Genealogy Conference on a Cruise

If you do not follow my UK/Australia blog you may have missed the item about the genealogy conference on a P&O cruise from Brisbane.

Qld BDMs: recent changes

Searches in Qld Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages online indexes have been improved. You can now use wildcards and variable date searching, and registration numbers include district identifiers (Brisbane/country). Be sure to read the 'Search Tips' on the Registry's Web site.

Note that microfiche indexes are available for Qld births 1915-1919 and marriages 1935-1939, which are not online.

The price of Queensland certificates has risen again. Before buying them, look for certificates (especially death certificates) in State Archives sources as explained in the 2008 edition of Tips for Queensland Research.

Ancestry's recent announcement re Australian birth, death and marriage indexes is misleading. They do not have complete coverage for all States for the date ranges quoted, and many names are missing. I suggest that you check what indexes can be searched (usually free of charge) elsewhere.

Central Queensland hints

After a trip to Central Qld, I have some hints for family historians visiting Rockhampton:

Arcade News, shop 6 in the Arcade off East Street, Rockhampton, phone (07) 49222044, has an outstanding selection of Central Queensland local history publications for sale. Very handy if you don't have time to visit local Council libraries or the Central Qld Family History Association!

Rockhampton Regional Council has appointed a new Heritage Collections Officer: Dr Dannielle ORR.

In Rockhampton, a great place for breakfast, lunch or a daytime snack is Sexie Coffie, on the corner of Bolsover and William Streets, half a block from the new Rockhampton Regional Library. For dinner I recommend the Punjabi Indian Restaurant, 137 East Street. (No, I am not related to the proprietors of these establishments - I just enjoyed eating there!)

Cunnamulla in Google Scholar

In Google Scholar, I searched for 'Cunnamulla' (my home town). Results ranged from 'The Role of the Church in the Rural Communities of South West Queensland' to a study guide for the film 'Cunnamulla'. The book 'Cunnamulla, a brief history of the Paroo Shire' has been cited in several articles. Other titles cited include 'The Geology of the Quilpie, Charleville, Toompine, Wyandra, Eulo and Cunnamulla'.

I also found a United States patent issued to inventor William Stewart BENTLEY, Mooning, Cunnamulla.

For the full text of this article see 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy, no.27: Cunnamulla in Google Scholar.

Sentimental Sunday: JOHNSON headstone

During the 1980s I made two very detailed studies (including transcriptions) of headstones in Cunnamulla General Cemetery in southwest Queensland. A variety of verses are included in epitaphs. Some are quite lengthy, but the majority are traditional verses or phrases such as 'In God's Care' or 'Rest in Peace'. In some cases a verse was composed for a specific person, giving an insight into his or her personality or habits. One example that I found very touching was on the headstone for Bruce Valentine JOHNSON, who died in 1987 aged 22. The verse reads:

Two little words
That meant to us a lot,
From the bottom of our hearts Bruce
Here's a special "Guess what!"

Source: Judy Webster, "Cunnamulla Cemetery Heritage Walk" (thesis, University of New England, 1989).

('Sentimental Sunday' is a theme used by 'Geneabloggers'.)