Click here to register for our 2026 webinar series.

Click here to register for our 2026 webinar series.

By
By
Speakers

Cathie Sherwood

DNA Testing Down Under Series Historical Records Land Records Methodology and Skills Copyright, Friends, Associates, Neighbors (FANs) Miscellaneous Places and Ethnicities Australia, England Technology Webtember

Passionate about history and addicted to family history, Cathie has been researching her Irish, English and Scottish ancestors for over forty years. She was a university lecturer in digital technology and education, retiring as an Associate Professor. Cathie holds a Master’s degree in education, university qualifications in history and computer education, and has completed the Society of Australian Genealogist’s Diploma in Family Historical Studies and Certificate in Genealogical Research. Since her retirement, Cathie now utilises her computer and education knowledge and skills as a professional genealogist, educator and speaker.

As the principal and founder of Family History Academy, Cathie combines her love of family history with her technology skills. She coordinates innovative and interactive genealogy education opportunities in partnership with experienced and highly-respected lecturers.

Cathie's Upcoming Live Webinars (1)

Down Under SeriesMiscellaneous
The Genealogy of Place: Reconstructing the History of a Street
Cathie Sherwood
Wed, November 4 2026: 1:00 UTC
Register for free
The Genealogy of Place: Reconstructing the History of a Street
Wed, November 4 2026: 1:00 UTC
Every street has a story — and every household adds a new chapter. This presentation demonstrates how to trace the history of one street across decades, uncovering the people, properties, and events that shaped its character. You’ll see how rate books, title deeds, maps, photographs, newspapers, and electoral rolls can be systematically layered to reconstruct an entire neighbourhood’s history. Our case study focuses on Harcourt Street in 1860s Brisbane — nicknamed Little Tipperary for its cluster of Irish migrant families. By following property ownership, mapping households, and analysing records in context, you’ll discover how to trace migration patterns, reveal family networks, and uncover community connections. While grounded in an Australian example, the step-by-step approach is globally adaptable —whether you’re researching rural lanes, suburban streets, or city blocks—anywhere records survive.
Down Under SeriesMiscellaneous
The Genealogy of Place: Reconstructing the History of a Street
Cathie Sherwood
Every street has a story — and every household adds a new chapter. This presentation demonstrates how to trace the history of one street across decades, uncovering the people, properties, and events that shaped its character. You’ll see how rate books, title deeds, maps, photographs, newspapers, and electoral rolls can be systematically layered to reconstruct an entire neighbourhood’s history. Our case study focuses on Harcourt Street in 1860s Brisbane — nicknamed Little Tipperary for its cluster of Irish migrant families. By following property ownership, mapping households, and analysing records in context, you’ll discover how to trace migration patterns, reveal family networks, and uncover community connections. While grounded in an Australian example, the step-by-step approach is globally adaptable —whether you’re researching rural lanes, suburban streets, or city blocks—anywhere records survive.
Wed, November 4 2026: 1:00 UTC
Register for free

Cathie's Webinars (9)

59:17
DNA TestingDown Under SeriesMethodology and Skills
Finding Great-Granny’s Family: Four Words and DNA
Cathie Sherwood
904 views
CC
Finding Great-Granny’s Family: Four Words and DNA
This case study illustrates how four simple words in a newspaper notice and DNA evidence became the key to unlocking Great Granny’s Irish roots. The research journey began with the cryptic phrase “Toowoomba papers please copy” in an 1886 death notice. This small clue directed the research to the Hanlon family in another location hundreds of kilometres away, with DNA evidence crucial to confirm the connection back to Kilkenny, Ireland. The presentation highlights the importance of scrutinising every detail in historical documents, no matter how small, and explores techniques for following unexpected leads across disparate locations, combining traditional research with DNA analysis.
DNA TestingDown Under SeriesMethodology and Skills
Finding Great-Granny’s Family: Four Words and DNA
CC
Cathie Sherwood
904 views
This case study illustrates how four simple words in a newspaper notice and DNA evidence became the key to unlocking Great Granny’s Irish roots. The research journey began with the cryptic phrase “Toowoomba papers please copy” in an 1886 death notice. This small clue directed the research to the Hanlon family in another location hundreds of kilometres away, with DNA evidence crucial to confirm the connection back to Kilkenny, Ireland. The presentation highlights the importance of scrutinising every detail in historical documents, no matter how small, and explores techniques for following unexpected leads across disparate locations, combining traditional research with DNA analysis.
Wed, April 9 2025: 2:00 UTC
Register for free
1:12:14
Places and EthnicitiesDown Under Series
A military heritage: Finding your British army lineage in pre-20th century records
Cathie Sherwood
590 views
CC
A military heritage: Finding your British army lineage in pre-20th century records
Many Australians will have a soldier or sailor somewhere in their family tree, particularly from the 20th century onwards. Finding those ancestors who served in Australian contingents during World War One or Two for example, is a relatively straightforward process, mainly because the records are mostly available in Australian archives. However, once the search moves back into the 19th or 18th century, then it can become a more complicated puzzle. This presentation provides an overview of the military history of Europe during the 19th and 18th centuries and outlines the range of records which are available, such as those at The National Archives (UK) in particular as well as Australian archives and military museums and an increasing number of online resources. The wealth of detail will help reveal the life of your military ancestor and may even be able to take your research back into the 18th century.
Places and EthnicitiesDown Under Series
A military heritage: Finding your British army lineage in pre-20th century records
CC
Cathie Sherwood
590 views
Many Australians will have a soldier or sailor somewhere in their family tree, particularly from the 20th century onwards. Finding those ancestors who served in Australian contingents during World War One or Two for example, is a relatively straightforward process, mainly because the records are mostly available in Australian archives. However, once the search moves back into the 19th or 18th century, then it can become a more complicated puzzle. This presentation provides an overview of the military history of Europe during the 19th and 18th centuries and outlines the range of records which are available, such as those at The National Archives (UK) in particular as well as Australian archives and military museums and an increasing number of online resources. The wealth of detail will help reveal the life of your military ancestor and may even be able to take your research back into the 18th century.
Thu, January 11 2024: 1:00 UTC
Register for free
56:48
Places and EthnicitiesMethodology and SkillsDown Under Series
Can You Write a Wrong? Copyright in Australia
Cathie Sherwood
306 views
CC
Can You Write a Wrong? Copyright in Australia
Knowing what we can freely use, without permission, in our family histories ensures that we are not infringing on the rights of others. For example, did you know that if you watch your grandmother make her secret pasta sauce, writing down the ingredients and methods she used, you have created your own 'literary work' which is now protected by copyright? (Just don't tell Granny!) How then does copyright law apply to published and unpublished works? What is fair use and moral rights? Can a distant cousin use information in her family book that I have researched? This presentation will examine those aspects of Australia’s copyright law which apply to family historians and discusses ways we can comply with the law.
Places and EthnicitiesMethodology and SkillsDown Under Series
Can You Write a Wrong? Copyright in Australia
CC
Cathie Sherwood
306 views
Knowing what we can freely use, without permission, in our family histories ensures that we are not infringing on the rights of others. For example, did you know that if you watch your grandmother make her secret pasta sauce, writing down the ingredients and methods she used, you have created your own 'literary work' which is now protected by copyright? (Just don't tell Granny!) How then does copyright law apply to published and unpublished works? What is fair use and moral rights? Can a distant cousin use information in her family book that I have researched? This presentation will examine those aspects of Australia’s copyright law which apply to family historians and discusses ways we can comply with the law.
Wed, December 6 2023: 1:00 UTC
Register for free
1:07:48
Places and EthnicitiesDown Under SeriesHistorical Records
Settlers, Squatters and Selectors: Land ownership in Australia, 1788-1900
Cathie Sherwood
636 views
CC
Settlers, Squatters and Selectors: Land ownership in Australia, 1788-1900
Since the early days of British settlement in Australia, land has been considered to be one of its greatest assets. Until 1831, some settlers received large grants of land while others were entitled to only 30 acres, plus an additional 20 acres if married and 10 acres for each child. Over the next seventy years, the colonies developed their own land allocation schemes, each devised for a specific purpose. This presentation will highlight the records which relate to Crown Land, pastoral runs, land selection, occupation records, land orders and land ownership.
Places and EthnicitiesDown Under SeriesHistorical Records
Settlers, Squatters and Selectors: Land ownership in Australia, 1788-1900
CC
Cathie Sherwood
636 views
Since the early days of British settlement in Australia, land has been considered to be one of its greatest assets. Until 1831, some settlers received large grants of land while others were entitled to only 30 acres, plus an additional 20 acres if married and 10 acres for each child. Over the next seventy years, the colonies developed their own land allocation schemes, each devised for a specific purpose. This presentation will highlight the records which relate to Crown Land, pastoral runs, land selection, occupation records, land orders and land ownership.
Wed, February 1 2023: 1:00 UTC
Register for free
1:09:41
Technology
Need help with grammar and punctuation? There’s a tool for that!
Cathie Sherwood
636 views
CC
Need help with grammar and punctuation? There’s a tool for that!
We all want our writing to be clear and concise and agonise over getting it just right. Is that the correct word? Have I put the comma in the right place? Should that be an em-dash or an en-dash? Sometimes we just need a tool to help us identify the typos and grammatical inconsistencies or highlight the punctuation errors. This session will demonstrate free tools to improve our writing and help us become better writers.
Technology
Need help with grammar and punctuation? There’s a tool for that!
CC
Cathie Sherwood
636 views
We all want our writing to be clear and concise and agonise over getting it just right. Is that the correct word? Have I put the comma in the right place? Should that be an em-dash or an en-dash? Sometimes we just need a tool to help us identify the typos and grammatical inconsistencies or highlight the punctuation errors. This session will demonstrate free tools to improve our writing and help us become better writers.
Thu, August 11 2022: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
1:01:16
Places and EthnicitiesDown Under Series
Education in Australia
Cathie Sherwood
361 views
CC
Education in Australia
Tracking the movement of ancestors in Australia can be difficult without available census records. However, there are numerous record alternatives, one of which is school admission registers as children are recorded each year, with details including parent’s names and dates of entry and exit. Industrial or trade schools, universities, religious schools and others can also present information not found elsewhere.
Places and EthnicitiesDown Under Series
Education in Australia
CC
Cathie Sherwood
361 views
Tracking the movement of ancestors in Australia can be difficult without available census records. However, there are numerous record alternatives, one of which is school admission registers as children are recorded each year, with details including parent’s names and dates of entry and exit. Industrial or trade schools, universities, religious schools and others can also present information not found elsewhere.
Wed, February 2 2022: 1:00 UTC
Register for free
1:15:29
Down Under SeriesPlaces and Ethnicities
Uncovering the lives of your London (England) ancestors
Cathie Sherwood
1.1K views
CC
Uncovering the lives of your London (England) ancestors
It can be quite daunting to find your ancestors who lived in the Greater London area as records are held at numerous archives. Parishes number in the hundreds and surprisingly, many Londoners in the 18th and 19th centuries were quite mobile. This presentation will take you through a variety of…
Down Under SeriesPlaces and Ethnicities
Uncovering the lives of your London (England) ancestors
CC
Cathie Sherwood
1.1K views
It can be quite daunting to find your ancestors who lived in the Greater London area as records are held at numerous archives. Parishes number in the hundreds and surprisingly, many Londoners in the 18th and 19th centuries were quite mobile. This presentation will take you through a variety of…
Wed, November 3 2021: 1:00 UTC
Register for free
49:59
Methodology and SkillsWebtember
One Family, Many Connections: Using the FAN club in one Australian locality
Cathie Sherwood
438 views
CC
One Family, Many Connections: Using the FAN club in one Australian locality
Family historians know only too well the importance of researching the family/friends, neighbours and associates (the FAN club) of direct line ancestors. Any information we find does not become truly valuable until placed into a community or cluster or network context. Harvesting the clues in the FAN club gives us the potential to further advance our research as well as provide pointers to other records or fragments. So, what genealogical details would be found if the FAN principle was applied to one family in a locality? This presentation will show how one such network or cluster evolved in the Hunter Valley region; one which was to be hugely influential in the growth years of the New South Wales colony and in the development of Australia as a nation.
Methodology and SkillsWebtember
One Family, Many Connections: Using the FAN club in one Australian locality
CC
Cathie Sherwood
438 views
Family historians know only too well the importance of researching the family/friends, neighbours and associates (the FAN club) of direct line ancestors. Any information we find does not become truly valuable until placed into a community or cluster or network context. Harvesting the clues in the FAN club gives us the potential to further advance our research as well as provide pointers to other records or fragments. So, what genealogical details would be found if the FAN principle was applied to one family in a locality? This presentation will show how one such network or cluster evolved in the Hunter Valley region; one which was to be hugely influential in the growth years of the New South Wales colony and in the development of Australia as a nation.
Fri, September 24 2021: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
1:06:39
Places and EthnicitiesDown Under Series
Death is not the end – litigation remains: Exploring Australian wills and probate
Cathie Sherwood
2.2K views
CC
Death is not the end – litigation remains: Exploring Australian wills and probate
Wills, intestacy files, inventories, letters of administration and other probate records provide family historians with a wealth of information. In Australia, most of these records are held in archives in each state or at the Supreme Court registry. This presentation reviews the types of records available, where they can be…
Places and EthnicitiesDown Under Series
Death is not the end – litigation remains: Exploring Australian wills and probate
CC
Cathie Sherwood
2.2K views
Wills, intestacy files, inventories, letters of administration and other probate records provide family historians with a wealth of information. In Australia, most of these records are held in archives in each state or at the Supreme Court registry. This presentation reviews the types of records available, where they can be…
Tue, July 6 2021: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
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