Goals for 2026

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What Alex thinks she looks like


No I don't! Not really! This image was created using NightCafe - a way to create AI generated images when you don't have a creative bone in your body or are short of time.

How are your New Year's Resolutions going? Have you even got any?  Some people "Pooh! Pooh!" New Year's Resolutions and I don't blame them for it.  Lord knows I'm not a shining example. But I do think it is important to stop and reflect at the end of every 12 months and see if I'm actually getting anywhere or just going around in circles like I used to when I entered the backstroke swimming heat every year at the school swimming carnival.

What Alex would like to look like

I've been playing around with AI this year again - not so much images but lots to do with text. I've had some fun and been inspired what we can do now as family historians.  Of course I haven't nearly mastered AI - is that even possible?  But I am excited by the possibilities.


What Alex and Pretzel really look like - dishevelled and some of us still in our PJs


In the meantime, I need to get on with the hard grunt of moving my study to another space in my home so that my daughter and her son can move in with us before the start of school next year.  

That's Goal 1 already sorted. 

1. Move the study

That's an opportunity to make a really nice space, but in the process, I will have to sort some stuff and plan to make my workflows easier for really getting on with getting my archives in order. To that end, I have signed up with The Family Archives Project led by Sally Romano.

I have been meaning to do this for the past four years or so, but keep getting distracted.  Fingers crossed, this is the support and guidance I need to make it really happen in 2026.

So that's Goal 2 sorted...

2. Curate my collection and consolidate my archives.

I also want to continue blogging and publishing biographies because I think they have been really useful over the past couple of years as part of the 52 ancestors theme by Amy Johnson Crow.  This time I'm going to tackle my husband's family. It would be great if I could write biographies for all the 2nd-great grandparents. It may be a bridge too far but heck, let's give it a go. That would be 16 biographies in all. Namely:

  1. Thomas Daw
  2. Mary Bray Ellis
  3. Leonard Silcock
  4. Ellen Cuthbert
  5. George Hinde
  6. Emma Lord
  7. William Doig Duncan
  8. Rose Gorrian
  9. Patrick Smith
  10. Margaret Norton
  11. Robert Smith
  12. Jane Johnson
  13. Alexander Tait
  14. Catherine Munay
  15. Andrew Grieve
  16. Jane Leverton
That should be achievable. One biography every 3 weeks or so.  I've just finished one in the past two days - Leonard Silcock.  Yes, it takes that long. I've chosen that generation because they're the ones who usually emigrated to Australia.  If I get stuck, I'll just come one branch down and do their children.  Something is better than nothing.

So that's goal 3 sorted.  

3. Write 16 biographies of Robert's ancestors

I'm hosting book club again this year for the Queensland Family History Society and on the judging panel for the Family History Writing Award. So there are two more goals.

Alex battled long and hard to create this image using AI

If you'd like to join us you would be most welcome. Ideally, you would be a QFHS member, but we welcome all people the first time to our Members Lounge events to see what QFHS is like. We're a friendly bunch and not formal at all.  First book off the rank for 2026 is Dirrayawadah by Anita Heiss. Click here for more info. Or just check out our calendar here.

Want to find out about the Family History Book Award? Click here

Let me know what you hope to do family history-wise in 2026.  I can't wait for 2026. Let me tell you - 2025 left a lot to be desired as far as I'm concerned. Talk about an annus horribilus.

2026 is meant to be about new beginnings, bold leadership, self-awareness and decisive action. I wish you well in your quest.  Stay strong!

And even harder to get this image to feature 1) women and 2) older women - sigh.



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