Bill Newman and Ron Beckett have passed on the sad news of Phil’s passing.
Phill Wall passed away today at Nepean Hospital when he finally succumbed to the progressively debilitating auto immune disease called CREST. Phill was stoic but suffering towards the end but he even managed an arduous trip last month for a last farewell to his friends in the Tweed Valley. (Photo attached). Phil can be seen 3rd from right behind John Bennett
Many members will have worked with Phill and no doubt would have had great respect for him over his career which included work at Paddo, Broadway, Guam, San Francisco and Hong Kong.
It is a shame there aren’t more Phills in the world.
Regards
Bill Newman
FUNERAL SERVICE
Phill’s daughter, Lynette, has provided the link to his funeral service to be held on Friday 24th Feb.
https://www.whiteladyfunerals.com.au/upcoming-funerals/s5kx/
Christine Wall requests that in lieu of flowers could people please donate to Schleroderma Australia under Phill’s name.
The below photo was provided by Shaune Walsh and is a photo of Phil taken in Feb 1995 when Shaune and Phill travelled to a DCME workshop held in Israel.
Tweed Valley OTVA
We were all able to welcome Phil Wall visiting from Sydney at our usual meeting held at the Riverview Hotel Murwillumbah on Wednesday 18th Jan. 2023.
We understood that Phil had health issues and we appreciated the opportunity to farewell Phil for the last time.
Those present L to R ,
Bob Collins, Bill Newman, Steve Marshall, Gary Samuels, Peter [local], Paul [local], Dave Kidd, Phill Wall, John Bennett, Shane [Steve Marshall’s son].
John Bennett
From Will Whyte
I’m attaching 3 photos.
The first 2 are combined and taken on a bushwalking trip to the Buderwang National Park, West of Ulladulla in July 1981. The left hand photo shows Phill second from the left in the back row.
The third photo shows Phill between Bruce Mayberry and Steve Marshall at our 2017 Christmas reunion.
12 Comments
Phill was 66, he would have turned 67 on 14 April.
Very sad news.
Regards
Maree Giddins
He was one of the nicest and most helpful gentlemen I have encountered in all my time at OTC and Telstra.
My condolences to Phil’s family.
Ray Pow
It was very sad news to hear that Phil had finally succumbed to his terrible illness for so many years.
I had worked with Phil at Paddington and my wife and I shared our Guam years with Phil and Christine. Phil was a lively personality as was Christine, and it was a pleasure to have them there.
He will be sadly missed by all that knew him, and my wife and I extend our deepest sympathies to Christine and family.
Jim and Sue Hulme
Photo
This photo was taken about 1982 when a few staff and friends ventured into the sparse high country of southern Guam, locally referred to as the “tank farm” as there were a number of dumped WW2 tanks left there.
Phil climbed aboard one and for a short time imagined being a tank commander.
The photo was poor quality as it was shot into a bright sky suffering high contrast issues. I have taken the liberty of replacing the glare of the sky with another sky shot from Guam, both digitally scanned from film some years ago.
regards
Jim Hulme
This photo was taken at Club York after the Xmas function on the 29th Nov 2018.
The last 4 standing; myself, Phil Murphy, Ray Pow and Phil Wall.
So sad, Phil was a very nice guy.
Mick
I am very sad to hear about Phill’s passing and my heart goes out to Christine and all the family. Of course, his passing was not unexpected as his health has been declining over many years.
I really admired Phil for his technical abilities and the quiet way he always went about his work. He was very diligent, very honest and a nice bloke!
Best regards,
will Whyte
I have many good memories of working with Phill at Broadway.
On many occasions we car pooled to work.
Awesome humour, caring and supportive. A unique individual.
Regards Gerry Serrao.
Phill and I went through tech college together, but it wasn’t until much later that we became good friends over regular monthly get-togethers with family and friends.
I think the thing that I admired most about Phill was that he was a free thinker. He investigated, thought about things, and made up his mind on various topics. He didn’t blindly follow the popular trends, or the radical ones for that matter. He followed the logic, and the available facts of the matter, to come to his own position.
When Phill expressed his opinion, I would listen, because I knew it came from strength; from knowledge and understanding.
Phill was one of a kind, and he will be sorely missed.
Regards
John Bellingham
Jan and I did some 2 big road trips with Phil, Christine and family some years ago, (at a guess approx.. 30years ago). One took us Central Australia following the old Gan rail line. Turned off at Tennant Creek and headed east and home from there. The other trip was up the coast to Cairns and the Daintree area.
It comes as a bit of a shock to hear of his passing. Keep me in the loop, maybe on pass my contact details to Ron and Bill – I would like to send our sincere sympathy to his family.
In the meantime I will try and remember where photos of Phil that I am sure I would have taken on one or both of those trips.
Regards
John Eades
I’m so sorry to hear of Phil’s passing.
I had a lot of respect for his work, and had numerous opportunities to talk with him at work and on those occasions when we walked to Central Station from Paddington.
He was a ‘no fuss’ guy, and was easily accommodating.
Regards
John Crea
I met Phil in 1990 and found him a man of intellect and integrity. He became a person whose opinion was sought and respected.
I always enjoyed my conversations with Phil. We both shared similar ideals and could always have a laugh and a joke.
It is with sadness that I learned yesterday of his passing.”
Regards
Gary Pirie
Phill has passed away too young. It came as a bit of a shock.
I worked with Phill in the ITMC at Broadway in the early 90’s. He was a great tech, friendly and a pleasure to work with.
After I moved to Optus, we met up again in Israel in Feb 1995. ECI Telecom were hosting a week workshop for DCME specialists and he was there representing Telstra and me Optus. We did some sightseeing together on the weekends.
Attached is one of the photos of him from that trip.
My condolences to his family.
Regards
Shaune Walsh
Indeed this is very sad news of Phil’s passing.
I had the immense pleasure of working with Phil at Broadway for many years, and also being neighbours living in South Penrith.
It’s been many years since we have been in contact, but this does not take away the friendship and respect one builds of a person like Phil, testament to his nature and how he treated people around him.
A very honest and kind hearted gentlemen.
My sincere condolences to Christine and the family.
If possible, please let me know the funeral details.
Thank you
David Cauz