• Be quick! 'Why I use and recommend Findmypast' (which includes research tips from my own experience) mentions the current 50% discount! Until (in Australian time zones) the morning of 23 April (23:59pm BST on 22 Apr), Findmypast is offering new or returning customers 50% discount on an 'Everything' subscription at any of Findmypast's sites. Each site gives you access to the same records.
  
  
• Names were added to these pages this weekend:
  
  
  1. Illegitimate Index. If you're trying to identify (or confirm the identity of) a biological father, check this again, because I've added many more names of women and children who are mentioned in records that name the child's father. These people are from all over Australia, and a few were overseas. The records are for various dates between 1858 and 1964. There are now over 5,400 names from more than 100 record series. NOTE: It's likely that the Interim Index (see below) also has entries for mothers of illegitimate children whose father is named in historical records; but for various reasons I didn't include them in the Illegitimate Index.
     
     
  2. Interim Index: This 'miscellaneous' index includes names extracted from interesting, unusual or hard-to-find documents in historical archival collections, including some that are extremely useful but overlooked by most family historians. Be sure to check this list for both maiden and married surnames, and for men, women and children from other States and countries, as well as Queenslanders.
     
     
  3. Insanity and Unsound Mind index. Scroll through the lists and look for spelling variants. There are more than 21,000 names from many series of historical records with information about people in asylums (plus others who were thought to have mental health problems). Although the index is mainly for Queensland, it includes entries for a few people in other parts of Australia, and American soldiers who were in Queensland during WW2.
     
     
  4. Neglected, Adopted or Orphaned Children. The term 'neglected' is misleading (there are entries for children whom you wouldn't expect to be described in that way); and some records say 'orphan' when at least one parent was still alive.
  
  
• Because many of you did not see the announcements on this page or on my genealogy page on Facebook during Feb/March, the deadline for entries in my prize draw has been extended to 7am (AEST) 30 June 2025. Full details of the prizes, and how to enter, are on Genealogy Discounts and Freebies.
  
  
• I've changed the webpage that explains how to ask me to focus on indexing records for a specific time/place (it's FREE).
  
  
• I've updated tips and links on 'DNA Tests for Genealogy'.
  
  
• I've made changes to other genealogy and family history services that I provide.
  
  
• About 40% of people who asked to receive my free genealogy newsletter are not reading it. If you're no longer interested, please click the 'unsubscribe' link at the bottom of that email.

• Queensland records that I've indexed include references to some people from interstate and overseas. In the past 4 months I've added 2,685  names, many of which are from records created in these districts: Ayr, Babinda, Barcaldine, Beaudesert, Beenleigh, Biggenden, Blackall, Bowen, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Cambooya, Cardwell, Charleville, Charters Towers, Childers, Chillagoe, Chinchilla, Clermont, Cloncurry, Cooktown, Cooyar, Cunnamulla, Dalby, Emerald, Gatton, Gayndah, Georgetown, Gladstone, Gordonvale, Gympie, Halifax, Herberton, Home Hill, Hughenden, Innisfail, Irvinebank, Julia Creek, Kidston, Kilcoy, Kilkivan, Kingaroy, Kolan South, Kuridala, Laidley, Landsborough, Longreach, Malanda, Marburg, Mareeba, Maryborough, Millmerran, Mitchell, Mossman, Mount Isa, Mount Molloy, Mount Morgan, Mundubbera, Mungindi, Nambour, Nanango, Nerang, North Pine, Oakey, Petrie, Proserpine, Quilpie, Ravenswood, Rockhampton, Rosewood, Sarina, Springsure, St.George, Stonehenge, Taroom, Texas, Townsville, Warwick, Winton, Wolfram, Wondai, Wowan and Wynnum.

• To keep track of which names you've looked for on my website, and when you last looked, use my checklists (or create your own) as explained on my Free Downloads page. I added 5 new checklists last week: 'Illegitimate', 'Disappeared', '3 Given Names', 'Unusual Names', and 'Interim Index'.

• A corrected and expanded version of my family tree is now online.

• In June I updated my Queensland Genealogy and Archives Research Tips.
  
  
• For many of the 70,000 names on my website, there's a new service that makes it easier for you to check whether the document that I indexed could be for the person you're researching (rather than someone else with the same name). This service currently costs between $2 and $8 (but that's subject to change). On the page for each index, under 'Research / Copying Service' or similar, the new service (if it's available) will be explained. See 'My indexes to original historical records'.
  
  
• I updated the page with my privacy, cookie and links policies, copyright advice, and a disclaimer and disclosure.
  
  
• I have stopped using Twitter. If you use Facebook and want to see my posts about family history, you need to Like/Follow my Judy Webster Genealogy page (not my personal profile).

• New page about Brisbane Hospital patients, with an explanation of some superb pre-1923 records, a combined list of patients' names, and a new way to get information or copies.
  
  
• I added 130 names to the Missing Friends lists - and there's a new (cheaper) option if you're interested in a name on the list.

• I've recently made changes to Genealogy mini-guides.

• When you contact me at either of my business email addresses, you'll receive an immediate automated acknowledgement, and later a personal response. It is your responsibility to add BOTH addresses to your Contacts and to your Whitelists, Safe Senders lists, etc, and to regularly check spam/junk/trash folders, 'promotions' and other tabs.
  
  
• WARNING!  (1) If you contact me from a Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, Outlook, Live or MSN address (where my reply often goes into a 'black hole'), you *must* also give me an alternative email address so that I can reply to both addresses; and you must check spam etc as explained above. If you ask me to re-send my emails, you will be billed for the extra time involved.  (2) If Gmail adds an alert to my emails (eg, 'could not verify...' that it was actually sent by me), ignore it.

• NOTE!  I usually supply copies of documents as digital images that you can download via Dropbox (which you can also use as an offsite backup). I email you the download link and instructions. One month later, the link expires and files are deleted, unless you've previously requested extra time.

• Use it or lose it! Some of my copying services will probably be available only until the end of this month (November 2021). Others will continue, but prices may increase. Now is the time to thoroughly check the 70,000 names from historical records, and order copies of any original documents that interest you (as explained at the end of each list of names).
  
  
• I recently spent several days editing the source code for this website. The changes should make the pages more mobile-friendly. If there's a page that doesn't work well on a mobile device, please tell me the URL and what the problem is. I've also changed the header on most pages to include (above the logo) a link to a page that I use and recommend. Some of those links open in a new window, and some send you away from my site.

• My website includes names of over 1,800 patients for whom I can supply copies of Goodna Asylum case books (with medical and biographical information). You may previously have been told that they were unavailable even via Right to Information. You must search the names (that link opens a new window), and then follow the 'Checking, Research and Copying Services' instructions.
  
  
• Queensland Colonial Secretary's Office in-letters, 1860s / 1870s, re Benevolent Asylum patients and others: I've reduced the fees for source references and for copies of original documents.
  
  
• People Arrested and Victims of Crime at Charters Towers: I've reduced the fee for copies of original documents. Note that the index (with names and source references) is available in PDF format.
  
  
• South-West Queensland: Miscellaneous Sources Index: I've reduced the fee for consulting my index and sending you a brief description of the record series (date range and likely contents), the name of the repository (in case you want to do the work yourself), and a no-obligation quote for a digital copy of the original record.
  
  
• See the example and advice on Don't Waste Money on Irrelevant Documents!
  
  
• Recent unfortunate events have forced me to make changes to 'Copying, Research and Other Genealogy Services'.
  
  
• I wrote this with steam coming out of my ears, so please read it and avoid these mistakes: 'Tips on Sending an Email to Multiple People'.
  
  
• On this site, note the 'Other suggestions' section that's near the end of most pages with names. See also my site search tips.

• Last month I made significant changes to 40 of my Favourite Genealogy Indexes / Sources (I removed some suggestions and links, and added new ones).
  
  
• My website now has names from two admission registers for Roma Hospital. Some places of residence, as shown in the registers, were hundreds of kilometres away. Many patients were children. Birthplace statistics are also interesting. About 31% of patients were born overseas and 18% were born in a State other than Queensland.
  
  
• (This is one of the most significant changes that I've ever made.) Today I added new, cheaper options (starting at $5) for obtaining information from my Insanity and Unsound Mind index.
  
  
• The new options mentioned above are available for a trial period. If they prove popular (and don't make my life a misery as I wind down towards retirement), I may introduce something similar for other indexes.
  
  
• In an attempt to make things easier for my customers, I've changed the Web page about my genealogy mini-guides.

Even without Covid-19, recent months have seen considerable upheaval in my life - but I've made a few additions and updates to my Website:

• After recent improvements at Findmypast, I added new tips and links to 'Why I Use and Recommend Findmypast'.
  
  
• Significant updates to the 'Electoral Rolls' section on Queensland Genealogy and Archives Tips.
  
  
• My personal Recommended Reading Web page has been expanded and updated. It lists a variety of books / eBooks including genealogy guides, social histories and other background reading for family historians, and genealogical crime mysteries (fiction).
  
  
• I now deliver clients' document copies via Dropbox.

• Added more names to Photos and Sketches of People. The images (found in various archival record series) are accompanied by biographical or historical details. Birth places of those people include the UK, Ireland, western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Italy, South Africa, Czechoslovakia etc.

• Added more names to the Missing Friends page. The original records have superb details for family history.

• Some of my indexes are now available as e-books (PDF format; $3 each):
  
  
  • Index to Eventide (Sandgate, Qld) Registers of Deaths 1954-1959
  • Index to Persons Arrested and Victims of Crime, Qld: Charters Towers pre-1900
  • Index to Persons Arrested and Victims of Crime, Qld: Cloncurry pre-1900

• I've completed my 'in progress' indexes for mental asylum patients, and I've also indexed several additional sources. One source that I'd previously overlooked has (for about 1,000 people) details of the circumstances leading up to admission to a mental asylum (information that is often difficult to find). All of my existing 'insanity' indexes, plus 10,000 new entries, have been combined to create one huge index. The list is on my website as Insanity and Unsound Mind. Please read my explanatory notes very carefully. You may also be interested in the reasons for this change.

• Muttaburra Hospital admission registers: added patients' names from late 1928 and early 1929 (which are not in the index that I published in book form).
  
  
• Files about repayment of fares: added several names. Many applicants were travelling from one Australian State to another, but some were going to or from New Zealand, Canada, Britain, India etc. If you're researching someone who 'disappeared', these files may provide the clue you need.

• Prison records: more names added, and 2 links added to 'Other Suggestions' near the end of the page.

• Maintenance payments to deserted wives and children:  page has been updated with over 880 names.
  
  
• New articles added to Queensland Genealogy and Genealogy Leftovers (links open in a new window).

• My article 'Local Government Records for Family History' has been updated and expanded.

• New article, Australian Electoral Roll Indexes, and Who Could Vote.

• The page Privacy, Copyright and Sharing: Tips for Genealogy has been updated with (1) a link to The Legal Genealogist's article 'Blurring the Lines', and (2) the National Genealogical Society's new guidelines for sharing information with others.

• More names added from my index to headstones on graves in Eulo cemetery.

• More names added from Police Gazettes, including some very unusual names.

• New article, '6 Genealogy Sources You May Have Overlooked' (useful for finding ancestors who vanished).

• There has been a huge amount of interest in my latest article, 'Use FreeBMD postems to find new relatives'.  It describes a simple strategy that has worked for me, so if any of your relatives were born, married or died in England or Wales from 1837 onwards, it may work for you too.

• My 'Genealogists for Families' project won an award for Best New Community Project.

• My article 'The Case of the False Identity', published in Inside History magazine, will have you looking at 19th century passenger lists in a new light.
  
  
• Examples of Indexes for Queensland Genealogy has been updated, with more links to indexes that are now on the Internet.
  
  
• The list of titles from 'Specialist Indexes in Australia: a Genealogist's Guide' (2006 supplement) now has links to some indexes that are on the Internet.

• My 'Queensland Genealogy' blog now has a section (in the sidebar) called 'Categories' (BDMs, Hidden treasures, Indexes, People (names), Places, Sources, Tips, Warnings, Websites). Click a category to see a page with all posts on that topic. See also the complete list of keywords at the bottom of that page.

My other genealogy sites have additional advice and names.

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