It is with much pleasure that The Society has learned that Alan Elliott ARPS, a long-standing member of the RPS in Australia, has recently been awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his services to photography.

Alan has given a lifetime of service to photography and has made a particularly significant contribution to the study of photographic history. He has been a member of The Society for many years and a supporter of the Australian Chapter.

Alan has made significant contributions to photo-history research, especially the life and work of Walter Woodbury, inventor of the Woodburytype process in 1864. He transcribed then published Woodbury’s hand-written letters and papers held in the RPS Collection (The Woodbury Papers, 1996) and made a very substantial input to the Victorian Chapter’s research study, Walter Woodbury: A Victorian Study, 2008, published by the RPS. Alan is recognised as a world authority on Woodbury and communicates with other photo-historians internationally.

In the words of RPS President, Roy Robertson HonFRPS, Alan has, through his example, been true to the core principles of The Society as well as encouraging a knowledge of Australian history and culture. Now aged over ninety, Alan is still actively engaged on photographic projects, and we in the Australian Chapter are delighted that his lifetime contribution to photography has been recognised with the OAM Award, an acknowledgement richly deserved. Congratulations, Alan!

 Elaine Herbert ARPS, Hon. Secretary, Australian Chapter