Nationality Australian Parent(s) Rev James Phillips | Name Sandy Phillips | |
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Born 30 April 1879 Sydney Australia Died 29 June 1962(1962-06-29) (aged 83)
Sydney Australia Education Newington College
University of Sydney
University of New England Occupation Co-Headmaster Mowbray House School
Headmaster Sydney Grammar School Spouse(s) Elfrida Caroline (nee Allen) | ||
Sandy phillips tells the story of how she found out her daughter jessica was murdered
Frederick George (Sandy) Phillips (30 April 1879 – 29 June 1962) was the second Australian-born headmaster of Sydney Grammar School.
Contents
- Sandy phillips tells the story of how she found out her daughter jessica was murdered
- Early life
- Teaching career
- Mowbray House School
- Headmaster
- Marriage
- References
Early life
Sandy Phillips was born in Tamworth, New South Wales, the son of a Methodist Minister. He attended Newington College (1894-1898) where he became known as 'little Sandy' as his brother was 'big Sandy'. The nickname Sandy followed him through life. He entered the arts faculty of the University of Sydney in 1899 and was awarded first class honours in English on his graduation.
Teaching career
Phillips began his teaching career as a schoolmaster in 1902 under the headship of Albert Bythesea Weigall. In 1904 he travelled to Europe to study history, education and language at the Universities of Berlin Leipzig Paris. He returned to Sydney Grammar and was the senior English master until 1914.
Mowbray House School
In 1914 Phillips left Sydney Grammar and became co-headmaster with Lance Bavin of the private Mowbray House School in Chatswood, New South Wales. Bavin had been at Newington as a student with Phillips and had opened Mowbray House, as Chatswood Preparatory School, in 1906. Whilst at Chatswood he studied again and was awarded a Master of Arts from Sydney University in 1920. Phillips remained at Mowbray house until his return to Sydney Grammar in 1924.
Headmaster
In 1940, after eight years as Master of the Lower School, Phillips was appointed as the sixth Headmaster of Sydney Grammar School. On his appointment he was 61 and the war years were difficult for the school. Sir Victor Windeyer said of his term of office: "The Headmaster wisely and modestly considered that his task was to preserve the heritage of the past so far as he could, so that on it his successor might build. He saw the need for changes and developments in the School to meet the challenge of change outside; but these, he felt should be begun by those who would carry on." He had been an inspirational teacher and had substantially improved the cultural life of the school even for a student like Max Dupain who was not scholastically inclined; "Thanks to my English sixth form master, Sandy Phillips, I learned to love Shakespeare".
Marriage
In 1908, Phillips married Elfrida Caroline Allen in Petersham, New South Wales. She was the daughter of Martha Jane (née Holdsworth) and the Rev William Allen (1847-1919), a prominent evangelical and ecumenical spokesman who served as chairman of the New South Wales Congregational Union. Born in Victoria, she attended Methodist Ladies College, Burwood, after the family moved to Sydney. Her siblings included Prof Leslie Holdsworth Allen (1879-1964) and Sir Carleton Allen (1887-1966). A son, Leigh Holdsworth Allen Phillips, was born in 1911. Elfrida Phillips died in Sydney in 1960.