Articles on this page with permission from GREG WANE, are taken from the Barwon Heads,Ocean Grove, and Wallington news .

Issn 13290371  Published by Whistler Publishing PO. Box 358, Ocean Grove Editor Greg Wayne

First exhibition for Philip
by Gillian Gubbins

HAVING only recently celebrated his 80th birthday, Barwon Heads resident
Philip Russell is no less enthusiastic or commanding concerning his interest and talents than he was many years ago.
The year 2000 should prove exciting and satisfying to Philip. He is staging the first exhibition of his own paintings and at the
same time launching his recently published book titled An interesting life - People I have known.
Philip's diversity of interests over the years, combined with his widespread travelling, has provided tangible material for both
his writing and his art work.
Educated at Geelong Grammar he then served six years overseas with the AIF during the Second World War before returning to manage the family property Mawallok at Beaufort in Western Victoria.
For 34 years, Philip and his wife Alethea enjoyed the challenges encountered while administering a large sheep property, both playing a major role while serving on local agricultural, state and political councils.
In the late 1970s, after selling Mawallok, the Russells moved to Kenton' 0cean Grove where Philip found that he could devote more time to his favourite hobby and interests, painting and art work.
Not only would he spend many hours at his own easel, but as chairman of the Geelong Art Gallery Foundation he was responsible for the introduction of the mammoth and successful fund raising campaign. As president of the Art Gallery he instituted a number of new principles, all of which proved beneficial to the gallery.
He was also responsible for founding the Geelong and District Branch of the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society ADFAS, an international association.
Philip is a big man - and he doses things in a big way. Accompanied by his wife and four children he celebrated his Golden Wedding Anniversary in Italy with some very special friends.
When he decided to move from the large house and garden in Ocean Grove, to a smaller 'pad' in Barwon Heads, he designed and had built not one house, but two, the second to accommodate his children and grandchildren.