June Phillips remembered as a fiercely kind woman

A Noosa mother and grandmother is being remembered as a fiercely kind woman who would go above and beyond to ensure the community and its members were cared for.

A Noosa mother and grandmother is being remembered as a fiercely kind woman who would go above and beyond to ensure the community and its members were cared for.

Noosa resident of 10 years June Phillips sadly passed away on December 12 at the age of 65.

Ms Phillips’ daughter-in-law Cassie Phillips said the proud mother and grandmother “cared deeply” about people’s wellbeing and was very passionate about her family and community issues.

“She was very bold and fierce in her beliefs and her morals and what she thought was the best thing for her family and the community,” she said.

Ms Phillips actively discussed several issues with other community members and contacted councillors regarding important issues such as Noosa’s short-stay accommodation debate.

Mrs Phillips said her mother-in-law wanted to ensure young families and older single people like herself could find a home.

“If she knew someone was going to be without a home she would contact everyone she knew and would even say to people who she heard talking in a cafe that ‘I know someone who is looking for a house’,” she said.

“She would go out of her way to make sure that you were OK and that everyone around you was as well.”

One of Ms Phillips’ latest passions was her involvement in the Save Sunrise Glossies group, who are determined to save Noosa’s colony of endangered Black Glossy Cockatoos from land clearing.

June Phillips is being remembered as a fiercely kind woman. Picture: Supplied.

Mrs Phillips said the 65-year-old used her people skills to help the cause and connected the group with a lawyer who had taken a similar case to the supreme court.

“She loved Noosa and she wanted to preserve what we had now for her grandchildren and the future generation’s enjoyment,” Mrs Phillips said.

Several community members took to Facebook to express their sorrow after hearing of June’s passing.

Mrs Phillips said it was comforting to know their loved one was valued among the community.

“It just reaffirms just how wonderful a person June was and that love, care and help she gave to everyone truly touched people and made their lives better,” she said.

Ms Phillips’ friend and personal trainer, Sally Godfrey, said the grandmother’s passion for improving the Noosa community left her in awe.

“She was fierce in a really special way because when she got her teeth into something she really did everything she could to help,” she said.

“She was just one of those people in town that didn’t shy away from having an argument if she thought the argument was worth having.

“She had a big personality, she was a strong and gutsy person and I really respected her for that.”

The pair bonded quickly over their shared passions including their grandchildren and koala conservation in which Ms Phillips had grand plans for fundraising efforts.

Ms Godfrey said along with the Sunshine Coast University she and June had plans to introduce a device that would warn drivers if a koala was close to the road.

“She was a mover and shaker and I think Noosa will be poorer for her loss and I definitely will be,” she said.

Noosa resident of 10 years June Phillips sadly passed away on December 12 at the age of 65. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Phillips moved from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast with her former husband and two sons in the early ’90s and continued her work in her computer supplies business by opening a sub branch in Maroochydore.

June later returned to university to complete a Bachelor in Social Science with majors in social and human services and human resource management before starting work at John’s Formal Wear.

Mrs Phillips, who recently gave birth to her five-month-old son, said it was sad to think of all the firsts her mother-in-law would miss.

“It will be very hard moving forward without June … there will be a gap in our family,” she said.

“She was always the person I’d call … it’ll just be hard not having that extra opinion on a situation and not having that advice.”

Ms Phillips’ life was celebrated at Gregson and Weight on December 20.