Vale, Dr Harry C.J. Phillips AM

The Subiaco Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Harry C.J. Phillips AM, a distinguished Western Australian educator, political historian, and a proud and loyal friend of this club.

Harry was born in Subiaco in 1943 and went on to build one of the most remarkable careers in Western Australian public life. He spent more than 30 years as a lecturer in politics at Edith Cowan University, served as an adjunct professor at Curtin University, and from 2002 to 2018 was a Parliamentary Fellow at the Parliament of Western Australia. His contribution to civics and citizenship education shaped generations of students and left a permanent mark on how Western Australians understand their democratic institutions. In 2014, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to education, particularly in the fields of politics and civics.

But before all of that, Harry was a footballer.

He played three league games for the Subiaco Football Club in 1964, having come through junior football at the Wembley Amateur Football Club. He was also a capable cricketer in the 1960s, playing A grade for the Subiaco Cricket Club. Sport was never far from who Harry was, and his connection to this club ran long and deep.

Harry became a Vice Patron of the Subiaco Football Club in 2005 and held that role with quiet dedication for many years. He was a long-time supporter and club member, and those who knew him describe him as a man of warmth, loyalty, and genuine character. One of those people is Peter Metropolis, a former Subiaco President and long-time friend of Harry’s since their junior football days together at Wembley in the late 1950s. Peter’s words say it simply and well: Harry will be sadly missed.

In honour of Dr Harry Phillips and the legacy he leaves behind, our teams wore black armbands last weekend, when we played Claremont. 

Our sincere condolences go to his wife Jan, and the wider Phillips family.