GSV News

As promised earlier in the year, I said I’d get back to announce that the appeal for a microfiche and film scanner reached its goal. It did, and surpassed it, thanks to many generous donors.

The equipment has been purchased and training is underway. Then more than 10,000 microfiche and 400 microfilms will be scanned, involving around 500 volunteer hours. That will be followed by many, many hours of indexing and cataloguing.

I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our members, volunteers and staff for your interest in the Genealogical Society of Victoria. It is the vibrant, knowledgeable and generous involvement of many members which makes the GSV so special.

As our financial year draws to a close I’d like to ask you, as I do each year, to consider a donation to the GSV. Every gift, large or small, helps us to continue to delivery an ever broadening range of high-quality services.

If you have already donated this year, please accept my sincere appreciation.

If you haven’t given, or would like to again, donations to the GSV, which are tax-deductible, would be gratefully received. They can be made online through the Donate Now link on the GSV website homepage, or by calling the GSV (on 9662 4455) with your credit card details, or by a cheque in the mail (to Level 1, 10 Queen Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000).

With very best wishes,
Brian Reid
President

When was the last time you stepped into the GSV library?

If it’s been a while—or if you’ve never visited in person—our Library Discovery Days are the perfect opportunity to reconnect, explore, and break down that brick wall.

Throughout 2026, we’re offering a series of small, friendly sessions designed to help you uncover the full potential of our library. Some days will focus on specific themes, while others offer a general introduction. Our recent German Research Day was a wonderful success, with participants uncovering new leads and gaining confidence in their research.

Each small group session (limited to six participants) begins with an introductory talk from our librarians. This will be followed by plenty of time to explore our collection and the online resources under the guidance of our knowledgeable Library Research Assistants and experienced GSV members.

Upcoming sessions:

• Tuesday 19 May – General Library Discovery Day
• Tuesday 2 June – General Library Discovery Day
• Tuesday 30 June – Scottish Research Day
• Tuesday 28 July – Vic / Tas Research Day
• Tuesday 25 August – South West England Counties Research Day 
• Tuesday 29 September – Commercial Databases Discovery Day
• Wednesday 28 October – Irish Research Day

Why not mark a date (or two) in your calendar and watch for bookings opening on our Events page?

Have a specific question?

You can submit a question in advance. Simply email a brief outline to gsv@gsv.org.au, and our volunteers will be better prepared to help you get the most from your visit.

These sessions are free for GSV members (login to book), with some days open to non-members during special events.

Small groups, friendly support, real research breakthroughs - what have you got to lose?

For family historians, dates on the calendar often open doors into deeper stories, and 8 May is no exception.

World Red Cross Day commemorates the birth of Henry Dunant, whose response to the suffering he witnessed at the Battle of Solferino in 1859 led to the founding of what is now the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. From those beginnings grew an organisation whose records, activities, and people give a picture of wars, migrations, disasters, and everyday acts of care across generations.

Here in Australia, the Australian Red Cross offers a particularly rich field of resources. Established in 1914, it quickly became part of the fabric of wartime life. For researchers, Red Cross records can provide remarkable insights, eg wounded and missing files, prisoner of war records. The records often contain personal details not found elsewhere: letters, witness statements, and glimpses of individuals caught up in global events.

But the story is not only one of war. Red Cross branches in towns and suburbs across the country brought people together: organising fundraisers, sewing circles, blood drives, and community support. You may find an ancestor listed in a branch minute book, a photograph of volunteers rolling bandages in a library collection, or mentioned in a local newspaper report.

World Red Cross Day is a prompt to look (again) at these connections. Have you searched for Red Cross records in your research? Could an ancestor’s wartime story be added to from these collections? Formal archives, books, journal articles, family papers, letters, certificates, and badges may all hold clues to a story of service.

The GSV library has a large collection of resources related to the Red Cross and its services. Searching our catalogue using the term “Red Cross” will yield a treasure trove of journal articles as well as a couple of books and webcasts. Search our GIN index and find journalists, nurses, presidents and more.
https://www.gsv.org.au/our-collection

There are also some great digitised records available on the Australian War Memorial website:
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1414585

And don’t forget the The Heritage Archives Collection of the Australian Red Cross:
https://www.redcross.org.au/about/history-and-heritage/

If you have ancestors who lived in 19th-century Victoria—especially those who lived through the decades of gold rushes, free selection, and bushranging—the upcoming Irish Ancestry Discussion Circle is one you won’t want to miss.

On Saturday 9 May at 1pm on Zoom, guest speaker, Lachlan Strahan, will share the fascinating story behind his book Justice in Kelly Country. This is a well-researched work that cleverly blends family history with Victorian social history. At its heart is Lachlan’s great-great-grandfather, Anthony Strahan, a fiery young Irish immigrant who arrived in Victoria in 1860 and went on to build a long diverse career in the Victorian Police Force.

Through Anthony’s life, Lachlan brings to life the realities of rural policing in the late 19th century—an era that touched many of our own ancestors. From the challenges of maintaining order on the goldfields to the tensions surrounding free selection and the threat of bushrangers, this is a vivid look into the world they inhabited. The infamous Kelly outbreak is at the centre of the story, and this book offers fresh insight into a defining chapter of Victorian history.

Lachlan has always had a compelling interest in history and writing whilst simultaneously forging a distinguished career in Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Whether you have connections to the Victorian Police Force between 1870 and 1900, Irish ancestry, or simply an interest in the lives and times of early Victorians, this presentation promises to both inform and inspire.

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

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/