Joel as a boy, probably in Bombala.
Elder brother of our Grandmother
Joel (known as Joe) was born on December 28, 1897 at Bombala. He married Jean Lawson on May 21, 1925. Jean was born at Holbrook NSW on December 28, 1900. She died on November 12, 1931, after only 6 years of marriage and aged only 30. Joan Rogers believes she was pregnant at the time and died from blood poisoning. There were no children to this marriage.
Joel as a boy, probably in Bombala.
Joel as a young man.
Joel remarried to Sybil Helen Stone around 1934. Sybil was born on January 20, 1902. Kerry Rogers and John Philllips both recall that Sybil had slightly eccentric habits. She would not allow Joel to work in the garden in work clothes because she thought he needed to look his best in case the neighbours saw him. No one was allowed to visit them on a Sunday afternoon before 4pm because they always had a big Sunday lunch immediately followed by a nap until 4pm. Their daughter Helen had the reputation of being able to fall face first into a puddle and still come up spotless. This is because she could play all day long with the other kids and still have completely spotless clothes. Anthony Dwyer recalls that their house was very old style, with some walls covered by dark wood panelling, and Sybil had a stuffed baby crocodile on the piano in the lounge room.
L-R: Sybil, Kerry Rogers, Bern Phillips
Joel died on December 11, 1953 aged 55.
L-R: Wal, George (Pud) and Joe, 1952
Back to the Phillips / Kerrison page