Laurie Phillips
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
| Father | Thomas James Phillips1 b. 2 May 1897, d. 8 Dec 1980 |
| Mother | Irene Gladys 'Sis' McDonald1 b. 4 Apr 1903, d. 17 Jul 1987 |
Birth, Death, Marriage | |
| Laurence Lloyd Phillips was born on 28 October 1925 in Shepparton, Victoria.1 | |
| He married Lorraine Anna Williams on 29 September 1951 in Mooroopna, Victoria. | |
| He died on 5 May 2021 in Shepparton, Victoria, at age 95.2,3 | |
Family | Lorraine Anna Williams b. 10 Jun 1927, d. 4 Oct 2016 |
| Children |
| Charts | Campbell, John, descendant chart McDonald, Archibald, descendant chart O'Loughlin, Michael, descendant chart Phillips, James, descendant chart Steer, Edward, descendant chart |
Story | |
| Laurence Lloyd was born at 7 Swallow St in Shepparton on 28 October 1925. He was the third child of Irene and Thomas. He was known as Laurie. He shared the name Laurence Phillips with an uncle and a cousin. Laurie was delivered by Dr JA Kennedy.1 | |
| Early Life | |
| In July 1924, 62 Nixon St was offered for sale and Tom bought it. It was described as a weatherboard cottage with 'five rooms, bath and vestibule, electric light, etc.' on a 66 ft by 148 ft 6 in block of land. [While Shepparton rates show Tom as the owner of 62 Nixon St from 1924, his name does not appear on the title until May 1929.] Second son Reg was born in Ascot Vale in Melbourne in August 1924. It is not known why Reg was born in Melbourne. Third son, Laurence Lloyd arrived in 1925. At this time, according to the birth registration and electoral roll, the family was living temporarily at 7 Swallow St. As the rate books still show Tom as owner of the Nixon St house, perhaps it was being renovated for the new arrival, or expanded to accommodate the growing family at the time.4,1,5,6,7 | |
Milk Arrowroot biscuits: Auntie Nene reckons Jack, Reg & Laurie were brought up on milk arrowroot biscuits and milk. [Arrowroot was a common and popular starch source at the time].8,9  Reg, Laurie & Jack Phillips Image: Nene Courtie | |
With Jack, Reg and Laurie born in 1923, 1924 and 1925, stories of any of the boys' childhood escapades invariably featured all three. They grew up during the Great Depression, which was at its peak in Australia in the early 1930s. Particularly during this time, with money used for essentials only, the boys relied on their own resourcefulness and made their own fun.10 Jack, Laurie & Reg Phillips Image: Nene Courtie | |
The Parachute: Laurie reckoned that being the youngest of the three, he was usually the guinea pig when an operator or pilot was needed. Like the time they decided to make a parachute out of hession bags and rope. Jack and Reg did most of the design and construction. Laurie got to test it out. With the chute strapped to his back, Laurie was encouraged to climb to the highest point they could find. And jump. Unfortunately, the chute got tangled in a tree branch and when Laurie eventually hit the ground, he landed flat on his back. As he lay there winded and in pain, Jack and Reg stood over him laughing their heads off. When Laurie could eventually breathe, he joined in the laughing. Decades later, when asked how they would top that, Laurie said that Jack and Reg had advanced plans involving a bottomless 44 gallon drum and inner tube 'propellant' to shoot him out of a cannon.11 | |
| Jack, Reg and Laurie were not just close in age, they were best mates. While the boys would fight amongst themselves, an outsider who threatened one of them would have to take on all of them.12 | |
Bookie coins: When Papa [Tom] came home from a meeting he would take out all the big money and bigger coins and put the bag in a cupboard. Enter Jack, Reg, Laurie and we get the bag and shake the hell out of it hoping for loose change. Many times a trzzie, threepence, a zac, sixpence, and if real lucky a deana, a shilling, might fall out. Divided three ways wasn't a lot but it bought us a few lollies. Those were the days. [Laurie Phillips]13  Tom Phillips bookmaker, c. 1935 Image: Rene Barnes | |
| Primary School The three oldest boys went to St Brendan's primary school in Shepparton. Enrolment records show that 'John' started in 1928, 'Reggie' in 1929, and 'Lawrence' in 1930.14,15  Laurie, Reg, Jack & Rene Phillips, Nixon St, Shepparton, c. 1931 Image: Bub Williams | |
I stayed with them [Jim and Reece] in Murchison for a day or two when Jim was stationed there. I remember pushing Beverley in a pram up the street to get a few things for them. Bev's age will tell you what year that was. Jim would let me ride in the guards van with him and all the goods, crates of chooks, cats, dogs, birds, anything the rail used to carry those days which was nearly anything. Wouldn't happen today, those were the days. [Laurie Phillips]16 | |
CONVENT SCHOOL 300 Children Participate in Pageant Grace and skill displayed The Star Theatre was crowded on Friday when the pupils of the Convent schools staged a spectacular pageant. Three hundred children took part, and a noticeable feature was the variety of costumes chosen ... Jack Phillips, brownie; Reg Phillips, brownie; Laurie Phillips, elf ...17 | |
| Nixon St Home Revisited | |
| In March 1928, Tom put the family's Nixon St house up for sale. It was advertised as having six rooms (one more than when purchased in 1924), bathroom, washhouse and electric light. Terms were half cash, £100 in six months, balance in 30 months and 6½ per cent interest. It wasn't sold. Between 1924 and 1931, the address (in the Shepparton rates or electoral roll) is 62 Nixon St. From 1933 to 1937, it is 16 Nixon St. They didn't move, this was due to streets being renumbered. The youngest three children, Rene, Don and Brian, were born while the family was in the Nixon St home. All six children spent some of their time growing up in Nixon St, though for the youngest Brian, it was only for a couple of years.18,19,5,20,21,22  Laurie Phillips Image: Rene Barnes  Irene Phillips, flower girl in Queen competition, Nixon St, Shepparton, May 1936 Image: Rene Barnes  Brian Phillips inside the aviary, Nixon St, Shepparton, c. 1938 Image: Rene Barnes  Brian Phillips, Nixon St, Shepparton, c. 1938 Image: Rene Barnes | |
 Reg, Jack, Laurie, Don & Rene Phillips, c. 1934 Image: Rene Barnes | |
 Back: Reg & Laurie; front: Rene, Brian & Don Phillips, c. 1937 Image: Rene Barnes | |
| Visiting Grandma Phillips | |
| Grandchildren loved visiting their Grandma Phillips in Bacchus Marsh, either at the House on the Hill, Lerderderg St or Millbank St. They would also get to play with their Bacchus Marsh cousins, Roylyn and Joy Phillips. At different times, their Auntie Mary and Auntie Eilie were also living with Ellen. They would visit for two to three weeks during school holidays. The older grandchildren stayed at the House on the Hill. The house had a cow. Grandma would squirt them [Jack, Reg and Laurie] in the face. Also chooks. The water tank had 'wrigglers' [mosquito larvae]. Grandma said 'They won't hurt you'. [Laurie Phillips] At the House on the Hill, the nearby railway embankment was a popular play area. After they [Dot, Beryl and Marge] had - again - been sliding down the railway embankment, Grandma told them that this time she was not going to patch the seats of their pants again. Marge remembers hearing from Auntie Eilie something like 'Why do we have to look after those b__y kids again?' [Marge Deveney (O'Loughlin)] At Bacchus Marsh, they [Jack, Reg and Laurie] visited Gran up on the hill. They had good times. At the railway embankment they'd shout 'Paper! Paper!' as the train went by and people would throw out newspapers. They'd flatten pennies or halfpennies on the railway line or roll rocks down the embankment. They'd also try to trap rabbits by blocking some of the exits with rocks. [Jack Phillips] When Grandma and Auntie Mary lived up on the hill near the railway line, Jack, Reg and myself used to wait by the line as the train went by calling out 'Paper! Paper!' and the people would throw out papers, minties, different goodies they didn't want, we used to reckon it was as good as Xmas. Many trains went by on that line so we had a ball. Those were the days. [Laurie Phillips] When Jack, Reg and Laurie stayed with their grandma during school holidays, they would bring their blue school shirts to wear. These got grubby and needed changing every day, and Eilie remembers 'an endless stream of those damn blue shirts to clean and iron'. [Eileen Redden] The children would get to ride on the horse and jinker to get to church. The younger grandchildren visited their Grandma at Lerderderg St or Millbank St and would make their own fun. At the Millbank St house, when Don and I used to visit, there was an ant track along the back of the house. We'd put sticks in the way so the ants had to go over hurdles. [Rene Barnes] When Brian spoke of visiting Grandma, he said it was at the Lerderderg St house, and Auntie Mary and the cockie quickly came to mind.23,24,25,26,27,28,29 | |
Charlie's broken windscreen: Auntie Eilie recalls once when Auntie Bub was going out with a chap by the name of Charlie Britnall. Charlie was from Sydney and his step father was Sydney bookmaker and politician, Sir John Montgomery Dunningham. Charlie was a good dancer (the Charleston gets a mention) and drove a sports car. One weekend, Bub and Charlie drove to see her and her mum (Ellen, Grandma Phillips) at the house on the hill in Bacchus Marsh. Unfortunately for them, Jack, Reg and Laurie were there for a holiday (they were maybe 7 to 9 years old). From the safety of the house, the boys threw stones at Charlie's sports car, breaking the windscreen.30,28 | |
Bill Vallence's army regalia: After her husband Bill Vallence died following war service, Mary lived with Ellen in Bacchus Marsh. Bill was a Corporal in the army and received the Military Medal. On one occasion, nephews Jack, Reg & Laurie got into a trunk of Mary's mementos of Bill - full army regalia including jacket, medals, plume hat, and so on. Mary was quite upset.31 | |
Eilie's harp (as told by Laurie Phillips): A few months after Tom and Eilie married, Reg and I were holidaying at Balliang for our Christmas holidays. Auntie Eilie was learning to play a small harp type instrument that was a wedding present. She wasn't making much headway with it. Uncle Tom got the giggles, and Reg and I joined in. Auntie Eilie did the melon and sent Reg and I off to bed, and I guess maybe uncle Tom's honeymoon was over.32 | |
How fast will it go, Tom?: Tom Redden had a big car. With Tom and Eilie in the front, and the visiting Reg and Laurie in the back on their way to church, the boys would ask 'How fast will it go, Tom?' Tom would duly oblige by planting the foot, much to the delight of the two in the back. When they got back to school after the holidays and were asked 'what did you do for Christmas?', they would recount the story of how they went screaming along in their uncle's car at 60 miles an hour.23 | |
| Boarding School Jack and Reg went to board at Assumption College in Kilmore in 1936. Laurie joined them in 1939, when Br Hilary was principal, and all three were there until 1940. They all did Intermediate (Year 10) at Assumption College.15,30,33,34,35  Reg Phillips, Assumption College, Kilmore, c. 1939 Image: Rene Barnes  Laurie Phillips (right), Assumption College, Kilmore, 1939 Image: Rene Barnes  Assumption College, Kilmore, c. 1939 Image: Rene Barnes  Brother Hilary, Assumption College, Kilmore, 1939-1940 Image: Rene Barnes  Assumption College, Kilmore, c. 1939  Assumption College, Kilmore, c. 1939 | |
| Laurie did Intermediate (for the second time) at Sacred Heart in Shepparton in 1941. His future wife, Lorraine Williams, was in the same class.36,15 | |
| Jack, Reg and Laurie returned to their old boarding school in 1952 for the Kilmore Old Collegians annual ball. They were among three hundred guests.37 | |
| Pine Lodge Hotel | |
 Pine Lodge Hotel, Shepparton East, c. 1929 Image: Lost Shepparton, Facebook | |
| The family had their first taste of what life could be like while living in a pub, when they moved into the Pine Lodge Hotel in Shepparton East in 1938. The three older boys were boarding at Assumption College in Kilmore, returning three times a year during school holidays. At home they lived in an old cable car under the peppercorn tree. In summer the mosquitoes were so bad they burned cow pats to keep them away.38,34,39  Brian O'Neill (friend) & Brian Phillips, cable car bedroom, Pine Lodge Hotel, Shepparton East, c. 1939 Image: Rene Barnes | |
When Mum was driving in in the Fargo ute with Jack, Reg and me in the back, one of us would yell out 'Duck!' as we went under the peppercorn tree. Then we all laughed when she did. After a while she did it anyway. Someone would say 'She's done it again!' [Laurie Phillips] While at the hotel, Rene and Don went to the nearby Shepparton East school. Brian had not yet started school. There were cigarette machines at the Shepp East hotel. You put sixpence in for a chance at getting a pack of ten cigarettes. At one stage the lads and I tipped one of the machines upside down to get at the cigarettes. [Jack Phillips] While Tom was busy running the business, it was also a busy time for Sis. As well as looking after the children and the usual domestic duties, she worked the bar and kitchen. And she made time to be involved with community activities. During the war, Tom bought a 1938 Studebaker 'President' from Hank the Yank. This became the family car and was used on holidays.34,38,25,40  Sis Phillips in the 1938 Studebaker 'President', possibly Brian & Don at the rear window, possibly Jack & Reg on the running board Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Tom Phillips and his 1938 Studebaker 'President' convertible, c. 1940 Image: Roylyn Phillips | |
| Mum's Major Lung Operation | |
| Around 1940, Sis had a major operation in which one lung was removed. It came about suddenly following a haemorrhage. Sis was taken from Shepparton to a hospital in East Melbourne, possibly St Vincents or St Ives, where the operation took place. This may have been around November1940 when Sis spent three weeks in Una hospital. The three eldest boys, Jack, Reg and Laurie were at Assumption College in Kilmore at the time. One day at morning rosary the Brothers announced to everyone that the boys' mother was about to have a serious operation and that they should all say a few prayers for them. The family rallied around to help. Sis's mum came up from Melbourne to help look after Rene, Don & Brian. Tom's sister Eileen came up from near Bacchus Marsh. Sis spent time recovering at the home of her sister-in-law Tess in Essendon. And her sister Bub helped out with the kids and housework when Sis returned home.41,42,11,43,44,45 | |
| Laurie and Brian Laurie and Brian were ten years apart and for a time, Laurie took Brian under his wing. He was my shadow those days. When I was told I was going to Assumption, I said 'But who's going to look after Brian?'[Laurie Phillips]39,46  Brian, Laurie & Don Phillips, c. 1938 Image: Rene Barnes  Laurie (left) & Brian (right) Phillips; Ford coupe with dickie seat belongs to Charlie Britnall, friend of Bub Williams (McDonald), c. 1938 Image: Rene Barnes  Laurie Phillips and his haul of birds. His response seeing this 80 years later: 'Will never forget the day, all in one shot. They called me deadeye' Image: Rene Barnes | |
| Orr Street Home Tom bought the weatherboard residence at 77 Orr St from Mr Ben Seth in July 1941, though the family likely lived there earlier. Between moving out of the Pine Lodge Hotel in early 1940 and into the Orr St home, the family lived in a house in Nixon St, near Harold St. Yes it [77 Orr St] was a good stopover house at that time. You boys were all away in services then. Mum wasn't at all well when we were there, we had help in the house and Dad was at the Court House hotel mostly. Heaps of memories, some good some not so good. [Rene Barnes]47,48,49,34,50  Tom & Sis Phillips, 77 Orr St, Shepparton, c. 1942 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Back: Sis Phillips, Val Irwin; front: Brian, Don & Rene Phillips, 77 Orr St, Shepparton, c. 1942 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Rene Phillips (with dog), unknown, Sis (Irene) Phillips, 77 Orr St, Shepparton, c. 1942 Image: Suzanne Cheshire  Sis Phillips (Irene McDonald), 77 Orr St, Shepparton, c. 1942 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips | |
| When they bought the Hotel Australia, they kept the Orr St house which the whole family called home until at least mid-1945. And years later, two sons lived there after they married.51,52 | |
| 364 Albert Street, East Melbourne Around 1942, Jack, Reg and Laurie worked in Melbourne and lived in a boarding house at 364 Albert Street, East Melbourne. The boarding house was run by four miss O'Briens. A couple of other mates were there, including Wally O'Dea and Ted Malloy. Jack worked for the Department of Defence in Maribyrnong, Reg worked for a shipping company in King Street, and Laurie worked on the railways.53,54,55 | |
| Railways For the two years after he did his intermediate (1942 and 1943), Laurie worked for the Victorian Railways in Melbourne. He had a clerical position, delivering mail and messages between different departments. For part of this time, he lived in Albert St, East Melbourne, and for part he lived in Preston in the butcher shop of his uncle, Dougal McDonald. At the time of his stay, his McDonald grandparents were there, and his cousin, Don, who was three years younger, but not his Auntie Bub. His grandfather was a very good dancer.56,57 | |
When the two once went to a dance, a lady asked Laurie if she could dance with his grandfather because he danced so well.57 Donald Glenorchy McDonald (snr) | |
The only time I saw him dressed like that was when I went to dances with him in Preston. He was very popular with the ladies, he was such a good dancer. One night I met a girl at the hall and she asked me if I would ask Grandpa to have a dance with her. He had the dance with her and came back to tell me she was Parson Pearce's granddaughter who was in Swan Hill all those years ago when Grandpa had the butcher shop there. [Laurie Phillips]58 | |
| Parson Pearce was always trying to get Donald to stop drinking and go to church.57 | |
| Military Service Laurence Lloyd Phillips enlisted in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve at Port Melbourne on 20 June 1944, aged 18. His navy number was PM7535.59  Laurence Lloyd Phillips, RAN, service no. PM7535, c. 1945 Image: Bub Williams | |
Jack, Reg and I had trouble joining up. At the time, we were all in what they called essential services. [Laurie Phillips] Laurie began training at HMAS Cerberus in Crib Point on the eastern side of the Mornington peninsula. I trained at Cerberus. I'll never forget rowing boats in the bitterly cold with water dripping down my neck when we lifted the oars. [Laurie Phillips]  Historical gates, HMAS Cerberus, Crib Point Image: Royal Australian Navy | |
| He put in for communications and got signalling, and in December 1944 passed his signalling exam with a score of 87%. Laurie was then rated Ordinary Signalman. His job was ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication. This was via either semafore flags or Morse lamps with shutters: We'd take signals from ship to ship and give directions to keep the ships together, we would use flags or Morse code and we'd all have to move at the same knots. [Laurie Phillips] Six days after passing his signalling exam, during final leave when he was helping the family move into the Hotel Australia, he received his call-up notice. He said his goodbyes and headed off. After my last leave before heading off to service, I had a lift to Seymour with Victorian Premier, JGB 'Jack' McDonald. His driver, Clary Elliot, used to stay at the pub when Jack was visiting his farm in Shepp. TJ and Jack were good friends. I felt pretty special sitting in the back seat with the Premier in the front. He asked me some questions - I wish I could remember what my answers were! When I told the guys from base that I'd just got a lift with the Premier, they were impressed.[Laurie Phillips] [Jack McDonald was not Premier until later, though in December 1944, he could have been acting Premier. As well as being the local member for 19 years, at various times, he was Premier of Victoria, Deputy Premier and leader of the Country Party.]60,61,62,63  Tom & Laurie Phillips, 77 Orr St, Shepparton, 1944. Back: Dear Reg, Here's another snap of Laurie. I got the negative off Rene and Laurie hit the roof. He is still home on leave. Love, Val [Irwin] Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Sis & Laurie Phillips, 1944 Image: Rene Barnes | |
| Laurie was to go to Seymour station and board the troop train heading north; that's all he knew of his destination. I arrived a bit early at Seymour, so went to the pub for a few drinks. I asked the barkeeper to let me know when the train was about to go because I had to be on it. He said to watch the two guys in the corner; they were the driver and guard. The carriages were 'dog boxes'; lots of small compartments taking about four people, but you couldn't get to any other parts of the train. When eventually the beer reached my bladder, the only option was to push against the outward opening door and let fly over the countryside. The train went to Sydney and I was checked off when I got there. Then I went to Brisbane and eventually caught a troop ship to Madang in PNG.60 | |
| Laurie's service records show he boarded the depot ship HMAS Penguin on 27 December 1944, arriving at Madang on the north coast of PNG (Papua New Guinea) on 12 January 1945. In early February, he boarded the inspection/stores ship HMAS Falie, travelling east along the coast until arriving at Hollandia (now known as Jayapura) in early March. He returned to Madang in late May. He then boarded the destroyer HMAS Stuart on which he continued his signalling work for four weeks before transferring to HMAS Shark. He also went west as far as the island of Biak. All these places were assembly points for ships and troops prior to major movements into enemy areas.59,64,60 | |
| The camps were very well resourced by the Americans, who seemed to have a limitless pool of materials and workers at home to produce all manner of military hardware. So it wasn't all work. In quieter times, I'd 'borrow' one of the Yanks' jeeps, and my mates and I would tear around the airstrip just for something to do. The only problem was we had to get out of the way when a plane came in to land. At Hollandia, there was a deep sheltered pool and we'd swim or dive. The water was so clear, Dutch gold coins flicked in looked like they'd be pretty easy to get. But they were too deep for all but the experienced locals. We played ball games, but they sometimes got a bit whacky. We had guys from all over Australia and the US, so the matches swapped between Aussie rules, rugby and gridiron. When we were playing Aussie rules, a New South Wales guy might grab the ball, tuck it under his arm and run as fast as he could. And in rugby or gridiron, the Vic guys would get rid of the ball as fast as they could. [Laurie Phillips]60  New Guinea, where Laurie Phillips served in the Second World War Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  New Guinea, where Laurie Phillips served in the Second World War Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  New Guinea, where Laurie Phillips served in the Second World War Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  New Guinea, where Laurie Phillips served in the Second World War Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  New Guinea, where Laurie Phillips served in the Second World War Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  New Guinea, where Laurie Phillips served in the Second World War Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Laurie Phillips, New Guinea, Second World War Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  New Guinea, where Laurie Phillips served in the Second World War Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  New Guinea, where Laurie Phillips served in the Second World War Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  New Guinea, where Laurie Phillips served in the Second World War: 'Taken at swimming pool at Hollandia, that's me on the rock, no not the black fellow' Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Laurie Phillips (second from right), New Guinea, Second World War Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Laurie Phillips (front right), New Guinea, Second World War: 'A bunch of the boys' Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Laurie Phillips (front left), New Guinea, Second World War: 'Some of the mates' Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Laurie Phillips (front left), New Guinea, Second World War Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Laurie Phillips & friend, New Guinea, Second World War Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips | |
| There is only one service record entry between July and December 1945, and that is in mid-September when Laurie was given the rating Acting Signalman at Lonsdale. His brother Reg was also in the Navy, and saw a lot of action. Reg was aboard the HMAS Shropshire when she sailed for Tokyo Bay and was present for the formal Japanese surrender on 2 September 1945.59,64,60,65 | |
| Laurie remained in the Navy for about two years after the war finished. I was about to leave, and told Mum and Dad, but at the last minute there was a request for one signalman. We all went into a draw, and my number came out. By early December he was at HMAS Magnetic in Townsville. The following day he was at his home port HMAS Lonsdale in Port Melbourne where had enlisted. Two days later he was in Queensland again, this time at HMAS Moreton in Brisbane, then three days after that back at Lonsdale. He took 'Long Leave' on 10 December.59,64,61,60  Laurie Phillips, c. 1945 Image: Lesley Blythman  Laurie Phillips & dog, c. 1945 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips | |
| On 22 January 1946, Laurie passed another signalling exam with a score of 88.6%. This was in preparation for minesweeper work. In a major job at the request of insurance companies, he worked aboard one of several minesweepers as they ensured all the shipping lanes in Bass Strait were clear of mines. At times Bass Strait was extremely rough, and signalling became a hit-and-miss affair as the light signals were at one time directed at the bow of the ship and moments later at the clouds as the ship pitched and rolled in the heavy seas. It was once so rough that sweeping was temporarily halted and they headed for shelter at Hobart. They were surprised to find several very much larger (and more stable) passenger liners had been sheltering there for several days. Then I did a stint minesweeping across Bass Strait, made sure the shipping lanes were clear of all these mines in some pretty rough waters. At the time you didn't think about it much, you just did what you did and were one of a team doing a job. [Laurie Phillips] On 24 January, just two days after his signalling exam, Laurie began work on the minesweeper (commonly known as a corvette) HMAS Dubbo.59,64,60,61  HMAS Dubbo J251, Laurie Phillips on board while sweeping Bass Strait, c. 1946 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips | |
| In June he was ill and recorded as 'Sick on leave, Shepparton'. After six weeks back at Lonsdale, he was admitted to 115 Australian General Hospital (AGH) in Heidelberg where he stayed overnight. On discharge from hospital he travelled via HMS Orwell to New South Wales, then to HMAS Harman in Canberra. Harman was a communications facility. In December 1946, he returned to Lonsdale in preparation for 'demobilisation' (release or discharge from service). Laurence Lloyd Phillips was discharged on 6 January 1947. In his final assessment, his character was given as 'very good', and his efficiency as 'satisfactory'. His rank on discharge was Acting Signalman. Laurie was awarded four service medals: 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-45 and Australia Service Medal. He also received a Returned from Active Service Badge.59,64  Laurie Phillips, WW2 service medals: 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Australia Service Medal | |
After the war, Laurie was active in the RSL and the Ex-Navalmen's Association.61-1953.jpg) Laurie Phillips, Shepparton & District Ex-Navalmen's Association secretary , 1953-1959  Laurie Phillips, Anzac Day 2010 Image: Ray Sizer, Shepparton News | |
| Football Jack, Reg and Laurie all played football in Shepparton. Jack played for Shepparton East, Reg played for Shepparton, and Laurie played one year with Shepparton then a year with SPC. They may have also played in combined Goulburn Valley teams. Inclusion of Laurie Phillips in the Canners team completes the line-up of Tom Phillips' sons in each of the local teams of the CGVL. They are Reg (Shepparton), Jack (Shepparton East) and Laurie (SPC). Another son, Don, plays with Shepparton seconds. [Jun 1949]66,67,68 | |
| In 1947, Laurie joined Reg at the 'Maroons', the Shepparton Football Club. | |
Speedy Shepparton ... Murray Slee, Maroon’s burly ruckman, weighing 13 st, 7 lb is known as Shepparton’s Rock of Gibralter. ... Reg Phillips, half forward, can be a most effective player on his day and is one of the few players who can take high finger tip marks. ... Bill Haddock, 26 and 6ft tall, is the spearhead of our attack and we all look forward to Bill’s day on Saturday. A high mark and a steady kick, Bill is a problem to all full backs. ... Laurie Phillips, 21 years of age, is in his first year with the Maroons and has played consistently on the half back flank.69 | |
| Former teammates Laurie Phillips and Bill Haddock once caught up in Melbourne. One day around wartime I was having a beer at Young & Jackson's when Bill came in. We had a few more beers, then Bill invited me home for dinner. It was somewhere near Richmond. We then went to see a movie. I took my seat and heard a kerfuffle behind me. Bill had got into an argument with someone. Bill was a great bloke, but could have a bit of a short fuse after he'd had a couple too many. [Laurie Phillips]70 | |
| Other Sporting Activities Laurie sometimes played tennis, which he quite enjoyed and felt he became quite good at it. He was also known to go rowing with Stan Hoskins.71,72 | |
| Girlfriend Lorraine After the war, Laurie had a girlfriend named Lorraine McCrickard, who was a police officer. I can tell you a story about Lorraine McCrickard. I was taking a niner to a place in Maude St and two cops pulled me over. They'd say things and ask questions and I'd reply yes sir, no sir - I was just out of the navy. I fronted at the police station next day and Lorraine said 'you were lucky to avoid a fine, they let you off because of your good manners'. She was a policewoman. She was my girlfriend at the time. [Laurie Phillips] Lorraine was transferred to Ballarat in November 1949.70,73 | |
| Hotel Australia | |
 Hotel Australia, Shepparton c. 1950 | |
| The Hotel Australia became home to the Phillips family in mid-1945 after a move from Orr St, though Tom had signed the lease in November 1944. Sis was keen to move in but Tom insisted that her sister Bub would need to help out first. At the time, Jack, Reg and Laurie were about 21, 20 and 19. Jack and Reg were serving in the Second World War and Laurie was about to do the same. Rene was about 15, Don 13 and Brian 8, and so were still at school. Jack, Reg and Laurie moved into the hotel as they returned from the war, so Jack around February 1946, Reg March 1946 and Laurie January 1947.49,27,51,59,65,55 | |
| May Jones was officially the laundress, but she was also an excellent cook. She used to give regular cook Mrs Chatterton the day off on a Wednesday. Everyone, Phillips family and long-term residents, looked forward to Wednesday night, when her fricassee of lamb, braised steak and onions and all sorts of other delicacies were so good they had trouble deciding which to have. The 'Cupboard' was a small room under the stairwell where after hours drinking would occur, often well into the night. Unfortunately for Sis, the stairwell was near their bedroom causing many a disrupted sleep.27 | |
When the drinkers got a bit rowdy while drinking late at night in the 'Cupboard', Sis would drop a little soap into one of their pots. She said 'you get to be a pretty good shot after a while'. [Rene Barnes] One night a few of the boys were there [the 'Cupboard'] drinking and making a bit too much noise. At about 1am Mrs Phillips opened the hatch and dropped a briquette through. Unfortunately for Brian Tresize, it landed on his head and knocked him out cold. [Tom Carey]74,27,75 | |
THEFTS FROM HOTEL Found guilty in Shepparton General Sessions yesterday on four charges of larceny of a wireless set and several suit cases of clothing from the Australia Hotel on January 9, Lawrence Noel Chambers (37), motor mechanic, of Belmore road, Burwood, NSW, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment on each of the first three counts and 14 days on the fourth count. ... Chambers was charged with having stolen a case containing coats and trousers the property of Mr TJ Phillips; with having stolen a wireless set the property of Mr W. Keighley; with having stolen a case and some shirts and singles the property of Mr L McKeand; with having stolen a bar of chocolate, a sum of money and some peanuts from Miss I Phillips. ... Mr Cussen, outlining the evidence of the prosecution, said that the accused entered four bedrooms in the Hotel Australia occupied by the proprietor, Mr T Phillips, his daughter, Miss Phillips, Mr W Keighley and Mr L McKeand and stole articles from each room. ... [Feb 1947]76 | |
| The family's living arrangements changed as the children married. Reg was first to wed, marrying Madge in March 1948, and they lived in the Orr St home. Jack was best man, Laurie was groomsman and Rene was bridesmaid. In 1952 they returned to the hotel with baby Michael and stayed until soon after Susan was born in 1953, when they moved into their newly constructed home in Maude St. Rene was second to marry, and in 1951 moved to Warrnambool with new husband Keith Barnes. Laurie closely followed Rene, when later in 1951 he married Lorraine and they moved into a home in Maude St. Jack married Cass in 1952 and they moved into the Orr St home, prompting Reg and Madge to return to the hotel.27,77 | |
In 1948 Laurie, Sis and Ruby Phillips went on holiday to Lakes Entrance. It is more likely that Jack rather than brother Tom took the photo. Laurie & Irene 'Sis' Phillips (McDonald) and Ruby Phillips (Williams), 'On beach at Lakes Entrance, February 1948' Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips | |
| Engagement Lorraine announced her engagement in April 1950: The engagement is announced of Lorraine Anna, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs Roy Williams, Main street, Mooroopna, to Laurence Lloyd, third son of Mr and Mrs TJ Phillips, Hotel Australia, Shepparton. They had first met as youngsters in the late 1930s at a yabbying party. The party was at the back of their uncle and auntiie's Echuca Rd property in Mooroopna. At that time, Lorraine's Uncle Frank was married to Laurie's Auntie Bub.78,79,80  Lorraine's engagement ring, Apr 1950 | |
| Two weeks before her marriage, Lorraine had a kitchen tea in St Mary's hall, arranged by the ladies of St Mary's. Laurie responded to the congratulations and speeches by friends and family. Joyce Baldwin thanked Lorraine on behalf of the Mooroopna basketball team.81  | |
Personal A presentation of a crystal salad bowl was made to Miss Lorraine Williams by the manager of the Bank of Australasia, Mr Eltham, when she resigned recently, in view of her marriage to Mr L Phillips on Saturday.82 | |
| Marriage and Family Lorraine Anna Williams and Laurence Lloyd Phillips were married at St Mary's church in Mooroopna on 29 September 1951. They had four children. | |
| Laurie and Lorraine's wedding was reported in the Shepparton Advertiser. A veil lent by her cousin, Mrs Peter Fry, was worn by Lorraine Anna, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs CR Williams, Main street, Mooroopna, for her marriage with Laurence Lloyd, third son of Mr and Mrs TJ Phillips, Hotel Australia, Shepparton, which was celebrated with Nuptial Mass at St Mary’s Church, Mooroopna, on Saturday. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a simply made frock of palest cream slipper satin. The bodice featured a square neckline and long fitting sleeves. The graceful skirt extended into a long oval train and was inlet with fine lace in front. Her full length embroidered tulle veil was held in place with a coronet of orange blossom. She carried a slender trail of gardenias and dark green leaves. The bride's sister, Miss Val Williams, attended her. She wore an apple green broderie anglaise over taffeta frock. The fitted bodice featured a split neckline and short cap sleeves with fly away cuffs. A bustle bow completed the full skirted frock. Her shoulder length tulle veil was held in place with a coronet of plaited tulle trimmed with a side spray of pink carnations. She wore matching mittens and carried a trail of pink carnations and erica tied with green ribbons. The bridegroom’s brother, Mr Reg Phillips, was best man. Pride of place at the reception, which was held at the Star supper room, was given to the beautiful two tiered wedding cake, made and decorated by Mrs H Williams. The bride’s mother pinned a pink orchid to her junior navy lightweight suit to receive the guests. She added grey accessories. Mrs Phillips, who assisted, wore a powder blue crepe frock over which she wore a fur cape. She added a spray of maroon tulips and navy accessories. For travelling the bride chose a mint green gaberdine suit to which she pinned an orchid. She added London tan accessories. Mr and Mrs L Phillips will make their future home in Shepparton.83 | |
 Laurie & Lorraine (Williams) Phillips, 1951 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Reg, Laurie & Lorraine (Williams) Phillips, Val Williams, Sep 1951 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Val Williams (bridesmaid) & Reg Phillips (best man), Laurie & Lorraine Phillips wedding, St Mary's, Mooroopna, Sep 1951 Image: Val Williams  Laurie & Lorraine Phillips on their wedding day, Val Williams (bridesmaid) & Reg Phillips (best man), Sep 1951 Image: Rene Barnes  Laurie, Lorraine (Williams) & Reg Phillips, 1951 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Lorraine (Williams) & Laurie Phillips, 1951 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips | |
Lorraine & Laurie went to Sydney for their honeymoon. Lorraine (Williams) & Laurie Phillips departing after their wedding, Sep 1951 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Lorraine & Laurie Phillips, Sydney, 1951 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Laurie & Lorraine Phillips Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips | |
The wedding party celebrated the occasion 40 years later. Reg, Laurie & Lorraine (Williams) Phillips, Val Williams, wedding party 40 years on, Sep 1991 | |
| Family Life When Laurie and Lorraine married, they lived with Lorraine's parents in Main St, Mooroopna while their house was being built. Their house on the corner of Maude St and Swallow St in Shepparton was being built with the help of a low interest rate war loan.84,85  Lorraine Phillips (Williams) with a dog once owned by her uncle, Bob Bazley; Maude St, Shepparton, c. 1952 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Phillips family home, 316 Maude St, Shepparton, c. 1960 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips | |
Laurie and Lorraine's four children, three girls and a boy, were all were born when the family lived in Maude St. Karen, Peter, Anne and Helen started at St Mel's primary school between 1958 and 1967.86,87 Helen, Anne, Peter, Karen, Laurie & Lorraine Phillips, Oct 1995 | |
| When they married, Laurie was working at the Hotel Australia. The pub truck was their 'car' and used for shopping, church on Sunday and everything else. Trips to Mooroopna with Karen and Peter to see their grandparents were in the truck with the pram strapped on the back. Around 1957, with a loan from Laurie's father, they bought a Holden FE sedan. With a growing family, they realised Laurie's pub work would not meet their future needs, and he left the pub. After a short time without work and about 12 months working at the Shepparton Golf Club, the offer of taking over a milk bar sounded like a good idea.88 | |
| The Hotel Australia as a workplace supported all five sons at various times. Jack, Reg and Laurie began working there as they returned from serving in the Second World War. Don and Brian worked elsewhere for a couple of years after finishing school before working at the pub. With five sons, Tom could share the physical workload. He had developed heart problems when serving in the First World War and so had limited physical ability. And Sis was limited having had a lung removed a few years earlier.51,29 | |
| Jack worked at the hotel from early 1946 until it was sold in September 1979. He ran the saloon bar off Maude St, later named 'Jack's Bar'. He also did the banking. Reg worked there from early 1946 until early 1955. He left because the beer aggravated the dermatitis he developed during the war. Laurie worked there from early 1947 until about 1963. He also collected the beer from the railway station. And there are reports that when a troublesome character was about, and a bit of 'biffo' might be required, Laurie got the job. Don worked there from around 1950 until it was sold. He gradually became more involved with the running of the hotel. Wife Marion ran the residential and function parts of the business. Brian worked there from about 1954 until it was sold. He also collected the beer from the railway station after Laurie left. During school holidays, both Laurie and Brian would take nephews and nieces with them to the station, usually perched on a wooden booster seat. Brian's wife Maureen ran the functions and weddings for six months in 1971 while Marion, Don and the family were on holiday. In summer Tom's wartime beer quota meant he ran out by the end of the month. At at the start of the month the small main bar on the Maude and Fryers St corners meant he didn't have enough room for the drinkers. In November 1945, after just twelve months there, he applied: ... to instal a saloon bar on premises now occupied by the Shepparton Agricultural Society office ... Mr LC Abemethy, who appeared for the applicant stated that the present bar accommodation was insufficient and caused complaints from customers that they could not get a drink in comfort. Greatest width in the main bar was only about six feet and the dimensions of the present small parlor bar were only 10 feet by 10 feet. The proposed additional bar space was 12 feet by 28 feet. [Shepparton Advertiser] The application was successful, taking effect from January 1st, and the Agricultural Society held their last meeting there in December. Many other groups held meetings there and it had also been a billiard room. Jack and Reg returned from service in February and March. Jack ran the saloon bar with most of the others also working there at some stage. All five sons worked at the main bar at some stage.89,90,29,30,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,66,100,86,101  Reg Phillips at the cash register, main bar, Hotel Australia, c. 1950 Image: Madge Phillips | |
When Jack, Reg and Laurie returned from war service, they brought with them hordes of mates and the family business was in full swing. There are enough stories from the family's days in the Aussie to fill a book. [Tom Carey] At about 6:10 pm the head barman in the main bar would shout 'Time gentlemen, please!' After everyone shuffled out, there would be a tap-tap-tap on the front door with a coin, and the hardier ones would sneak in again and meet in the 'Cupboard' to continue drinking. They were from all walks of life, including cops. There were times it seemed like there were a hundred blokes in there. [Tom Carey]102,75 | |
Bill Condon, racing expert: The Phillips boys perpetrated many pranks on former Shepparton News reporter and later Sporting Globe racing expert Bill Condon. He raced to more hoax 'fatals' at his peril, and went out to see more gelded sires than any other newsman in known history. Yet for all his naivety, he was still a brilliant journalist, according to the boys. Tiny Moylan and the cellar: One night, locksmith genius, wag and trick cyclist Leo 'Tiny' Moylan, the only man who could ride a bike down Mt Major backwards mounted on the handlebars, rode into the cellar in the 'snake pit' before a crowd of patrons crying with laughter.102 | |
| For the enjoyment of the drinkers, every effort was made to serve the beer as fast as possible and as cold as possible. There was only one beer available on tap, Carlton Draught. This was probably all you could get in Shepp as CUB were the only supplier. No bottled beer was picked up from the station, only barrels, plus wine, spirits, etc. So the only beer you got, at least in the early days, was Carlton Draught from the tap. Initially they used a single barrel at a time and tapped another when it was empty. Later we worked out a way to have 4-5 supplying the bars. The main bar had maybe 6-8 taps. The beer was cold. There was a chute that funnelled cold air from the cellar over the next tray of glasses, under the bar. To pour the beer faster, we got Plutos so we could take the tap to the glass for refills. It was maybe 6 foot long, but because it warmed the beer slightly, you only used it in busy times. [Laurie Phillips]103,102 | |
| As beer sales increased, so did the need for cold beer and bar space. In early 1950s renovations, the underground coolroom was extended, a beer garden was added, the saloon bar was expanded, and the first floor accommodation wing above above it was added. Two Beer Gardens Shepparton and Mooroopna will shortly have two beer gardens - one at T Phillips' Hotel Australia, Shepparton, on vacant ground next [to] the saloon bar, in addition to the fernery; and Nev Coe, Royal Mail, at Mooroopna, has built a trellised shelter above the lawn in the back yard. Both should be [in] use for incoming summer. [Oct 1952] Tiny Moylan would ride around the beer garden. He was known to bump into the well and go A over T. [Brian Phillips] Extensions At Hotel A building permit to extend the accommodation facilities at the Hotel Australia has been received by Mr TJ Phillips. Plans provide for the remodelling of the premises so that additional bedrooms for the travelling public can be included. Work will commence as soon as possible and will alleviate to some extent Shepparton's notoriously acute shortage of accommodation. Daily there are complaints from travellers that they are unable to obtain accommodation. They often have to go as far afield as Numurkah or even Echuca in search of a bed. [May 1950]89,104,29,105 | |
| The saloon bar run by Jack had become so popular it was made two to three times longer and named Jack's Bar. Jack's Bar developed a reputation for its hijinks. Events included racing Trevor and Paul's bikes around the bar which sometimes resulted in minor injuries and often required the bikes to be fixed the next morning so the kids could get to school.30,29,106  Jack's Bar, saloon bar, Hotel Australia Image: Hotel Australia | |
Jack was a keen Collingwood supporter, and for years only had a black & white TV in the bar. He refused to get a colour telly, much to the displeasure of many of the regulars. One day, Ned McDonald came into the bar and shot the telly! People scattered and ducked for cover; Jack bought a colour TV. [Tom Carey]107,30 | |
| There were lots of characters like Ned McDonald and Ron Higgins who enjoyed the different atmosphere Jack and the family had created in the saloon bar. Many became lifelong family friends. The Phillips family returned to the saloon bar in March 2013 for a family reunion. This coincided with the renaming of Jack's Bar and with Jack's 90th birthday. Jack Phillips died a year later on his 91st birthday.  Phillips reunion in Jack's Bar, Hotel Australia, Mar 2013 Image: Shepparton News  Jack's Bar, Hotel Australia, Dec 2014  Jack's Bar, Hotel Australia, Dec 2014 | |
| Back in the main bar, Tom was the consumate publican. Perfect Host Business man or battler, Mick or Proddy, indigenous or import; it didn't matter to Tom, he treated you just the same. The consummate host, if Tom didn't know somebody's name, he would go up beside Trevor or one of the other barmen, and with a voice even softer than usual ask 'Who's that bloke over there?' Just so he could address them by name. Genial and small in stature, Tom could easily blend into the background if it wasn't for his crop of silver hair. As he mingled with the patrons, he'd be nursing his 'foursie', a small 4 ounce glass of beer that looked much like everyone else's, but allowed him to socialise all day without getting sozzled. With the perfect attributes for his line of business, Tom would also offer a glass or round on the house, all but guaranteeing patrons would linger and be back. [From (House of Phillips), 'Chapter 3: Punters, Players and Politicians'] His mother had a saying: 'It's no good being poor and looking poor', and all six sons were noted for being well dressed. Tom has been described as 'always impeccably groomed'. Such was the atmosphere Tom had created, the hotel was referred to as "Uncle Tom's cabin", "Phillips's hotel", or simply "Tom's".102,108,100 | |
| Tom was the master at getting people to go quietly, with tricks like: 'Have this one last drink on the house, then on your way.' [Laurie Phillips] They once had a customer in the main bar who was extremely annoying and driving patrons away. One day Papa [Tom] asked me for ten Bob, which I gave him. Papa then proceeded over to this bloke and gave him the money. I had no idea why. A week or so later, Papa asked me how business had been lately. I thought, then said: 'Very good since so-and-so was gone. How did you do it? And by the way where's that ten Bob I gave you?' Papa told me if you loaned money to someone like that, you'd never see them again - and that that valuable lesson had cost me ten Bob. [Brian Phillips]29,12 | |
| Beer sales continued to climb into the late 1950s and six o'clock closing created the need for further renovations. ... [during] the peak of the 1950's and early sixties ... the Australia was regularly in the top 10 liquor sales figures of country Victoria and a couple of times in the top three. [Tom Carey] Six O'Clock Swill Six o'clock closing was introduced during the First World War, partly as an attempt to improve public morality and partly as a war austerity measure. Six o'clock closing often fuelled an hour-long speed-drinking session, as men raced to get as drunk as possible in the limited time available. An unintended consequence was that patrons would save their glasses during the hour before closing time until the last call came for drinks, where the glasses would be refilled and patrons attempted to drink them all in the time left. The pressure to serve customers led to innovations such as a pipe from the taps so that the bartender did not need to carry the customer's glass to them. [Known as a 'Pluto'] Hotels catered for the short heavy drinking period after work by extending their bars and tiling walls for easy cleaning. The phenomenon changed Australian and New Zealand pubs as rooms in the building were converted to bar space; billiard rooms and saloon bars disappeared and separate bar counters were combined. [Wikipedia] Tom had renovation plans approved but was financially stretched. In late 1956, he still owed £35,000 on the hotel and had estimated the renovations would cost a further £25,000. Papa [Tom] was in debt to the hilt. For the renovations he borrowed money from Joe. [Laurie Phillips] The late 1950s saw the new long bar added. To make way for it there was work on the dining room, lounge, kitchen and downstairs dormitory style rooms, and the beer garden was removed. There was now a bottle shop at the northern end of the bar, and this was run for eight years by Tom's sister-in-law, Bub Williams, who had recently sold the Junction Hotel in Toolamba. The verandah with its rotting timber was also removed during these renovations.102,109,110,89,111  Sis Phillips on the end, Brian Phillips next to her, main bar, Hotel Australia, c. 1960s Image: Trevor Phillips  Hotel Australia, Shepparton c. 1963 | |
| These renovations left a single dormitory style room downstairs for staff, and consolidated all family and guest rooms on the first floor. In renovations around 1963, the central bedrooms were recast as self-contained units and a main/guest lounge provided. Of the seventeen rooms upstairs, four were now occupied by Phillips family. A March 1962 licensing report shows the renovation plans also included 18 new bedrooms in a wing over the main public bar, but they were never built. Accommodation was managed by a number of different people up until the 1960s. From then, Don's wife Marion took over.89,112 | |
| Guests and other 'bona fide travellers' could legally be served drinks out of hours. It helped with beer sales but had unintended consequences. Despite 6pm closing, there was a rule that 'bona fide' travellers (from 20 miles away) would be allowed to get a drink out of hours, including on a Sunday. You then had the situation where the Mooroopna drinkers would drive to Echuca, and the Echuca drinkers would drive to Mooroopna to get a drink. And then they would all pass each other on the way home again. [Tom Carey] Some drinkers liked to place bets on the horse races. Tom's brother Joe was an SP (starting price) bookmaker and operated from the hotel. Though risky for Joe, it was more risky for Tom who could lose his licence if he was found to knowingly have bets placed on or near his premises. In 1968, there was a close shave with the gaming squad which ultimately resulted in a $50 donation to the Richmond football club.75,113,66 | |
| Renovations in 1962-1963 allowed the hotel to run large functions. The ground floor central area between the public and saloon bars was gutted, with provision for a new modern entrance foyer, large lounge and dining room. There were also new and enlarged toilet blocks in all sections and changes to outbuildings including store rooms. Functions varied from formal to entertainment, with weddings the main part of the business. They were run by Don's wife Marion. Brian's wife Maureen could take over if Marion was unavailable. Other functions included a reception for Sir Rohan Delacombe (Governor of Victoria) as part of an RSL function, a football (handball) competition, and Tom's favourite, the Can Can Cabaret. Tom had a special connection with France from his First World War service.89,114,90,115,102  Laurie Phillips, Blair McKay (Shepparton RSL president), Tom Phillips, Sir Rohan Delacombe (Governor of Victoria), RSL function, Hotel Australia, Oct 1963 Image: Lesley Blythman  Don Phillips, Hotel Australia handball competition Image: Don & Marion Phillips  Can Can Cabaret, Hotel Australia, c. 1960 Image: Lost Shepparton, Facebook .jpg) The Can-Can during French night at the Hotel Australia with Tom and Sis Phillips Image: Terry Sier | |
The final renovations by the Phillips family were in 1972. The long bar was split and the gents toilet moved between the two parts. The larger part was effectively the new ladies lounge, and a new bar, 'The Arches', could service it and the main function room. The driveway was widened and the bottle shop moved next to it to become a drive-through.89,116 Hotel Australia, Shepparton c. 1972 | |
| A number of factors contributed to the timing and nature of the 1972 renovations. The timing was prompted by a fire in the main bar around October 1971. That was when the Shepparton Show was held and they had to wake up the man who ran the Ferris wheel, who usually stayed at the hotel. The fire was damaging and disruptive but not enough to stop trading. A liquor licensing inspection in November resulted in a January 1972 'show cause' notice requiring advice on why certain damage had not yet been rectified. In April, Tom advised that the plans had been finalised. The nature of the renovations resulted from the changing licensing laws and general availability of alcohol. The licensing laws restricted the sale and service of alcohol almost exclusively to pubs for decades. Alcohol could usually be purchased only in pubs, and many states placed restrictions on the number of bottles per customer that could be sold over the counter. It was not until the late 20th century that 'bottle-shops' and chain-store outlets (where liquor was sold but not served) became common and restaurants and cafes were more widely licensed to serve liquor or to allow customers to 'bring their own'. [Wikipedia] Tom once said: There are more hotels to go around, or more particularly a lot more places selling bulk liquor, while the labor aspects in costs and quality are making things tough for publicans. With the more relaxed norms around drinking, visitors of note were more likely to be seen in the main bar than in the function room. Such visitors have included Bob Hawke when he was ACTU President, Gough Whitlam shortly before he became Prime Minister, well-known Footscray football player Ted Whitten, and Harry 'Soapy' Vallence, a Carlton football player from Tom's home town of Bacchus Marsh.102,117,118,119,114,120  From left, John Riordan & Tom Phillips sharing a drink with Gough Whitlam (right), c. 1971 Image: Don & Marion Phillips -1975,-image-0001.jpg) Carlton footballer Harry 'Soapy' Vallence and Tom Phillips 1975 | |
| Tom did all he could to keep the business viable, and son Don aimed to diversify. Perhaps due to his early financial stress, he had some habits that seemed unusual. I remember in the mid- to late-1970s, in the safe at the pub, Pa Pa had all his unopened paypackets. Easily 10, could have been 20. These were weekly pays and the amount was written on the front. $260 odd rings a bell (each). [Trevor Phillips] Papa was funny with money. One day when I was working in Jack's Bar, in came JGB McDonald, Prime Minister McEwen and Moss, from Numurkah, asking to see Papa. I told Papa who was in his old clothes working out in the yard and didn't bother getting changed. Papa shouted them all a drink and when they left asked if I had any money on me to cover the beers. I convinced Papa that maybe this time the pub could pay. (Brian Phillips). In 1977, Don had an idea to generate additional income, and the Phillips family purchased the Goulburn Valley Winery in Vaughan St. By 1979, Tom and some of the family were ready to leave the business, though others were keen to continue. Tom Phillips poured his last beer in September 1979. The last of the great old time hosts has retired ... State Governors and regular customers are treated with the same efficient and friendly greeting. Tom and 'Sis' Phillips have built the Australia into an institution, which is now not only one of Shepparton's landmarks but a meeting place known throughout the State.121,122,123,124,102,29 | |
| TJ Phillips & Sons was formed in mid-1948 after Tom Phillips and his family purchased the Hotel Australia, having leased it from Dunnes since November 1944 for £25 a week. Initially there were no partners in the business. In August 1948, Tom's licence was transferred to the new partnership of TJ Phillips & Sons, consisting of Tom and the three eldest sons, Jack, Reg and Laurie. The first half of 1955 saw major changes in the company structure. In April 1955, they formed a proprietary limited company consisting of Tom, Sis, Jack, Laurie, Don and 19 year old Brian. Reg took his share from the earlier partnership to persue other business ventures. Sis was now a shareholder in the company for the first time, as were Don and Brian. Between them, Tom and Sis had a small majority share holding. Tom was nominee in the new company and Jack was company secretary. In 1963, an allotment of shares to Reg meant all five boys were shareholders simultaneously for the first time. After a small share allotment to Brian in 1967, this share allocation remained until liquidation. Tom's estate plus Sis now accounted for 47% of the shares, and the others held between 4% and 17%. In September 1979, the Hotel Australia licence was transferred from TJ Phillips & Sons to Biltel Hotels Pty Ltd. TJ Phillips & Sons was liquidated in November 1981.125,89,124,126,127 | |
[Tom Phillips had purchased the Hotel Australia in mid-1948 for £50,000 and in September 1979 the Phillips family's business was valued at over $1 million. Their investment had resulted in an average rate of return over a 30 year period of about 8%, well above inflation.] | |
| Golf Club Around early 1963, Laurie suddenly left the Hotel Australia. One day I just up and left the pub. Didn't even give Papa [Tom] any notice. I had no plan for the future; just decided that working at the pub wasn't it. I wouldn't be surprised if Papa later had a word to the manager at the Shepp Golf Club, because he came to me with a work offer. I worked there for about 12 months. At this time, the couple had four children aged between 11 and a few month old. Laurie was quite a respectable golfer. He won a number of trophies in club competitions during the several years he played.85,128,86 | |
| Shooting and Fishing Laurie had a shotgun which he occasionally used to shoot rabbits or ducks for the family to eat. Fishing was his favourite activity. In the 1950s and 1960s, he'd go to the Murray River for a couple of days with mates. Murray cod was the fish he talked about most. Of one big catch, he reported: The biggest was about 80 pounds, the other about 60, caught in the Wakool river at Barham just off the Murray, very exciting time, we celebrated big time. Of another catch, he said:  Peter Phillips, Mr Cobb, Laurie Phillips, Greg O'Toole & Karen Phillips with 60-80 lb Murray cod, caught on the Wakool River, Barham  Laurie Phillips, Mr Cobb, Greg O'Toole Image: Val Williams  Greg O'Toole & Laurie Phillips with Murray Cod Image: Lesley Blythman | |
| Tom's Will Tom wrote a will in February 1962. As executors he named wife Irene Gladys and sons John Lawrence and Laurence Lloyd. His shares in TJ Phillips & Sons Pty Ltd were to be held and dividends paid to Sis during her lifetime. Upon her death, Brian was to get 2000 shares, Rene was to get 2000 shares and Reg was to get 500 shares. The remaining shares were to be divided equally between the six children. The balance of his estate, including proceeds from sale, was also to be divided equally between the six children.130 | |
| Shop In 1965, Laurie and Lorraine bought a milk bar on the corner of Wyndham and Sobraon Streets in Shepparton. It was known as Victoria Lake Cafe and often confused with one further south near the railway line which was known as Lake Victoria Cafe. It was owned by Harry Jenkins and run by Wally Baptist. The lease was about to expire and the business was being offered at a price they felt was too good to be true. They paid with money from selling their house and moved in Easter 1965 when the two youngest girls were less than three years old. The business flourished, drawing on Laurie's experience in the pub and Lorraine's in the bank. They realised they could do better out of the business if they made the shop bigger, so they borrowed money from Laurie's uncle Joe and renovated. Within a short time, they bought the freehold from profit from the enlarged business.85,66,131,132,133,134,135,123  Anne & Helen Phillips in front of the milk bar, 458 Wyndham St, Shepparton, c. 1965 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips | |
| The shop opened every day. In the early years, it was closed for a few hours while they had Christmas lunch with Lorraine's family in Mooroopna. In later years, it remained closed from lunch time on Christmas day. A popular purchase on Christmas mornings was batteries for toys. Following persistent pestering from the children, the shop was also closed for a couple of hours on Shepparton Show day. On the rare occasions Lorraine and Laurie had a holiday, family and staff kept the shop open. The hours were long, especially on warm summer nights when it might remain open until nearly midnight. But everyone pitched in and Lorraine had trained the staff well.86 | |
| A large part of why the business was so successful was because of how well Laurie, and especially Lorraine, knew their customers. An anecdote from Don Kilgour: Lorraine: Don, where have you built your new house? Don: ... next to Ken Halliday ... you'd know Barry Halliday, he comes in for his lunch ... and the girl in the shop said to Mrs Phillips 'Who's Barry Halliday?' Lorraine: You know, two corned beef and pickle. Comments from Don and others: It goes to show you how much those corner store people knew their customers. Lorraine gave presents to kids at Christmas. We used to go there after water-skiing and have double-chocolate malted milkshakes. At Easter or Christmas, Lorraine always had a little something to give the kids. School swimming. After swimming at the pool, it was mandatory on the way home to stop at Phillipses' to get our lollies before we went back to school.86,136 | |
At the shop, Mr Brown's dog wouldn't eat Cadbury chocolate; he only ate Nestle. Mr Brown would get at least one small stick of chocolate each night, but one time there was no Nestle [which Lorraine had to order specially], so he took Cadbury - the dog wouldn't touch it! [Laurie Phillips]137 | |
| Laurie and Lorraine sold the business about 1981 after around 17 years, when the average time in a milk bar was just 18 months.138 | |
| Horses In the 1960s, Laurie became involved with race horses as owner, breeder and trainer. Most, but not all, were progeny of the New Zealand mare, Khorion.86,12 | |
Khorion was mostly raced as a trotter, but later Tom, Sis and Laurie bred thoroughbreds with modest success. They formed a partnership 'TJ, IG & LL Phillips'. | |
| The many wins and places they had over the years were at country tracks such as Tatura, Benalla, Wangaratta and Seymour. Laurie was a member at Tatura. The first property they had for the horses was 22 acres on Numurkah Rd, on what was then the outskirts of Shepparton. The property was owned by TJ Phillips & Sons.12,86,127  Laurie with one of his thoroughbred racehorses Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips | |
| Laurie continued with the horses after his father, then mother, died. He moved the horses from the Numurkah Rd property to one in Archer St near the end of Broken River Drive. It was owned by his neighbours, Mack and Betty Taylor, whose son was living in the old farm house. As well as being a convenient place to keep the horses, it became a very popular playground for his grandchildren. Overlapping with the Archer St property was one near Nathalia, most likely purchased with money from the sale of the pub or the shop. Around 2001, with Laurie now in his mid-seventies, he realised he couldn't continue with the horses and began selling up. In 2019, Laurie revisited thoroughbred ownership and joined a syndicate, buying a share in 'Knight's Sword' from David Hayes' Lindsay Park stud in Euroa. Its first win came just a few weeks before Laurie died.86,139  Laurie & Mitchell Phillips, Archer St property, Shepparton  Peter & Mitchell Phillips, Rachel Barker, Archer St property, Shepparton  Rachel Barker & Anne Phillips, Archer St property, Shepparton | |
| The Twins' 80th Birthday Celebration | |
When twins Nene and Sis turned 80 in 1983, the family gathered to mark the occasion. Sis Phillips (McDonald) & Nene Courtie (McDonald), 80th birthday party, Apr 1983  Reg & Laurie Phillips, Rene Barnes, Jack, Sis, Don & Brian Phillips (one of few photos with all six siblings), Amber Court, Shepparton, Apr 1983 Image: Pete & Di Phillips  Extended Phillips family at Sis & Nene's 80th birthday party, Amber Court, Shepparton, Apr 1983 Image: Peter Phillips | |
| Sis's Will Sis Phillips left a simple will with the balance of her estate being split equally between all six children.140 | |
| Jack's 80th Birthday The family gathered in Shepparton in 2003 to celebrate Jack's 80th birthday. After lunch, some of the family visited Jack's Bar to reminisce.  Jack Phillips's 80th birthday party, Terminus Hotel, Shepparton, Apr 2003 Image: Pete & Di Phillips  Don, Laurie, Rene, Jack & Brian Phillips, Jack Phillips's 80th birthday party, Terminus Hotel, Shepparton, Apr 2003 Image: Pete & Di Phillips  Don, Laurie, Rene, Jack & Brian Phillips, Jack Phillips's 80th birthday party, Terminus Hotel, Shepparton, Apr 2003 Image: Pete & Di Phillips  John, Jack & Brendan Phillips, Catherine Wayman (Phillips), Brian, Claire, Tom & Robyn Phillips, Jack's Bar, Hotel Australia, 2003 Image: Catherine Wayman | |
| Later Interests and Activities Laurie was active physically and socially. Family came first. He adored his grandchildren and spent time with them whenever he could. To keep in touch with his extended family, in 2011 he joined Facebook, his first post being:  Lorraine & Laurie with Lauren, Mitchell, Rachel & Caitlin   Phillips family, Shepparton Club, April 1991 Image: Trevor Phillips | |
| Laurie has been a supporter of the 'Tigers', the Richmond Football Club, for as long as he can remember. He took more of an interest after he left the shop, possibly in the hope one day converting grandchildren to the cause. As well as trying to draught anyone in his extended family, he tried neighbours, and even new-born babies. He took up needlework, including knitting, and would make scarves and beanies, often while watching the footy. He'd take the beanies, in all the team colours, to the hospital and ask the new mums and dads who their newborn barracked for. If they hesitated, he pulled out a Tiger one. Just when Laurie was starting to think he might never see the Tigers win another grand final, he was overjoyed with their 2017 win. His needlework started with latch-hook. One piece, a tiger, was displayed as part of a Shepparton art exhibition.86  Laurie said if the Tigers got into the grand final, he'd get a tattoo, 2017  Laurie with the Tigers' premiership cup, Shepparton, Nov 2017  Laurie Phillips in the Shep News for his knitting  Laurie's latch-hook at a Shepparton art exhibition Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips | |
| Laurie started bike riding after he left the shop. He initially rode the short distance to the farm where he tended his horses, and after they got too much he rode to the pool. He enjoyed every aspect of cycling and encouraged all those around him to be involved. Laurie was going up to the velodrome when I was racing a few years back. I am not sure who enjoyed each others company more, him or me. He and his mates would sit there and talk so much garbage. It was very funny. [Trevor Phillips] In 2020, aged 84, he joined a charity ride in support of a young mother who was seriously injured while on a training ride. He rode 22 km from Shepparton to Tatura. He bought or fixed up bikes for the grandchildren, often riding somewhere with them. He'd upgrade the bikes as they got older, and they all enjoyed riding when they visited, especially around Christmas.141 -2010.jpg) Image: Shepparton News  Laurie and Rachel,, Christmas 1989  | |
After the horses became too much he took up swimming, in the good weather, almost daily. One day as he was leaving the local pool, he was told he couldn't swim the following day because it was closed to the public for an event. When he heard it was teams in a fundraiser for people with MS, he joined a team. He has since done about ten MS Megaswims, recruiting as many family and friends as he could. He was often seen or heard in promotions for the event. His last appearance was in 2020 at age 94.86-2019.jpg) Image: Shepparton News  MS MegaSwim, Shepparton, Feb 2020 Image: MS Australia | |
| Grandchildren Lorraine and Laurie became grandparents in 1988, and soon Grandma Raine and Papa to four grandchildren. They had endless time for them, were pleased to see them at any time, and would travel for hours to be with them for special occasions. Lorraine and Laurie adored, and were adored by, Rachel, Mitchell, Lauren and Caitlin.86  Rachel Barker, Laurie Phillips & Mitchell Phillips, c. 1990 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Laurie, Mitchell, Dianne, Peter & Lorraine Phillips, c. 1990 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Mitchell Phillips, Lauren Barker & Laurie Phillips, c. 1991 Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Mitchell & Laurie Phillips Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Laurie Phillips & Lauren Barker Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Helen Phillips with Lauren Barker, Karen Barker with Caitlin Barker, and Rachel Barker Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Anne Phillips, Rachel Barker, Mitchell Phillips, Laurie Phillips & Lauren Barker Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips  Lauren Barker, Laurie Phillips, Caitlin Barker & Mitchell Phillips Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips | |
| 65 Years of Marriage On 29 September 2016, Lorraine and Laurie celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. The family had a small gathering the following Sunday when they brought Lorraine home from Ave Maria for the day. She died peacefully in her sleep two days later in the early hours of the morning.86  Six family members with Caitlin filling in for Karen; Lorraine & Laurie's 65th wedding anniversary celebrations, Oct 2016 | |
| Lorraine Anna Phillips died at Ave Maria Village in Shepparton on 4 October 2016, aged 89. She was buried at Pine Lodge cemetery in Shepparton East on 8 October 2016. The funeral was at St Mel's Catholic church. Phillips, Lorraine. Passed away suddenly on Tuesday aged 89. Life partner to Laurie, married 65 years. Mum to Karen, Peter, Anne and Helen. Grandma to Rachel, Lauren, Caitlin, Mitchell, Josh, Tom, Emma and Matt. Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace.86,142 | |
Laurence Lloyd Phillips died at Shepparton private hospital on 5 May 2021, aged 95.2 May 2021 Image: Shepparton News | |
In celebration of Laurence Lloyd Phillips, Requiem mass will be held at St Mel’s Catholic Church (Hamilton Street, Shepparton) on Tuesday 11 May 2021 @ 1:30pm. The service will then conclude at Pine Lodge Lawn Ceremony. Family invite you to join them afterwards at The Aussie Hotel. | |
LAURENCE Lloyd (Laurie). PHILLIPS PHILLIPS LAURENCE Lloyd (Laurie) Passed away peacefully at the Shepparton Private Hospital on Wednesday 5th May, 2021. Aged 95 years. Dearly loved husband of Lorraine (dec). Loved and loving father and father-in-law of Karen and Geoff, Peter and Dianne, Anne and Vincent (dec), Helen and Phil. Much loved Pa Pa of Rachel, Mitchell, Lauren and Caitlin. Loved and Remembered Always.143 | |
LAURENCE Lloyd (Laurie). PHILLIPS Date of Funeral: 11/05/2021 PHILLIPS Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Mr Laurence Lloyd Phillips will be held at St Mel’s Christ The King Catholic Church, Hamilton Street, Shepparton on Tuesday 11th May, 2021 commencing at 1.30pm. After which the cortege will leave for the Pine Lodge Lawn Cemetery. Owen Mohan Funerals Shepparton.144 | |
Citations
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