The Sport Australia Hall of Fame is today mourning the passing of our dear friend Stephen Phillips.
Stephen passed away this morning with wife Jill and children Grace and Tom by his side, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour last year. He was 62.
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame chairman John Bertrand said Stephen was a dedicated and passionate supporter of The Sport Australia Hall of Fame who made an immense contribution to ustralian sport.
“Stephen provided the heartbeat of The Sport Australia Hall of Fame,” Bertrand said.
“He first began in the late 1990’s, producing videos and writing scripts for the annual awards and induction dinners. His vast knowledge of the history of Australian sport and his capacity to capture an athlete’s career in words and pictures made an enormous contribution to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame,” Bertrand said.
“From 2007 to 2013 Stephen also acted as MC of the annual awards and induction dinner. His love of Australian sport and the Hall of Fame shone through each and every year. His dedication in gathering the vision of the inductees and the production of the packages that celebrated their career were legendary and this will remain one of his lasting legacies.”
“Stephen was an enthusiastic contributor at the committee table where his journalist nous, knowledge and passion always delivered the best acknowledgement of our Hall of Fame inductees and award winners.”
“After his diagnosis and despite his treatment he remained heavily involved in our dinner last year and even weeks before was desperate to remain as host.”
“Stephen was able to join the Sport Australia Hall of Fame staff at Christmas lunch and his capacity to hold court, tell a story and entertain continued to shine despite his obvious battle. We are fortunate that this will be our lasting memory of such a dear friend of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame family and the wider Australian sporting community. He will be sadly missed,” Bertrand said.
The Board and Members of The Sport Australia Hall of Fame extend their deepest sympathies and condolences to Jill, Grace and Tom.
Farewell our friend.
