Town Talk | The Phillips family legacy

I’d had a really bad weekend. Usually, on a pleasant weekend, I have time to contemplate; sort out the facts I have, from guesswork, and ponder the questions I need to ask — but not this time.

I had made arrangements to talk with Paul Phillips, who is the proprietor of Phillips Cellars. I had it in my head that Phillips Cellars, Goulburn Valley Winery and the Australia Hotel were connected. And I was hoping that Paul was the grandson of Tom Phillips, who had owned the hotel for many years.

Eventually, Paul gave up on my vague questions, and told me the story I was trying to find.

Tom Phillips

Tom and his wife, Irene, arrived in Shepparton in the 1920s. Initially, he ran pool halls around town. One was situated upstairs in Maude St, where we remember the Taiwan selling fantastic food. Another was in a cellar in High St, where Cellar 47 was originally — also serving fantastic food. And the third was on the south side of High St, near the Terminus Hotel.

Tom then purchased the Pine Lodge Hotel, which he ran successfully for eight years. In 1942, right in the middle of World War II, he moved to the Australia Hotel; now known, to just about all of us, as The Aussie. With the help of Irene, five sons and a daughter, they stayed for 37 years. Many of us remember the old building, designed by J.A.K. Clarke, gracing the corner, right in the heart of the city. I was wondering if the change to hotel opening hours (from six o’clock closing to 10pm closing) had affected hoteliers. Although they would have been more profitable, it would also have disrupted the family. If they employed more staff, it would have eaten into the additional profit. However, that wouldn’t have affected Tom because the trading hours changed in 1966. He was running the hotel from 1942 until 1979. Obviously, he had withstood that change.

The Phillips family

Many of you will also remember Tom’s children. I’ll give you the names — from the eldest down: Jack, Reg, Laurie, Irene, Don and Brian. When the hotel was sold, Jack retired, Reg had purchased City Dry Cleaners, Laurie had gone to the café near the playground (corner of Wyndham and Sobraon Sts), Don — with his son Paul — purchased the Goulburn Valley Winery, and Brian bought a laundry mat (where the RSL extended to in Wyndham St).

Unfortunately, they have all passed away now, with the exception of Don, who is 93 years of age.

Paul Phillips

I asked Paul if the hotel affected his life much and, looking patient, he said “Well! I lived there for 15 years.” He then explained that, although the rest of the family lived off-site, he and his older brother Trevor lived, with their parents, in the hotel. Paul lived there from his birth until 1975.

Is it clear to you, that this time, I ‘lucked it in’? I was speaking to the right guy, and GV Wineries was definitely involved. In fact, Paul relocated it, from Vaughan St to Corio St with a change of name to Phillips Cellars.

Phillips Cellars

Paul’s store is a retail outlet for 45 local wineries — all situated within 100km of Shepparton. There are 300 wines from which to choose, coming from the Goulburn Valley, King Valley, Nagambie Lakes District, and the Heathcote and Strathbogie areas.

This last winter, prosecco and pinot grigio from the King Valley have been popular but, as spring comes (and stays), riesling and rosé from the Strathbogie region will come to the fore.

Of course, there are many other interesting drinks. For instance, I heard a gentleman asking for chocolate rum — a combination I cannot quite imagine.

All of this means, when you support a local business, you are also supporting a vineyard nearby. I reckon we should all carry cards that gain a star when we support a local business, and perhaps there’s some sort of prize to be won. Shepparton retailers deserve our support. They are the soul of the city; or did I write that last week?

I thank Paul — very much — for his tolerance, patience and time.

What are the chances?

What are the chances of a rare, 4.6 billion-year-old meteorite landing in a small town in Greater Shepparton? Older than our sun and solar system, the rock contains amino acids and organic compounds that are the building blocks of DNA, the genetic code in living cells. What are the chances?

Astrophysicists and scientists studying chemistry, geology, minerals, meteoritics and space exploration have all had a close look at Murchison’s meteorite. It fascinates many. The oldest matter on this planet — stardust — is contained in our rock. It is seven billion years old.

It came to us from the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars, and it travelled between 300 million km and 450 million km; the distance depends on exactly where it started the journey to us.

It is featured in every major museum around the world.

Accompanied by a sonic boom, a rock weighing 100kg broke into many pieces; the largest being 6.8kg. It fell to earth, harming no-one. What are the chances?

Two big days in Murchison

Our meteorite arrived 55 years ago, and celebrations will be held on Friday and Saturday, September 27 and 28. On Friday evening, you can do some stargazing with the Astronomical Society of Victoria. On Saturday, there will be presentations from Museums Victorian and the European Space Agency, which will be of interest to many of us.

Everything is free if you live in Greater Shepparton, and you can establish this on the website, where the full program is available: www.murchisonhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Family wisdom

Recently, one of our readers gave me a school newsletter and referred me to the headmaster’s introduction. It was an interesting and well-written piece, in which the principal compared his childhood with those of his students. And he mentioned the wise phrases his mother used to guide him. “Patience is a virtue” and “Only boring people get bored”.

I thought about one of our sons saying ‘A bored child is a creative child’ and that in turn reminded me of the day he, and his brothers, used the sun’s rays to burn a hole in the trampoline. I have since said that they must have been particularly bored that day. Their response was, “We didn’t think it would work”.

In his book, for Richmond captain Trent Cotchin mentions that his father’s frequent advice was “Make every post a winner”. Trent used it to set out his goals before every football season.

I can’t remember if the adults around me produced any regular wisdom — except the lady who became my mother-in-law. She told me to “Use your head and save your heels”. Theirs was a sprawling farmhouse, to which extensions had been added, at different times, to meet different needs. One of which was a laundry, containing the fridge. To reach it from the small kitchen, you entered the hallway and walked down three steps. So, clearing up, after a meal, required some thought.

And one of my grandmothers used to say, “Be good, sweet child, and let who will be clever”.

Family phrases

We might not have had a great deal of wisdom in our family — but we certainly created our own words and phrases.

Sometime around 1950, I was having Sunday tea at my Mooroopna grandmother’s, with several of my cousins. It consisted of cold meat, left over from dinner, with salad. The stewed peaches, custard and cream were also on the table. The eldest of the grandchildren was 17 years of age, 10 years older than me; his name was Peter, and he quickly got rid of the meat and salad, his eyes on the peaches. Well before the rest of us had finished the main course, Peter served himself the peaches, and poured custard from a large jug and cream from a smaller version.

Then he yelled, “It’s mayon-damn-naise”. He had poured from the wrong small jug. Before we had finished laughing, he stormed out of the house. But for all of those present, mayonnaise became “mayondamn” — and it still is. Peter failed to see the humour in the situation.

Our family has a number of words and phrases that came from our grandchildren. Our eldest grandson, when small, had trouble with the letter ‘L’. One Saturday, he wanted me to buy something and hoping to avoid a trip into town, I said “I don’t think I’ve got any money”. He replied, “Well, have a yook, Marnie — in your purse. Have a yook!” Yes, I found some and he got what he wanted. But, in this house, we frequently have yooks because I regularly misplace things.

Is there anything you want to share?

An interesting quote?

This also came from Trent Cotchin’s book:

“The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” — Mark Twain.

If you think about that, think about where you have made a positive difference. Please do not think you are without purpose. In our small ways, we all impact our world.

Who knows what the weather will present us with, but have a good week. Perhaps the Shepp footy club will give us a premiership!

May it be easy, my friends

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk. The News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631

Phone: Text or call 0409 317187