It’s all go now, with the planning for the Unlock the Past History & Genealogy Queensland Expo, on 25-27 June 2012 in Brisbane. Venue – check, special overseas guest speaker – check, as well as a heap of amazing local guest speakers – check, exhibitors – check, brochures printed and sent out everywhere – check, Facebook page up – check … it’s happening!! Those who have attended our previous Expos will know how fun and informative they really are, and something not the be missed. But for those that haven’t, here’s 6 reasons you should attend the Queensland Expo …

1. THE LINEUP …
The lineup of the guest speakers is amazing. Starting with Audrey Collins from UK’s National Archives, she is joined by Stephanie Ryan from the State Library of Queensland, Shauna Hicks w is a leading Australian genealogy presenter, professional genealogists Graham Jaunay and Carole Riley, internationally acclaimed author Stephen Dando-Collins, Paul Parton from FamilySearch, the Ryerson Index’s John Graham, Cassie Mercer who is the editor of Inside History Magazine, Jill Ball who knows genealogy tech toys and social media world backwards, as well as Helen V. Smith, Rosemary Kopittke, Judy Webster, Kerry Farmer, Ann Swain each of who knows an enormous amount of info of many genealogy topics. You can find more about each of them on the presenters page.

2. THE TOPICS …
If the range of speakers didn’t get you excited, the topics surely will. I’ll just list some of them here, as with 66 talks over the 3 days, that’s a whole lot of topics. So the list below is a taster … You can view the current Expo Program here.
Ancestors in Church: Using Church Publications
Australian Land Records
Black Sheep and Vanishing Relatives
‘Captain Bligh’s Other Mutiny’
Convicts, from Trial to Freedom
‘Crack Hardy’
DNA for Genealogists
Family History on the Cheap
FamilySearch in 2012 and Beyond
Flip-Pal and Picasa Demo
Government, Police and Education Gazettes
How to Publish Your Book
How to Read Old Handwriting
Identifying and Dating 19th Century Photographs
Ireland to Longreach: The Real Captain Starlight?
It’s Not all Online: Where Else Can I Look?
Just What Did Cause their Death?
Looking for your Ancestor’s Place of Origin in Germany
Military Records for WWI and WII
Mining Ancestors: Knowing Where to Look
One Million New Free Records Every Day on FamilySearch
Online Newspapers and Periodicals
Research Scottish Ancestors
Scandals in the Family
Shipping and Immigration to Queensland
Social Media for Family Historians
The London Gazette
The Census for England and Wales
The Ryerson Index
The Will  Forgeries and Organised Crime
Tracing Your Irish Ancestors from Afar
TROVE and other National Library of Australia Treasures
Warning, Warning: Tips and Tricks

3. THE EXHIBITORS …
The list of exhibitors is growing daily at the moment. You’ll be able to catch up with a state archives, state and regional societies, libraries and archives, professional researchers, magazine publishers, booksellers, online data providers, book printers and more. So be sure to leave yourself some time between the talks to wander the exhibition area. Some of the exhibitors who will be there are as below, but check the list online regular as more will be added.
Archive Digital Books Australasia – digitising old and rare books
Boolarong Press – specialist Queensland history publisher
Brookfield Historical Society
Brisbane City Council Library and City Archive
Caloundra Family History Research Inc.
Customised Heritage Tours
Family Photo Book – a fun easy way to do your own quality photo albums
FamilySearch
Findmypast.com.au – they will offer free lookups through our from their own and all sister sites
– findmypast Australia
– findmypast UK
– findmypast Ireland
– findmypast US
– GenesReunited
– ScotlandsPeople
– British Newspaper Archive
Flip-Pal – the amazing mobile scanner
Friends of Toowong Cemetery Association
Genealogical Society of Queensland
Genealogy Sunshine Coast
Genes Reunited
Gold Coast Family History Society
Gould Genealogy & History
Guild of One Name Studies
History and Genealogy Cruises (with representatives from Unlock the Past, Clean Cruising, Royal Caribbean & Classic International Cruises)
History Queensland
Inside History Magazine – Australia’s leading history and genealogy magazine
Irish Wattle – Irish convict publications
Judy Webster – Queensland expert
Logan River & District Family History Society
Maryborough Family Heritage Institute
Moreton Chapter Fellowship of First Fleeters
National Institute for Genealogical Studies
Openbook Howden Design & Print – printers
Queensland Family History Society
Queensland State Archives
Royal Historical Society of Queensland
Ryerson Index
Steinar Johansen (Scandinavian Genealogy Research)
Stephen Dando-Collins books – internationally acclaimed author
Toowoomba & Darling Downs Family History Society
Unlock the Past – special events, publishing, webinars and directories
Watson Ferguson and Company – printers

4. THE EXPERTS (Research Help Zone) …
Always popular, the Research Help Zone is the place to bring your queries along to, and ask our Experts for advice on how to break down your brickwall, or how to use your genealogy program. Jill Ball, Kerry Farmer, Eric Kopittke, Rosemary Kopittke, Carole Riley, and Helen Smith will all be helping out on the Research Help Zone tables at times throughout the Expo. Judy Webster will be offering advice from her own stand, as will the GSQ, QFHS and number various regional societies.

5. THE LOOK-UPS …
After attending the talks, and checking out the exhibition, swing by Findmypast, who are offering FREE lookups from Findmypast Australia, UK, Ireland and US, GenesReunited, ScotlandsPeople and British Newspaper Archive. So remember to bring along details of who or what you’d like looked up. Lookups from other online websites will also be available

6. PRIZES …
Prizes … yes prizes!! Thousands of dollars worth in fact. Pre-book your entry ticket, and you’re automatically entered in the first draw. Keep an eye out during the Expo on how to enter other draws.

INFO (When and Where) …
Date/Time:
Monday 25 – Wednesday 27 June 2012
Monday 12.00noon – 9.30pm
Tuesday 9.00am – 5.00pm
Wednesday 9.00am – 4.00pm
Where: Centenary State High School, 1 Moolanda Street, Jindalee, Queensland
Parking:
Free parking on school grounds – a short walk to expo facilities
Transport:
    You can get to the Expo by bus on either of the following:
– Brisbane City Council Bus Services. Visit them at Transinfo or by phoning 131230
– Southern Cross Buslines. Timetables available on their website or by phoning (07) 3812 2520
Refreshments:
A canteen will be open for refreshments and lunches. All meals and refreshments are at your own expense.

INFO (Costs) …
Cost for Entry (Pre-booked by Wed 20 June)
– $20 for two or more days
– $10 for one day (or part day)
–  $5 Monday evening only
Cost for Entry (paid on the day)
– $25 for two or more days
– $15 for one day (or part day)
– $10 Monday evening only
Cost of Presentations: (only available for purchase at the Expo (no pre-bookings)
– $10 for each presentation by Audrey
– $5 each for other presentations in the two main theatres
– a number of presentations will be free and will not require a ticket

BONUS FREE TICKETS – for multiple tickets bought by one person
– buy 5 or more tickets – get 1 extra $5 ticket FREE
– buy 10 or more tickets – get 2 extra $5 tickets FREE
– buy 15 or more tickets – get 3 extra $5 tickets FREE

INFO (Major Sponsor and Partners) …
We’d like to make a very special mention of our major sponsor and partners who are helping make this Expo possible: Findmypast.com.au, History Queensland Inc., Genealogical Society of Queensland and the Queensland Family History Society.