Community & Business
21 October, 2025
Lifetime of achievements for Phil
A MAN whose family name is synonymous with Malanda marked a century on Saturday, surrounded by family and friends who were there to celebrate with him and recognise the contribution he has made to the town.
Phil English is a quiet, unassuming man, but his role in Malanda, particularly in the development of the dairy industry, has been significant over the decades.
Phil was born to parents Patrick and Ester on 18 October 1925 in Cairns after his mother travelled to the only hospital in the region at the time by rail motor.
Phil was one of six children, but sadly Kevin, Patricia, Jack, Tom and Margaret have all passed away.
Phil’s grandfather, James, who is credited with being an original settler of Malanda, built the town’s hotel which opened in late 1911, later selling it, but the family again took the reins of the pub when Phil’s brother, Tom, bought it and, today, his son, Michael, and his son, Matthew, run the much-loved hotel.
Phil’s family moved to Gordonvale in the early 1930s but returned to Malanda later that decade. In the 1940s, Phil was sent to Abergowrie College in Ingham but had to return in 1942 when schools right up the coast of Queensland were closed because of the perceived threat of a Japanese invasion.
A year later, Phil joined the Air Force, training first at Kingaroy, then at Benalla in Victoria, and then to the No. 6 Service Flying Training School at RAAF Station Mallala in South Australia where he qualified as a Sergeant Pilot at 19 years of age in 1945.
Later, he completed a radio technician’s course in Brisbane and spent some time in Taree in New South Wales.
In 1949, Phil returned home permanently and quickly became involved in local rugby league, playing for the Malanda Pioneer Football Club, where he was a member of the senior team that won the premiership in 1950.
Phil married Dorloras Costello in 1951, and they had two children – Bernie in 1952 and Carole in 1955.
He purchased the family dairy farm, “Oak Hill”, from his father, Patrick, in 1954, which he still owns and lives on today, running beef cattle after he retired from dairy farming in 1981.
Phil’s involvement in the dairy industry was a pivotal one in the 1950s and 60s – he became a member of Northern District Queensland Dairyman’s Organisation (QDO), actively involved in developing pastures with them. He was also actively involved with the CSIRO and DPI pursuing pasture improvement and thus milk production.
In 1962, Phil was elected to the Board of the Tableland Artificial Breeders Association, which he served on for 12 years, 10 of which as Deputy Chairman.
In 1963, Phil was elected to the Board of Directors of the Atherton Tableland Co-op Butter Association and in 1967, he was elected as Chairman. He served a total of 15 years on this board, eight of which he was Chairman.
In 1967, he also became the Chairman of the North Queensland Co-operative Dairy Marketing Federation, which was a Co-op that purchased and sold butter from the two dairy factories at the time.
Through this period, he was instrumental in overseeing the amalgamation of Malanda and Millaa Millaa factories along with well-known Millaa identity of the time – Barney Daley. This led to a very prosperous time for the industry.
Phil was also very involved in his community, becoming a member of the Malanda Lions Club from 1967 to 1977 and elected president in 1977-1978. He played a prominent role in the building of seven pensioner cottages in Malanda.
In 1985 Phil was elected as a Councillor for Division 1 of the Shire of Eacham and, in 1988, was elected Chairman where he served four terms.
Phil is very proud of the leading role he played as Chairman in the establishment of the OzCare facility for aged care from the very beginning.
One of the joys in his life was playing golf, joining the Millaa Millaa and Atherton Golf clubs, where he enjoyed many years of playing and competing around the district.
In 2011, at the age of 86, Phil took on the role of president of the Malanda RSL.
Today, Phil enjoys having gardening, reading and having family time, with his five grandchildren - Terree, Justine, Brylee, Ryan and Tennille – and four great grandchildren, Quinn, Jake, Harry and Max.
And, his secret to a long life? “Everything in moderation.”
