Phillip Standage: Tributes for Mowbray father dead in high-speed Ravenswood crash

A Tasmanian father-of-three who died when a vehicle he was a passenger in slammed into a power pole at high speed, ejecting him onto the shoulder, has been remembered as “kind-hearted”.

Mowbray man Phillip James Standage, 36, who died when he was ejected from a vehicle driven by a 36-year-old Rocherlea woman that hit a power pole at Ravenswood on August 28, 2023. Picture: Facebook

A Tasmanian father-of-three who died when a vehicle he was a passenger in slammed into a power pole at high speed, ejecting him onto the shoulder, has been remembered as “kind-hearted”.

Mowbray man Phillip James Standage, 36, a father-of-three, died in the early hours of August 28 after a silver Subaru he was passenger in left Faraday St, Ravenswood at speed and collided with a power pole.

Mr Standage was not wearing a seatbelt, Tasmania Police said at the time.

The driver, a 36-year-old Rocherlea woman, was taken to the Launceston General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No charges have been laid.

Mr Standage’s ex-partner Bec Blyth told the Mercury that the deceased was a “caring, compassionate, loving, patient man”.

“I haven’t been coping at all, he was always just a message or a phone call away,” Ms Blyth said.

“He lit up any room he would walk into with his positivity and his smile.”

Ms Blyth said Mr Standage’s passion was working on cars and helping his friends. He was unemployed, having served a recent custodial sentence.

Fatal single-vehicle accident at Faraday St, Ravenswood, August 28, 2023. Picture: Alex Treacy

Mr Standage’s best friend Tina Cashion also shared her heartache at the tragic loss.

“You were one of the most kind-hearted people I have ever known. I’m heartbroken that I’m never going to see you again,” she said.

“You’re up there with your mum, back beside her, and I bet she’s pleased to see you.

“Thank you for all the memories. I love you, my beautiful friend. Rest easy Philby, ‘til we meet again.”

Mr Standage, who spent much of his working life employed as a mechanic, spent much of his final five years of life in and out of custody.

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According to an October 2021 decision by the Parole Board of Tasmania, Mr Standage “was in employment, had a stable and supportive family life and had a criminal record which consisted of mostly traffic matters,” up until 2017, when his drug use escalated due to his mother’s ailing health.

Most recently, in May last year, Mr Standage was involved in an episode of motor vehicle stealing, driving while disqualified and aggravated evasion of police. It’s understood Mr Standage had been released back into the community just months prior to his death.

Speaking in the wake of Mr Standage’s death, Inspector Craig Fox described the loss of life as “preventable”.

“The advice is that you’ve got to do everything you can to keep yourself safe on a road and that’s driving to the conditions, driving to the posted speed limit and wearing your seatbelt,” he said.

“This is all basic stuff that everyone should know. Unfortunately, the message doesn’t get through to some people and they continue to drive erratically at speed and without seat belts.”