Philpot, Roy Henry

PROBABLY BORN IN THE 1920s, the son of William and Jessie (Stanford), Roy and his brother Cecil played for Glebe ice hockey club as early as 1940. [1] His father was a Gallipoli veteran, an officer of the 18th Battalion wounded five times during his service. [1]

Philpot's playing career continued on with the same club, and he was manager of the re-branded Winfield Lions in the late Seventies when Kevin Price and Peter Cameron played. He also officiated games such as "Australia v Internationals" in 1952 at the Glaciarium charity revue, which included acts by the touring Ice Follies cast from the USA. That year, the Internationals with Dick Mann formed the core of the state's first Bombers ice hockey club.

In 1960, Philpot married Muriel May Keen in Marrickville. [6] The couple did not have children, and their interest in the management and administration of the sport at state level began some years later. In 1969, Roy managed the state's successful Goodall Cup team coached by Vic Mansted. In 1970, he managed the state's Brown Trophy Champions, and the next year he joined the state association for the first time as treasurer and assistant secretary. It was a role he held 13 times over 21 years 1971; '74, '75 as secretary-treasurer; then treasurer every year from '82 to '92, except '88 when Rob Smith was in the seat. [5]

In 1971, the national association awarded Roy the Hudson Trophy, which recognised either a player or official for their "unselfish and sustained efforts in furthering the aims of ice hockey in Australia". Among the conditions for the award were 10 years of unbroken service to ice hockey in Australia, as determined by the national association. In 1974, the NSW association elected Roy a Life Member.

In 1987, the state president, Jim Kinlough, donated a perpetual prize from NZ Securities with $35,000 funding for junior development and the state's newly conceived Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget competitions. Known as the Roy Philpot Challenge Trophy, it was the prize of the NSW-ACT Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget competition. The national Under-21 series between these two was also known as the Philpot series by 1989.

Philpot continued ice hockey administration with the Canterbury Ice Hawks, a reinvention of the Glebe Lions, among such contemporaries as George Kenning, Keith Willmott, Igor Sedivy, Ron Mann, Robin Dewhurst, and Sub Majsay. In 1987, his club played the touring Welland Raiders Over-35s from Ontario refereed by Rick Williams. [5] "Roy was so organised as team manager," recalls Coach Keith Willmott, thinking about their time at the Canterbury rink, "I only had to think about the team and how we were going. Roy also attended every training session". [9]

"Roy and his wife loved hockey and went above and beyond to help build the foundations of a solid, stable playing environment for all ages," observes Rob Heggie, son of former state referee-in-chief, Jack Heggie. "Roy knew hockey lived on by developing the kids, and I remember him always being there for our ungodly early-morning training sessions at Canterbury, followed by games in the afternoon. Roy would often say to me before a game 'Are you going to score a goal today Robbie?' To which I would reply: 'I am going to try!' And he would then say: 'Just make sure you have fun!' Roy worked tirelessly with my Dad...both with the club administration and the NSW administration...to always improve the league. If my Dad was still alive he would only have kind words to say about Roy". [9]

Roy Philpot was active as a player, official and administrator of New South Wales ice hockey for well over five decades. He is remembered as a tireless and selfless worker "who gave hours and hours of his own and his wife Muriel's time to the sport". [8] Peter Oulianoff recalls he always had time for everyone. "I consider myself very lucky and privileged to have met and worked with him at most levels of the sport".