Bianka Vidonja Balanzategui
Bio
Bianka Vidonja Balanzategui is an historian, historical consultant, and Adjunct Lecturer at James Cook University, Townsville. She researches the global sugar industry and Australian migration history and her first book, published by JCU, Gentlemen of the Flashing Blade married those two themes. She also has a keen interest in the history of the Herbert River district where she lives. At present she is researching the role of women in various episodes of North Queensland history, while also researching and writing about Welsh born John Naish, author and playwright.
Skills and Services Offered
Historical research/historical consultancy/authorship
Qualifications
B.Education; B.Arts (Hons); M.Arts, Dip. Modern Languages (Italian)
Professional Interests
Global sugar industry and migration history
Publications and Experience

Latest consultancies
2023  Consultant: ABC documentary: Black Hand
2022  Consultant: Historical context and advice for painting of mural on walls of FRONTON, Trebonne, north Queensland (artist funded by RADF grant)

Latest engagements
2022  Engaged by: Townsville City Council to work on Highways and Byways project
2022  Engaged by: S. Kaurila to assist writing of Kaurila family history (ongoing)
2021  Engaged by: Hinchinbrook Shire Council to write information for story board for FRONTON, Trebonne, north Queensland

Latest grant work
2023  Regional Arts Development Fund: Research origins of street/road names in Hinchinbrook Shire
2022  Regional Arts Development Fund: Window in Time oral history project

Latest collaboration
2021  John Naish Archive. James Cook University, North Queensland Heritage, Special Collections (ongoing)

Latest Publications
2023  Naish, John (Jack) (1923-1963), author and playwright. Welsh Dictionary of Biography, online, 16 May 2023.
2023  'A Beaut of a Cut Near Cairns: The Butty Gang System in the Cane Fields in John Naish's Cruel Field', Labour History: A Journal of Labour and Social History, Volume 124, Issue 1 May 2023, pp. 31-61.
2021  'Window in Time, a Community Oral History Project: Its Challenges, Shortcomings and Lessons Learnt', Studies in Oral History, Volume 43, 2021, pp. 214-217.
2021  'Melanesian Indentured Labourer Annie Etinside hailed as a Queensland Pioneer on her Death', The Conversation. Published: May 19, 2021. [co-authored with Dr Claire Brennan]
2020  'The mercurial Henry Alexander Wickham: "American tobacco planter" on the Herbert', Queensland History Journal, Volume 24, No 7, November 2020, pp 628-641.
2020  'The Hawai'ian Sugar Planters' Association and the Herbert River Farmers' Association: Regional Articulations of Agricultural Associations on the Periphery', International Journal of Regional and Local History, Volume 15, Issue 2, 2020.

Find a full list of publications by searching here.
View my ORCiD profile.

Blogspots
2020  50 Treasures: James Cassady's Notebook, JCU Library News. Further information, NQHeritage@JCU.
2016  Portraits and Personalities of Townsville: James Morrill, wandering in the Tropics, JCU Library News.

There is always an interesting read at my blog Interpreting Ingham History. The latest is:
The Daring Mrs Conn
Follow Interpreting Ingham History on Facebook.

Phone Number
0747771372
Mobile
0407027900
Address
682 Stone River Road, Peacock Siding, 4850 North Queensland Australia
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