PHILLIP RANDALL PRITCHARD

1947-1996

The loss of a fellow expeditioner is always a time for reflection. When it happens be your Officer-in-Charge you look back with even greater reflection on the man and the year.

Phillip Pritchard was Officer-in-Charge, Macquarie Island in 1978. He came to the Antarctic Division from the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation. Prior to that he was a Physical and Recreational Training Adviser with the RAAF at Wagga, after teaching Physical Education in Canberra.

To Phil, his appointment as OIC was like a dream come true, a chance to emulate those that most people only get to read about. Macquarie Island was his adventure of a lifetime and he was determined that it would be a successful and memorable journey. Phil led by example. He was open and generous with his time and quickly gained the confidence of all members as he set about building a team.

He loved reading particularly about naval and military history, polar expeditions and mountain climbing. He had a great love of the outdoors and was an all round sportsman who worked hard on his personal fitness. Phil held a Diploma of Physical Education and a Bachelor of Science degree. Phil enhanced many a movie night with his commentary. His other loves were food, wine and music with Gerry Rafferty’s ‘Baker Street’ being one of his favourites. He assisted with the production of “Wallow Weakly” the island’s most widely read magazine and had an ability to involve people in projects and sporting activities. The curry that was too hot had never been made as far as Phil and Brian “Pud” Taylor were concerned: some nights would see them with sweat pouring off their foreheads but neither would concede.

Three things about Phil stood out during our year. The first being the many hours he spent on the new science building site helping bricklayer Andre “Butch” Vallis and the crew in all weathers to ensure the job was completed on time. The second was his involvement with the island huts re-supply with David Lewis and the crew from the yacht SOLO. The third was Midwinter Day when he wore his RAAF Officers’ white mess kit.

His recent years were spent on the central coast of New South Wales where he held the position of Recreation Planner to the Wyong Council. There, as in Antarctica, his ability to bring people together from all walks of life to achieve a mutual result were to the fore.

His achievements include a cycleway which is recognised as the finest in the State, a multi-million dollar sporting complex comprising the first synthetic hockey field in the Shire, as well as a softball centre and soccer pitch. Despite his ailing health one of the last community projects he directed was called The Silver Playground. This was inspired by the death of a small child’s friend. The child dreamt that her friend who had died was playing in a Silver Playground in Heaven. Phillip Pritchard and a group called Caring Friends raised the money and built the Silver Playground turning the little girl’s dream into reality.

To his wife Carol, daughters Annaleigh and Kylie we extend our sympathy. A quotation from Phil’s editorial in the 1978 Macquarie Island magazine sums up his philosophy of life:

“Go placidly amid the noise and haste
And remember what peace there may
be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
Be on good terms with all persons.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken
dreams. It is still a beautiful world.
Be careful. Strive to be happy.”

(Desiderata)

Ralph “Noddy” Fletcher.