Scotch College

Phillipe Gyles - a tribute

A polite knock on my door heralded the arrival of a well-groomed young man who entered confidently but without pretention. "Good morning,

Mr Wemyss, I'm Phil Gyles." I marvelled at the time that a Year 7 student could give such a strong, positive first impression. Phil had called on me to collect some notes for his elder brother Hayden, but even in performing this simple task his friendly, self-assured personality was evident.

Philippe was not always so well presented.

At the beginning of Year 9 it seemed his loose tie and trailing shirt-tail were calculated to give the impression of quiet rebelliousness. But Phil was always a doer, a giver, one who threw himself into all his school activities with great enthusiasm and enormous determination. Before the rugby season commenced, he and a friend had organised early-morning training runs for the keen Year 9 squad. When I asked recently why they hadn't invited a staff member along, the friend replied,

"We thought if we asked we might not be allowed to do it."

Phil played rugby with passion, skill and originality. His coaches found him almost uncoachable, but said on the field he was impossible to catch because he would go 'about five different ways at once'. He played Under 16 rugby for Victoria, for Harlequins on a Friday evening and Scotch on a Saturday.

He approached rowing and everything else in the same way: head on. His enthusiasm was infectious, and he gave his friends strength. They were able to overcome the agony of his loss only by saying "Let's do it for Phil."

It is unusual for a boy, especially in adolescence, to speak openly of loving someone - yet Phil's friends do this again and again in their tributes. He inspired that feeling in them. As one wrote: "We love you Phil, because you're the centre of us all."

Philippe was maturing beautifully. By Term 4 the tie and shirt-tail were being kept in check and his classwork showed the benefit of caring adult input coupled with his own sensible, sensitive response. Clearly, he was set for fine exam results and rewarding years as a leader in the Upper School.

Phil had already been a leader in so many ways. His friendship will never be forgotten, by scores of boys and girls of widely varying ages. His tragic loss reminds us that life is only transient and so, like Philippe, we should celebrate every precious moment.

Geoff Wemyss
Head of Year 9

Philippe

Phil hasn't left us yet
His life has just begun
And life has many stages
And this earth is just one

Phil's life was full of freedom
And he loved it stacks
And every little thing he did
He did it to the max

Phil will live within us all
In everything that we do
He'll live deep within our hearts
Inside me and you

If you are ever feeling down
Just look up and remember
Phil was here for 15 years
And 15 days in November

So when the angels decide and think
That it's one of us they'll call
We'll join Phil up above
And it won't be the end at all

Life will start again upstairs
A party to which we're all invited
And I think Phil would have arrived by now
So the party can be started

Just think of Phil as living
In the hearts of those he touched
And nothing loved is ever lost
And Phil was loved so much

To those of us that are left here wondering
Why our Phil is gone
Bring up that spirit deep inside
Remember life goes on

In a time of grief and sadness
Brush away the tears
Just think right now Phil's in a place
Where there are no days or years

A place of heavenly wonder
Of love and fantasy
A place of ever-lasting peace
A place we're yet to see

Think how Phil must be wishing
That he was here today
To have all this attention
That will never go away

We all share a special bond
A bond like Phil and I
A bond in which we all loved Phil
A bond that cannot die

Hayden Gyles
Year 11