Neighbours farewell Warragul West icons
Phillip and Beth Allan were recently farewelled following a long association with the Warragul West community.
Following a long association with the area that dates back to the 1930s, Phillip and Beth have moved off the land to a villa in Bunyip’s Hillview retirement village.
Phillip first moved to their Lardners Trk property with his parents as a toddler. He was a dairy farmer all his working life, taking over the family farm after marrying Beth, when his parents moved to Warragul.
The family had a long association with the Warragul West Primary School, where Phillip joined his sister Phoebe in 1937. His father Sydney was listed as the first president of the school committee in 1940. Phillip later held roles of secretary (1966-67) and treasurer (1964-65) of the school council.
Phillip and Beth had four children who all attended the school. The family were all active in the community, with Beth the inaugural president of the school’s mothers’ club in 1967-68 before again holding the role in 1973-74.
Phillip and Beth were both involved in many aspects of the school, including helping out at working bees, street stalls, catering at clearing sales, assisting with Euchre card nights, school pet parades and checking school fire extinguishers. They also hosted many of the schools’ student teachers.
When the school held its centenary in 1989, Phillip was the president of the centenary committee.
The family was very involved in the Warragul West tennis club, located opposite the primary school on the corner of Lardner’s Trk and Danes Rd until it was sold off some years after the school had been closed.
In those days Warragul West had a great sense of community and almost all neighbours were dairy farmers. The tennis club held many fundraisers including Guy Fawkes nights and progressive dinners. The Allans were always willing to help out with these events.
Phillip also rendered significant service to the Country Fire Authority, having joined the Lardner fire brigade on February 1, 1950. He was awarded life membership in 2009 and received the CFA medal for 65 years of service in 2015.
A community farewell afternoon tea was held for the couple at the home of Sandra and Russell Bell recently, with Phillip and Beth’s four children present.
Also attending were several of the families who had also lived in the area for most of their life and whose children attended school and played tennis with Beth and Phillip’s children.
Warragul West student from the 1960s Sandra Bell spoke on the history of the couple’s long and enjoyable involvement in the Warragul West community. Her father John Kinrade (who had known Phillip since he was 17) acknowledged Phillip’s skills as a dairy farmer/jersey stud breeder and the couples’ wonderful support over the years.
Ann Slater spoke on behalf of her family on special memories she had growing up as friends and neighbours of the Allan family.
The couple along with all in attendance enjoyed a lovely day of reminiscing and catching up.
It was remarked although they have moved from Warragul West to their new residence at Hillview units in Bunyip, they will be missed but will be always a part of the community.