GSV News

Last year, award-winning author Jeff Steel spoke to the GSV Writers Circle about his latest book. Generous with his time, Jeff offered fascinating insights into writing and publishing - leaving us inspired and full of ideas. After that meeting, over a coffee, convenor Jenny asked Jeff: What will you write next? He wasn’t sure so Jenny made the passing comment, “You could always write about my uncle.” It was one of those throwaway comments you never expect to go anywhere. But it did.

Fast forward to February this year, and that conversation has grown into an incredible new book: Against the Rising Sun: An Australian POW’s Survival – From Changi to Nagasaki. It tells the remarkable story of Jenny’s uncle, Don Graham—a story she is deeply grateful Jeff has brought to life.

One of the reviews says: "When the war took everything, he gave his mates a reason to go on. This is more than a war story, it’s a testament to human spirit and brotherhood behind the wire. Jeff Steel’s gripping narrative brings Don Graham’s courage and wit vividly to life.”

On Wednesday 6 May at 12:30pm via Zoom, Jeff Steel returns to the Writers Circle to share how this book came to be. He’ll take us behind the scenes of the writing process, and what it means to tell someone else’s story with respect and authenticity.

If you’re interested in family or military history, in writing or simply the journey from idea to publication, this is a session not to miss.

This is a free, members-only event. To attend, log in to the GSV website and register via the What’s On? > Events section.

This week is a good time to talk to older relatives about their memories of wartime and ancestors who served.
It’s a great time to jot down your own memories of relations and ancestors who served or lived through war(s).

I remember visiting my grandfather’s older brothers in my childhood and teens. 
Uncles Ricky, Ru and Hendy all served in WWI and returned although none of them as the young healthy men they left Australia as. They all married but only Uncle Ru had children. Who will remember them if I don’t?
Uncle Ricky had spent so long in the sodden trenches of the Western Front that his legs had wizened up. He lived out his long life with a built up shoe and leg braces, and later a wheelchair. Very sad for a man who was such a good runner they sent him across battlefields delivering messages. My mother loved Uncle Ricky and made the quilt (above) to remember him by.
Uncle Ru was a telegraphist in the Navy and was invalided out after the loss of his finger tips due to all the tapping of the equipment.
Uncle Hendy was physically OK but ‘never quite right in the head’ was how they termed it back then. We now know it as PTSD. He was a real larrikin, and so much fun for us little kids, playing the spoons and blowing music through gum leaves.

You could bring your memories / story to share at our next Victoria and Tasmania Discussion circle meeting on Thursday 24 April at 7.30pm. Don’t forget to register on the website. Free, members only zoom event.

Who will you remember? How will you remember them?
 

Finding Your Early Port Phillip Pioneers

 Are your early Port Phillip ancestors proving hard to trace? 

You’re not alone—and the answers may be hiding in places you haven’t yet thought to look. 

Some of the richest records lie beyond the usual online databases. Some thinking outside the box, and a willingness to explore libraries and lesser-known collections.

When researching my own 1830s - 40s Melbourne settler, I uncovered a valuable snippet of information in an unexpected source—an obscure card collection at the State Library of New South Wales. 

This talk is session three of the Australian Family History Research course. It will focus on the Port Phillip District, before separation from NSW in 1851. Join Bronwyn Quint, an experienced researcher and long-time member of the Port Phillip Pioneers Group (since 1993), as she shares practical tips and insights to help you track down those elusive early settlers. This session will highlight where to look, what to look for, and how to uncover records you may not have realised existed.

Thursday 30 April at 1.30pm on zoom

This can be joined as part of the full Australian Family History Research course, or as an individual session. To book the individual session, please log in to get the members price of $30. Non-members are welcome at $60. 

If you have any enquiries please email the course manager, Michael on austresearch@gsv.org.au

Do you have a story just waiting to be told?

Most of us do - we just need the right moment and a little support.
If you’ve ever struggled with where to start, found your motivation fading, or wondered how to bring a piece of writing to a polished finish, you’re not alone.

Whether you are an experienced writer or just dreaming of putting pen to paper, we have a place for you.

At the GSV, we offer three wonderful ways to help you on your writing journey:

The GSV Writing Family Stories course: a four session course over eight weeks beginning on Tuesday 28 April. Perfect for building confidence, developing your skills and shaping your stories - just in time to enter the writing prize. The techniques you will learn are valuable not only for writing family history but also for local and social history. Learn more here:
https://www.gsv.org.au/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=3014

The 2026 GSV Writing Prize: Opened on Monday 6 April and will close on Friday 28 August. This is your chance to share your work and be recognised. We are delighted to announce that Ancestry™ is once again sponsoring the competition offering a first prize of a 12-month subscription to their AU World Heritage Package (valued at $499.98) plus a DNA test kit.

Open to members of the GSV and GSV Member Societies. For full details, including eligibility and entry conditions: https://www.gsv.org.au/gsv-writing-prize-0

The GSV Writers Circle: a friendly and supportive group that meets on the first Wednesday of each month. Enjoy a mix of writing exercises, tips and tricks and the opportunity to share and receive feedback. Find out more here: https://www.gsv.org.au/gsv-writers

So, what are you waiting for? 
Your story deserves to be told. Come and share it with us.

Did you know photo books don’t just have to be photos?

You can make a photo book about an aspect of your family history, or make memory books for an elderly relative, or a story book for a younger relative.

Come along to a free members only talk by Naomi Beder, the marketing manager of albumworks.

This talk will be on zoom on Thursday 16 April at 10.30am. Register by logging into the GSV website, and go to the What’s On tab - Events section.

Based in Melbourne, albumworks specialise in producing high quality photo books with a strong focus on providing excellent customer service throughout the journey.
Naomi will talk to us about:

• the benefits of making a photo book for your family history
• print quality, paper types, binding, cover options etc.
• how to start a project and how to use the editor - specific demonstration on creating a family history album
• best practices for scanning photos, retouching photos etc.

If you want to have a look in advance, the website is: https://www.albumworks.com.au/

Naomi will announce a special discount (excluding shipping) for all GSV members at the talk. 

I was lucky enough to meet and volunteer with Joyce Ryerson when living in the northern suburbs of Sydney. Living until the age of 95 years young, Joyce was sharp as a tack, and had a dry sense of humour. Joyce was a bit of a hoarder something her daughter Sue was frustrated about.

When Joyce started her ‘collection’ of death notices, she was not a genealogist, just an ‘old girl’ looking to help her old school update a register of former pupils. Her collection would accumulate over 14 years and was stored in her laundry.

She was a member of The Dead Persons Society. When they discovered what she had, they immediately recognised its extraordinary value. John Graham went around and found an almost complete collection of death notices from the Sydney Morning Herald for the years 1986 to 1998. Sue was thrilled as John took them all away.

That collection has since grown into a free searchable online index of more than nine million records drawn from over 470 newspapers across Australia from as early as 1803. The index continues to grow thanks to an army of volunteers.

John Graham is coming to talk to members of the GSV on Wednesday 8 April at 10.30am on zoom. Come and learn about how to get the most out of this fabulous research tool, including some of the little-known features.

https://www.ryersonindex.org/

It’s less than a year until the next AFFHO Congress on Family History: located at Rutherford House, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand from 11 to 14 February 2027.

The theme for 2027 is: Across the Tasman: Natural Allies and Strong Connections
•    The sub-themes are:
•    Voyages
•    Finding women’s stories
•    Uncovering First Nations’ stories
•    DNA
This theme invites us to explore the deep historical ties between Australia and New Zealand — connections forged through migration, shared histories, and family stories that span the Tasman Sea. Wherever your interests lie, there will be rich opportunities to learn, share, and be inspired.

If you are planning to use points to fly there, it’s time to look at booking. You might want to go early (or stay longer) and do some extra research or sightseeing. Wellington is hilly but the conference organisers assure us that the venue is “on a flat bit” and easy walking distance to a number of hotels. They have arranged deals with some hotels, see links on the website.

If you are thinking of going, let us know as we will collate a list like we did for those who attended the Brisbane Congress in 2025. Through a WhatsApp group we coordinated airport transfers, catch ups, dinners and more. It’s a wonderful way to connect before you even arrive.

If you have a talk you would like to submit, we can help you prepare. Congress is a friendly and encouraging environment in which to share your knowledge.
We are thinking of applying to run a workshop on the theme of Voyages. If you can help us prepare and/or present, please contact Meg.
If you haven’t been to a Congress before and are nervous or have questions, please contact us. We are happy to answer questions and help you feel confident about attending.
You can email Meg at gsvlib2@gsv.org.au

Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in family history among like-minded researchers.

To join the mailing list to keep up to date with information, please register on their website https://affhocongress.org/

Another way to stay up to date is through their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/AFFHOCongress

Want to Write Your Family Story but Not Sure Where to Start?

Boxes of Research. Folders of Facts. Digital Archives… But where’s the story? You've got charts, census records, and vital certificates galore, but the stories of the people behind these records remain hidden. Your characters may be modest or majestic, and have played minor or major roles in society, but they are your family and they matter to you. How can you make their story engaging for others?

A good way to begin is with small pieces. Think about one part of your bigger story. Keep your research in the background, and focus on writing something short and well-structured. It could be a single memory, an interesting event, or one ancestor’s moment in history. Completing short pieces helps move your larger story forward, making readers naturally want more!

If you want to develop your confidence, writing style and skills, you will benefit from Writing Family Stories. This new course from GSV, launched in 2025, helps writers craft 500-word pieces while receiving input from presenters and experienced mentors. It is an interactive course with a difference: It’s not just one day, not just lectures, and not even just writing exercises. Our mentors, including authors, academics, historians, teachers, and UTas grads, work with you throughout the course, providing one-on-one support to help you shape and refine your piece.

COURSE SCHEDULE 

– TUE 28 APRIL:  ‘Getting ready to write’ – warm up your pen!
– TUE 12 MAY: ‘Tell your story’ – let the words flow!
– TUE 26 MAY: ‘Revise and polish’ – shine your story!
– TUE 9 JUN: ‘Share your story’ – show off your masterpiece!

(Classes are held from 2.30 to 4:00 Australian Eastern Standard Time)

BOOKING DETAILS

– This course is limited to the first 16 registrants 
– Course fee: $200 for GSV members, $300 for non-members
– Registrations: https://www.gsv.org.au/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=3014

It’s almost here! Will I see you there?

The GSV Australian Family History: Research Strategies & Resources course begins this Saturday. The second session follows on the next Thursday.

I’m really looking forward to it. I’m a fairly experienced researcher but recognise I have gaps in my knowledge. I’m looking forward to picking the brains of those more experienced than I am. I’m also looking forward to getting more background and understanding for some of the stories I am writing about my Australian ancestors.

The first session is a full day seminar on Saturday 21 March from 9am to 4.30pm. It is a hybrid seminar with the opportunity to attend in person at the Library at the Dock, or in the comfort of your own home.

We have great speakers lined up and plenty of time for Q&A and catching up with fellow researchers. Quite a bit of this seminar will cover First Nations people, a topic that was strongly requested in our survey last year. If you’re like me you have very little understanding how our squatting/settling ancestors impacted the local indigenous people.

The second session is an afternoon zoom class all about convict research. Thursday 26 March at 1.30pm. Everything you ever wanted to know about convict resources and even some things that you didn’t know you needed to know! There are a number of little known resources available online or in repositories around Australia. You will be guided as to how to access them.

You can sign up for all nine sessions, or individual seminar and/or zoom sessions. Check the What’s On>Events page of the GSV website. Be sure to log in first to get the special member price.

This is open to non-members too but the price is higher - what a great excuse to join the GSV!

You can join and immediately get the member’s discount by phoning our office between 10am and 4pm on Tue - Fri on 03 9662 4455.

Any questions, email Michael on austresearch@gsv.org.au

Jackie van Bergen

Writing this makes us realise just how many discussion circles the GSV offers — what an extraordinary resource for our members!

After listening to feedback from members and convenors, we’ve made a few changes to the schedule and organisation of our free discussion circles. With so many options each month, choices were becoming difficult — and the workload for our volunteer convenors was growing. These adjustments will help ensure our circles remain engaging and enjoyable for everyone involved.

Why attend a discussion circle live?

Because that’s where the real ‘magic’ happens. You can join the Q&A, share insights, learn from others’ research experiences, test ideas, and even submit a brick wall in advance for group discussion. The recordings are valuable — but the interaction is even better.

Please check the What’s On page (Events tab) for upcoming dates.

Remember to register at the start of each year, as Zoom links change annually. Circle pages are currently being updated — thank you for your patience.

2026 Discussion Circle Schedule

Monthly

• AI for Genealogy (Feb–Nov)
• British India
• DNA Study Group (Feb–Dec)
• Family History Toolbox (formerly Family History Tips & Tricks and The Good Oil) – alternates Wed/Fri
• GSV Writers (Feb–Dec)
• Victoria & Tasmania (Jan–Nov)

Bi-monthly

• Welsh (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec)

Quarterly

• Convicts & Transportation (Feb, May, Aug, Nov)
• Counties of Northern England (CONE) (Feb, May, Aug, Nov)
• International Settlers (Feb, May, Aug, Nov)
• Irish Ancestry (Feb, May, Aug, Nov)
• London & SE Counties (Feb, May, Aug, Nov)
• Early English – pre-1800 (Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec)
• England & Wales (Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec)
• Midlands & East Anglia (Feb, Apr, Jul, Oct)
• SW England (SWERD) (Feb, Apr, Jul, Oct)
• Scottish (Mar, Jun, Sep, Nov)

For more information see https://www.gsv.org.au/special-interest-groups