Helen V Smith

I have yet to meet Australian genealogist, Helen Smith, but feel as if I know her reasonably well due to her activity on social networking sites and as a blogger. I appreciate Helen's responses to my posts in various forums.

Hopefully some day soon our paths will cross. Maybe someone in Sydney will invite Helen down to give some of her medically flavoured genealogy talks.

Thanks to this very busy lady for sharing her profile on GeniMates.


Date: June 2011
Name: Helen V Smith
Hometown: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Both

What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?
Halfway through a Certificate in Genealogical Studies-English Records with National Institute of Genealogical Studies,Informally I read everything I can and subscribe to most family history magazines. There is so much information available now reading people’s blogs. I listen to as many podcasts as possible (my iPod Touch is my great friend while driving) and while travelling for work. I learn from webinars. I attend as many conferences and presentations as work and finances will allow. I know you never stop learning and it is so much fun!

How long have you been chasing ancestors?
Since 1986

How did you get hooked on genealogy?
My Mother lamented the fact she had never known her Grandfather, George Howard Busby. I decided to see what I could find out, found some information and a newspaper photo of him, became hooked and have been addicted ever since.

What is your day job?
Molecular epidemiologist

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?
Queensland, Kent, Oxfordshire, England, Medical History and One Name Studies

Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups:

•  I have been a member of Genealogical Society of Queensland since late 1980’s and have been a Committee member. 
• I have been a member of Southern Suburbs Branch of Genealogical society of Queensland since round 1998 and have been a committee member for many of those years.
• I am currently a member of Queensland Family History Society, Oxfordshire FHS Society, Kent FHS, Society of Genealogists and the Guild of One Name Studies (registered name Quested) and am currently the Queensland Regional Representative for the Guild.

What are the lands of your ancestors?
Australia, England and Ireland

What Family Names are you Researching?
Quested, Amos, Busby, Carter, Courtenay, Culley, Cullicoat, Drury, Evans, Feeny,Filmer, Hamer, Howard, Jelley, Joy, Lewis, Longley, Meridith, Millen, Morgan, Moyle, Nicholls, Philpott, Plumridge, Robinson, Rollason, Smith, Spargo, Spear, Weeks, White, Wills

Who is your favourite ancestor? Why?
Depends who I am researching at the time but I always have a soft spot for George Howard Busby, first because he was the cause of my starting family history so we started this addiction together and secondly because he did so many interesting things. He joined the Cape Mounted Rifles in the Boer War, was in the 15th Battalion at Gallipoli, as well had served in the Ambulance Brigade and the Fire Brigade. He also worked as a Press photographer in late 1920-early 1930s.

What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?
I have been lucky enough to visit most of my ancestral areas except the family areas in Ireland. Ancestral memory may linger as I felt instantly at home in Coombe , Oxfordshire where the Busby family pretty much were related to everyone in the village.

What is your favourite resource for genealogy?
Hmm very hard to pick just one. Trove in Australia, GENUKI in England,FamilySearch and then there are the pay sites for many of which I have subscriptions.

Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes

What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree?
The Master Genealogist and also use Legacy

Do you have your tree posted on the internet? Yes
If Yes What is the URL? Currently on Ancestry

What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?
• Ancestry• Facebook• GenealogyWise• LinkedIn• MyHeritage• Twitter

Do you have a blog? Several
What are your blogs' URLs?
http://helenvsmithresearch.blogspot.com
http://historicalmedical.blogspot.com
http://kentresearch.blogspot.com
http://questedonenamestudy.blogspot.com/

What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?
Writing, reading, playing with new tech toys, social history, medical history

What is your favourite leisure time activity apart from genealogy?
Reading

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?
Have too many to list. Books have been favoured companions for many years and have over ten thousand at home. I read everything except horror.

What is your personal philosophy in a few words ?
Do your best, live life to the fullest. Pay it forward.

If you have anything else to share please add it below.
Life is a journey linked from the past to the future. Live it, enjoy it.

Cheryl Bailey

Cheryl was one of the enthusiastic Australian genealogists with whom I conected on Google Wave. I was impressed by the amount of energy she put into that doomed project.  It is wonderful to see the Australian genealogy websites that she has produced  for the benefit of others.

Cheryl is one of our quiet achievers.

Date  22/5/2011
Name  Cheryl Bailey
Hometown  Toowoomba now living on the Mornington Peninsula

Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist?  Hobbyist

What is your day job?  Retired

How long have you been chasing ancestors?  30 years

How did you get hooked on genealogy?  A cousin showed me a hand drawn family chart with only names on it and there was no father attached to my grandfather. After 30 years we still do not have 100 percent proof of the father.

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? Tasmania

Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups. Past member and indexer of the Tasmanian Family History Society, Genealogical Society of Queensland and the Queensland Family History Society.

What are the lands of your ancestors?  Orkney Isles, England, Australia

What Family Names are you Researching? Armstrong, Batey, Coombs, Cottenham, Curd, Dalton, Davison, Ellam, Embrey, Gammon, Gent, Heppel, Husthwaite, Irvine, Kaye, Kirsop, Leatheard, Louttit, Mellie, Metcalfe, Morley, Parsons, Pratt, Raspin, Ratcliffe, Raymant, Scarth, Skaife, Spence, Stokan, Varo, Winsby, Wood

Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? James MORLEY because he has left a wealth of descendants who take a keen interest in the family history.

What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?  Withyham, East Sussex because I would like to get that same spiritual feeling as when I visited Buckland Cemetery, Tasmania in the 1970's before I was interested in Genealogy.

What is your favourite resource for genealogy?  Family Search
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper?  Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer?  Yes

What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree?  IFamily for Leopard, PAF

Do you have your tree posted on the internet?  Yes
If Yes What is the URL?  http://aussiemandas.familytreeguide.com/tree_index.php

What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?  Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, Geni, LinkedIn, Twitter, Other

Do you have a blog?  Several
What are your blogs' URLs?  http://sites.google.com/site/aussiemandas/, http://aussiemandasancestry.wordpress.com/

What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?  Photography, Reading, Internet Researcher, Scrapbooking

What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy?  Facebook

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?  Arthur Mee's Children's Encyclopedia

What is your personal philosophy in a few  words ?  To help and encourage others and to be grateful for all blessings that come my way.

If you have anything else to share please add it below. Also have the following:

a website devoted to the passengers of the "Oriental" which landed at Hobart, Tasmania in 1859. http://sites.google.com/site/oriental1859immigrants

a website "Tasanclin" dealing with resources and help. https://sites.google.com/site/tasanclin/

Sharn White

Although I have been following Sharn on social networking sites for a while. I do not know her well and I thought that I'd like to know more about this lady so I extended a GeniMates invitation to her.

Thank you Sharn for your gracious response.

 

Date 5 April 2011
Name Sharn White
Hometown Brisbane Queensland

Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist?  I am currently working towards becoming a Professional Genealogist

What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?  My current studies are an Advanced Diploma in Applied, Local and Family History through the University of New England.
My background in teaching and other university studies in Ancient History and English have been very relevant to my genealogical research as they are areas which require analysis and critical thinking. The study of the German language as part of a BA has been especially helpful as I have German ancestry on my mother's side of the family.

What is your day job? My husband is a heritage architect and I work in his practice.

How long have you been chasing ancestors? I have been on the trail of ancestors seriously since the mid 1990's but I was interviewing family members and scribbling down family trees from the early 1980's onward.

How did you get hooked on genealogy? I grew up with my paternal grandmother telling me fascinating stories of her childhood in County Tyrone Northern Ireland and can recall being interested in my family history from my teenage years. I became much more involved in researching my family tree after a great aunt told me just before she died, that I had German ancestry. That was in the mid 1990's and I had never known that. Her comment sparked a thirst for more information and that was that. I was hooked!

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?  I really enjoy all aspects of Genealogy. I thrive on examining evidence and finding clues and solving genealogical puzzles. I enjoy the way that history come alive through finding about the lives of ancestors. I have done quite a lot of research about convict Australians, as well as British, German, Norwegian and New Zealand family history, but I really enjoy everything that comes my way. I would quite like to write and speak about genealogy.

Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I am a current member of the Society of Australian Genealogists, The New Zealand Society of Genealogist and the Maryborough District family History Society and a past member some others including the Kent Family History Society and the Darling Downs Family History Society.

What are the lands of your ancestors? England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Prussia, France, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia.

What Family Names are you Researching?
In England - MORLEY, HOYES, TAIT, GAIR, BERRY, BERRIFF, DUNSTER, FRYER, BEARD, LLOYD, DIXON, MALLOWS
In Scotland - MCDADE, GIBSON, CAMPBELL, FEARNS, CUPPLES, BULLOCK, SHAW, ARTHUR, MCFARLANE, MCDERMID, MCDAIRMID, MORRISON, RENNIE, MACDONALD, MCPHERSON, MCALISTER
In Ireland - WHITE, THOMPSON, SHAW, CLARKE, CUPPLES, SHAW, CRAIL
In Germany- NERGER, SIEGLER, SIGLER
In Switzerland- HABERLING, RYSER, BOSSHARDT, GERBER, HEINIGER, HILTBRUNNER, GRUETTER, RICKLI, RAMESEYER, HELD, GEISSBUEHLER, WIDMER, BUETTIKER
In New Zealand - HOYES, MORLEY, THOMPSON, WHITE, CRAIL

Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? I have become attached to quite a few people on my family tree, but I do have a definite favourite. I tend to get most involved with the scoundrels in my ancestry, probably because they are the most interesting to research. My great uncle Rex Morley Hoyes is an all time favourite because I have had so much fun finding out about his colourful life. He was charged with espionage and bribery in England during World war 2 but acquitted. I have extensive files from MI5 about him, detailing their suspicions. He owned a home which once belonged to King Henry the Eighth, flew illegal guns into Hyderabad with Sidney Cotton when he was Air Advisor to the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1947-48, built a secret airstrip on his property, Marwell Hall where Seafires were converted to Spitfires and owned a large steam yacht 'Warrior 11' which was originally built for American Millionaire Frederick Vanderbilt. He also changed his name to the fabulous creation of Vicomte Fessenden Charles Rex de Borenden! I would really have loved to have met Uncle Rex, but do suspect that he was rather a scoundrel.

What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? I have never been to Zurich or Bern where my Swiss great great grandparents came from so that would be my first choice and then Winchester in England to visit Uncle Rex's Marwell Hall which is now part of a Zoological Park.

What is your favourite resource for genealogy? I love visiting Archives and Libraries to find original documents, especially those which have an ancestor's handwriting on them. There are so many wonderful resources on the internet as well and so I spend a great deal of time on my computer.

Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes

Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes

What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? Family treemaker
I am looking at The Master Genealogist.
Ancestry.com

Do you have your tree posted on the internet? Yes

If Yes What is the URL? Ancestry.com

What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?  Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, Genes Reunited, Twitter

Do you have a blog? Several

What are your blogs' URLs? http://SharnsgenealogyHints.blogspot.com http://www.sharn-genealogyjottings.blogspot.com

What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?  In my 'spare' time I enjoy reading, playing the guitar and flute, collecting antiques and visiting art galleries and secondhand book stores.

What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Reading

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book? I have many favoutite books but right now I am revisiting an old favourite - Wuthering Heights. I also enjoy anything written by Alexander McCall Smith

What is your personal philosophy in a few  words ? Always do your best and be generous in heart.

If you have anything else to share please add it below I am quite humbled by the invitation to share my profile. Thankyou for this opportunity, regards Sharn

Judy Webster



Judy Webster


I am thrilled to present another Genimate from Australia.  Judy is one of the virtual pals that I follow on Twitter and in her many blogs. I have learnt many things from Judy's contributions in the online world.

I cheered when I read Judy's answer to "If you have anything else to share please add it below", this comment echoes my feelings on this subject.

  I first 'met' Judy when she started placing regular comments on my Geniaus blog. Hopefully our paths will cross some time soon and I will be able to meet Judy in the flesh.

Date 24 Feb 2011

Name Judy Webster

Hometown Cunnamulla, Queensland, but I now live in Brisbane.

Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist?Professional genealogist for Queensland State Archives records only, and Hobbyist for everything else.

What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?Graduate Diploma in Local and Applied History (University of New England, NSW) plus many seminars and conferences, including all but one of the Australasian Congresses since 1986.

How long have you been chasing ancestors?Since about 1970. I started young!

How did you get hooked on genealogy?I think it was when I heard my father and uncle talking about their eccentric aunt.

What is your day job?I have my own part-time business as a genealogical researcher and indexer, but until recently (when I resigned after 34 years) I was also a medical scientist in a hospital.

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?Records at Queensland State Archives, especially neglected sources that can break down 'brick walls' in research.

Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and GroupsI am a member of the Queensland Family History Society (where I was previously a volunteer indexer and library assistant) and the Southern Suburbs branch of the Genealogical Society of Queensland. In the past I was also a member of the Society of Australian Genealogists and several groups in Yorkshire, Middlesex and Surrey.

What are the lands of your ancestors?England (mainly Yorkshire, Middlesex, Surrey, Durham and Somerset), Scotland (mainly Argyllshire), Germany, and I have one Irish ancestor.

What Family Names are you Researching?Agar, Ashton, Barber, Birks, Butler, Campbell, Giblett, Harley, Hudson, Hugill, Matthew, Nicholson, Peacock, Porter, Rienecker, Sheppard, Steinke, Webster.

Who is your favourite ancestor?My grandmother, Florence Webster nee Hudson, who died at the age of 99. She told me many stories about her family and her life, and she gave me lots of old documents and photos.

What ancestral city or town would you like to visit?I have been fortunate enough to visit most of the areas where my British ancestors lived, including the Isle of Tiree in Scotland, but my strongest attachments are to Barton-le-Willows and Farndale in North Yorkshire.

What is your favourite resource for genealogy?Any Archives office with original records!  My favourite record series include Police Gazettes and probate, inquest, hospital and prison records.

Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes.

Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes.

What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree?The Master Genealogist.

Do you have your tree posted on the internet?Yes, in several places and formats.

If Yes What is the URL?http://www.judywebster.com.au/, http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~webster-jw and http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~judyweb/.

What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?Facebook, GenealogyWise, Genes Reunited, LinkedIn, Twitter

Do you have a blog? Several

What are your blogs' URLs?

http://genie-leftovers.blogspot.com/http://qld-genealogy.blogspot.com/http://uk-australia.blogspot.com/http://outback-story.blogspot.com/http://my-yorkshire-genealogy.blogspot.com/What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?Reading, travel, gardening, postcards, paper-making.

What is your favourite leisure time activity apart from genealogy?Reading.

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?The Hills is Lonely (Lillian Beckwith).

What is your personal philosophy in a few wordsIf you are going to do it, try to do it well.

If you have anything else to share please add it belowIt is OK to record your sources in a relatively informal way, as long as you provide enough details so that you (or someone else) can find those records again, study them more closely or assess their reliability.