involved with.

On a big sheet of paper, get them to draw a giant tree with horizontal branches evenly spaced up to the top, start at the top, with their names, on the 2nd top branch add the parents, 3rd branch the grandparents etc. Now start adding the details of birth/marriage/death (where relevant of course).

Unlike a normal view of a family tree, this shows that your ancestors are the roots of the tree and the kids are the tip.

For each generation they add, ask them to find out about where those people lived, what did they do for a living (farmers, sailors, doctors, pilots etc etc) then ask what sort of clothes did they wear, food that they ate, did they drive a car or a horse and cart? Help them picture the lives of their and your ancestors.

All that information can of course be put in a regular tree format or a genealogy software or online tree later.

05/04/2026

Monday Murmerings,

This week we will be meeting again in the Donald Simpson Centre (DSC), cnr of Bloomfield and Russell Streets, Cleveland on Wednesday 8th, April, and our Guest Speaker will be Tracey Olivieri from South Brisbane Cemeteries talking to us about the South Brisbane Cemetery Reccords. I bet a lot of us living in SE Queensland have relatives or ancestors who are 'resting' there. Visitors to the meeting are most welcome.

Just think of all the stories you can uncover when you delve into your family tree.

Naturally, our GRAs will again be on duty in the Genie Room at Cleveland Library on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30am until 12:30pm, as well as Saturday afternoons from 12:30pm until 3:30pm. They will be there to help you with your research questions, start your family history search and work out the best resources for your needs. Pop in and see them, they just love to help.

Building a family tree is a great project for families, and being school holidays, it is a great way to keep the kids occupied.

05/04/2026

Were you descended from one of those children?

Between 1848 and 1870 thousands of Irish children were removed from workhouses during and after the Great Famine and transferred to Australia under governmen...

05/04/2026

Well the Easter Egg Hunt has finished, all found (and eaten), now for the other hunt ..... family history.