Steve Phillis - Obituary

​​​​MALDON’S pétanque community was saddened by the news that fellow player Steve Phillis died last week. Steve had been battling cancer for some months, and he was laid to rest at a private funeral.  A member of both the Maldon Sociable and St. Brigid’s clubs, Steve had a relaxed but skilful approach to the game. As a partner, he was always a supportive and friendly player; as an opponent, there was always a competitive edge that often got his team over the line. 
Steve, however, rarely took himself seriously.  He loved turning up to play in some wild and wacky costumes. And he also had a very nice line in hats. In 20 years of playing the game,  Steve was rarely seen in the same hat twice.
Maldon residents will have known Steve best as an accomplished artist, whose paintings of the town and its surrounds are the stuff of legend. Steve studied art in Wales, before migrating to Australia in the 1960s. He was always busy in his studio, where he developed a unique, semi-abstract form of painting. Steve’s paintings won countless awards over the years, and he exhibited widely. And whenever the Maldon Pétanque Club held a raffle, Steve was always happy to donate one of his paintings to the cause.
Steve was a friendly and caring man, who was generous to his mates, supported his beloved wife Maura through thick and thin and carefully tended to his extended menagerie of dogs, birds and guinea pigs.
Warm, funny, quirky and courageous - this is how Steve’s fellow pétanquers will remember him. We were lucky enough to play a couple of games with Steve in early December, our last game day of 2024. At our next game day, he will be greatly missed.
Our sympathies go to Maura and family.
Maldon Petanque Club
Maldon Sociable Petanque

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MPC. Thank you George, for your memories of Steve.  Much appreciated.