Phil Bianchi receiving his OAM from Kim Beazley, Govenor of Western Australia in April 2019

Order of Australia

In 2019, I was awarded an Order of Australia ‘For service to community history’.

While I am proud to have received this award, I do so humbly because it also belongs to the hundreds of Woodline people who welcomed me into the Woodline family and who shared their stories and loaned me photographs. I feel privileged to have been able to tell their story.

This is the citation for the award.  

MEDAL (OAM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA IN THE GENERAL DIVISION
Mr Philip BIANCHI, Morley WA 6062
For service to community history.

Getaway 4WD Club, Western Australia

  • President, 2010-2016.
  • Committee Member, 2002-2010.
  • Founding Member, 2001.

Membership of various bodies

  • Committee Member, Western Australian Explorers' Diaries Project 5 years.
  • Member, Track Care WA, 10 years.
  • Member, Eastern Goldfields Historical Society, 10 years.
  • Member, Royal Western Australian Historical Society, 10 years.
  • Member, Friends of the Battye Library, 10 years.
  • Office Bearer, Eastern Suburbs 4WD Club, 10 years (1990s).

Author

  • Some of his works include:
    • 'Tommy Ningebong: Bushman, Tracker, Drover, Stockman and Pastoralist' (Western Australia, Hesperian Press, 2015).
    • 'Work Completed, Canning: A Comprehensive History of the Canning Stock Route 1906- 2010'(Western Australia, Hesperian Press, 2013).
    • 'A Camelman on the Canning: The diary of Claude Heppingstone' (Western Australia, Hesperian Press, 2012).
    • 'Royal Commission to inquire into the Treatment of Natives by the Canning
    • Exploration Party: 15 January to 5 February 1908' (Western Australia, Hesperian Press, 2010).
    • 'The Lakewood Woodline 1937 -1964: Its Origins, Operations and People' (Western Australia, Hesperian Press, 2007).
    • 'Early Woodlines of the Goldfields: The Untold Story of the Woodlines to World War II' (Western Australia, Hesperian Press, 2006).
    • Researcher, in conjunction with the Author, Ian Murray, 'West Australian Gold Towns and Settlements: Volumes 1 and 2' (Western Australia, Hesperian Press, 2012).
    • Researcher, in conjunction with the Author, Marion Hercock, 'Western Australian Exploration 1836-1845: The Letters, Reports and Journals of Exploration and Discovery in Western Australia'(Western Australia, Hesperian Press, 2011).
  • 'Canning Stock Route' Facebook Page, since 2013 and 'Woodlines ' Facebook Page, since 2016.
  • 150 destination related or column magazine articles with a history element for various 4WD and camping magazines across Australia, including: Western 4Wheel Driver; Go Camping Australia; 4WD Action; Camper Trailer magazine; Outdoors WA; and ExplorOz.

Employment

Registrar/Campus Manager or Facilities Manager, Perth Technical College/Central TAFE, 38 years.

Awards and recognition includes:

  • Finalist, Margaret Medcalf Award, for 'Work Completed, Canning: A Comprehensive History of the Canning Stock Route 1906-2010’, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2014.
  • Awarded, 'Energy Achiever of the Year', Office of Energy, Western Australia, 2001.