FRIENDS and relatives gathered recently to celebrate the life of well-known Bathurstian Noelene Phillips.
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Members of the Bathurst Inner Wheel Club and Quota International of Bathurst formed a guard of honour in tribute to a well-respected member and friend.
Noelene Patricia Phillips was born in Cowra and, as a school child, moved with her parents and brother to Bathurst.
After finishing her education, she took a position at California Productions. She then went to the accounts department of Southern Mitchell County Council, where she stayed for 38 years.
Noelene married Geoff Phillips in 1966. Within two years, Noelene and Geoff had invited her niece Sue to live with them after the death of Sue’s mother. This led to a lifelong close bond as they watched Sue grow, graduate from university, marry and have children.
Noelene had many interests. A keen sportswoman, she played tennis and squash for many years. She was an accomplished violinist, playing in the orchestra for several local productions.
After a prolonged illness, she used her tapestry skills as therapy. In later years, she created many fine pieces as she watched tennis tournaments on TV.
Baking was another skill she enjoyed sharing with her extended family.
Noelene had a strong sense of community, so when she was invited to join the Quota Club of Bathurst in 1985 she realised this was the ideal platform to make a difference in the community.
When elected club president in 1989, she enjoyed the challenge of initiating and developing fundraising and service programs with an enthusiastic group of women.
These programs included “Bride of the Year”, Seniors Week activities and support for Bathurst’s sister city Ohkuma.
In recent years, Noelene very successfully launched another Quota project – the Quocka reading program in local primary schools.
In the past 30 years, Noelene held many positions and received many awards and accolades. These included:
- Quota International of Bathurst: president, treasurer, district lt governor, district governor.
- Inner Wheel Club of Bathurst: secretary, treasurer, district treasurer.
- Awards: Quota International Quotarian of the Year, Community Service Award (Premier’s Department); Bathurst Citizen of the Month.
Noelene has been described in many ways: friendly, determined, a born organiser, sometimes formidable, having a heart of gold. They are descriptions she would undoubtedly agree with, but ultimately she would say “it’s been a life well lived!”.