Vale Bob Philp
VALE BOB PHILP
Extract from VRI Inc. Newsletter
It is with regret that the Victorian Railways Institute current and previous Board and Management advise of the passing our esteemed Life Member, Bob Philp.
A long time Treasurer and Board Member, Bob was a great supporter of the VRI and its various parts. Bob’s help and advice was greatly appreciated over many years, he will be sadly missed.
Member Profile: Robert (Bob) Philp
Robert Philp (known to all as Bob), began his working life in a dairy. He soon decided he wasn’t set to be a farmer,and joined the Victorian Railways at Kyabram on 28th May 1962, where he worked for 12 months, before transferring to Seymour in 1963.
At Seymour, he was appointed as a Parcels Assistant, then progressed to a Train Conductor for 2 years on the Seymour & Tocumwal services.
His first contact with the VRI was through his Safeworking Classes. Bob progressed to being the Relieving Station Assistant in the North-East Region, Bob also joined the VRI in 1962, at the start of his career.
Bob continued to learn through classes at the VRI, with Ticket Checking courses, and won his Assistant SM Brief in 1965.
In 1967, Bob was awarded his SM Brief, and took up office at Seymour. He then progressed to Traffic Inspector in 1969, and was on the Traffic Inspector Relief staff at Flinders Street, and relieving at Bendigo, Ballarat, & Seymour.
He returned as Relieving SM statewide, from Room 54 at Spencer Street, and became the SM at Charlton in 1975, to Korong Vale in 1976, Deniliquin in 1978, Ouyen in 1979 and Sunshine in 1980. In 1982 he was relief SM at Spencer Street, from time to time, until 1984, when he was appointed at Spencer Street SM. Bob retired from this position in 1999.
Throughout this time, Bob was actively involved in the VRI movement, at Korong, Ouyen and Sunshine branches. Bob became the Secretary of the VRI Football League from 1980 – 1990, and was involved in the SA v VRI trips to Adelaide.
Bob was on the VRI Council from 1983, during this time he was Junior Vice President, Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Sports Co-ordinator. Bob had been Secretary of the VRI Bowls Club since 1999 and only recently stepped down from the position.
Bob was the Manager of the VRI Bowls Side at Warilla, Gold Coast, Bunbury and New Zealand teams.
At Seymour VRI,Bob for many years was the Press Correspondent, Public Officer, and assisted in the bar and Social Committee as required. Bob was also the Auditor of the Sunshine VRI Bowls Club for 16 Years.
Other functions that Bob performed during this time include roles on the ATOF (union) Board as Executive and Treasurer. Bob was also part of the Judging Committee of the Victorian Tidy Towns Competition.
In recent years,Bob took on Executive Roles on the Retired Railwaymen’s Employee Association,as well as Treasurer and Vice President.
There is no doubt as to Bob’s nomination as VRI Life Member. Bob’s help, support and advice was greatly appreciated over many years. He leaves behind a great legacy of commitment to the VRI and all its parts.
Bob, you will be greatly missed!