PHILIP, John Harold (1957–2012)
PHILIP, John Harold (1957–2012)
John Harold Philip grew up on the family farm ‘Nyangie’ near Willaura in Western Victoria and attended Miniera State School. He was the eldest of four boys who were all educated at Geelong College. He assumed the role of head of the family at the age of five when his father was killed in a farm accident, a self-appointed position of responsibility that earned him the nickname ‘The Colonel’ .
He began at Geelong College age nine in 1968, as a boarder, leaving after Form V in December, 1974. At College he enjoyed football and rowing. He was also a talented skier who enjoyed family holidays at Fall Creek. On leaving school, he studied wool-classing in Geelong and became a notable wool and sheep-classer in Western Australia and the Riverina. Later, he worked as a manager on a variety of properties in the Riverina and Victoria, and over this time gained a reputation for turning properties into profitable enterprises, as well as operating with honesty and integrity. John was largely self-taught, and had a knack of observing something and then using the skill of his hands to get the job done, whether it be fencing, making farm gates, or crafting beautiful wooden furniture.
While working in the Riverina, he married and subsequently had two daughters. He sent both his girls, Melanie and Georgie to Geelong College, and was immensely proud that they were part of five generations of the Philip family to attend the College, following William (GC 1873-1875), Ernest (GC 1903-1908), his father, David (GC 1935-1940) and John (GC 1968-1974). When asked what mattered most to John it was clearly his girls and his family. John drew people to him – he was interested in what they were doing, and he will be remembered by his family and friends for his warmth and dry sense of humour. John died on 4 November 2012.
John Harold Philip grew up on the family farm ‘Nyangie’ near Willaura in Western Victoria and attended Miniera State School. He was the eldest of four boys who were all educated at Geelong College. He assumed the role of head of the family at the age of five when his father was killed in a farm accident, a self-appointed position of responsibility that earned him the nickname ‘The Colonel’ .
He began at Geelong College age nine in 1968, as a boarder, leaving after Form V in December, 1974. At College he enjoyed football and rowing. He was also a talented skier who enjoyed family holidays at Fall Creek. On leaving school, he studied wool-classing in Geelong and became a notable wool and sheep-classer in Western Australia and the Riverina. Later, he worked as a manager on a variety of properties in the Riverina and Victoria, and over this time gained a reputation for turning properties into profitable enterprises, as well as operating with honesty and integrity. John was largely self-taught, and had a knack of observing something and then using the skill of his hands to get the job done, whether it be fencing, making farm gates, or crafting beautiful wooden furniture.
While working in the Riverina, he married and subsequently had two daughters. He sent both his girls, Melanie and Georgie to Geelong College, and was immensely proud that they were part of five generations of the Philip family to attend the College, following William (GC 1873-1875), Ernest (GC 1903-1908), his father, David (GC 1935-1940) and John (GC 1968-1974). When asked what mattered most to John it was clearly his girls and his family. John drew people to him – he was interested in what they were doing, and he will be remembered by his family and friends for his warmth and dry sense of humour. John died on 4 November 2012.
Source
Philip Family; Geelong Advertiser 10 Nov 2012. OGC 1972.