Directory of Members

Helen has been researching her family since 1986 when her Mother lamented the fact she had never known her Grandfather, George Howard Busby. Helen found some information and a newspaper photo of him, was hooked and has been addicted ever since with research in Australia, England Wales and Ireland.

She is researching the surname Quested anywhere, anytime and has registered the name with the Guild of One-Name Studies and with the Surname Society.

She is the author of Death Certificates and Archaic Medical Terms (2nd Edition 2015) (also available as an ebook), Google the Genealogist's Friend (2016) (also available as an ebook). She is a contributing author for Brisbane Diseased: Contagions, Cures and Controversy (2016) (also available from Amazon and has written for a number of publications including 'Inside History', 'Australian Family Tree Connections', Forgotten Times, family history journals as well as scientific publications. She is the author of a number of blogs which can be accessed via http://helenvsmithresearch.blogspot.com.au/ and you can follow Facebook https://www.facebook.com/helen.smith.967806

Helen has spoken to a wide variety of audiences both in person and virtually, nationally (every state/territory in Australia) and internationally at Who Do You Think You Are? Live London, New Zealand Family History Fair, on 16 Unlock the Past Cruises, "Harvest Your Family Tree" Conference, Kelowna, BC, Canada, Rootstech, USA and FGS USA.

Helen was the founder  of the Genealogical Society of Queensland's DNA SIG and ran it for seven years.

Helen is a  professional with lecturing, writing, client research in Queensland, health histories and a part-time position in conference organising with Unlock the Past Genealogy and History cruises http://www.unlockthepastcruises.com/

In 2023 Helen retired from her day job after 36+ years as a public health microbiologist.  She was a Molecular Epidemiologist specialising in Public Health Microbiology and has a strong interest in infectious diseases and Public Health through the ages.

Qualifications:
Graduate Diploma in Public Health
Bachelor Applied Science: Medical Laboratory Science
Associate Diploma in Clinical Laboratory Techniques
Diploma of Management
Diploma of Business

Diploma of Family History

Member:
Genealogical Society of Queensland
Queensland Family History Society
Oxfordshire Family History Society
Kent Family History Society
Society of Australian Genealogists

Society of Genealogists (UK)

National Genealogical Society (USA)
National Genealogical Society
Guild of One Name Studies (registered name Quested) and is the Queensland Regional Representative for the Guild
The Surname Society
Society for One Place Studies
Association of Professional Genealogists
Genealogical Speakers Guild

Previous volunteer positions:
Genealogical Society of Queensland Computer Interest Group Convenor
Genealogical Society of Queensland Committee
Southern Suburbs Branch of GSQ Inc. Committee and President

15th Australasian Congress Sydney Australia