Phil was born on the 18th of august 1925
His father Felix or Vic, as he was called, was a fabric buyer for Allens and his mother Aily was a tailoress.

He grew up in the character building era of "post war" and depression but he only ever spoke fondly of this time and held loving memories. His family lived a modest and hardworking life in what was then the family and community focussed inner suburb of Prahran.

Phil attended Windsor state School and attained his merit certificate. He told how he skipped a grade because he did so well in his studies, but regretted it because it put him at odds with the other students.

He worked after school, pedalling deliveries from St Kilda to South Yarra to earn pocket money. Phil left school at 13 and went to work Lancaster's Hardware Store in Chapel St Prahran. He liked it there and became very proficient at the hardware game.

The death of his older brother Art from peritonitis was a terrible blow to the whole family. Phil idolized his brother and in later years often spoke of his death with undiminished sorrow.

He grew into a fine, gentle caring person and always looked back on his childhood with fondness and pride - especially going to St Kilda football games with his father, and down to Albert Park Lake paddling the canoe he made himself and sailing his little yacht. The next issue was WW 2 and needless to say at 18 he enlisted in the Air Force, attaining his wings as a wireless operator. Training in Queensland opened his eyes to the world - he made lifelong friends and grew up fast. Some of his mates were sent off to fight, but the war was over before Phil saw action. This left a void that he often reflected on as unfinished business. Dot says, and she was right, he looked very handsome in his uniform.

After the war he was sort after in the hardware industry and accepted a position as manager at Flatman's in Bentleigh - pleasant job, and lovely people.
During this time, he attended dances at St Kilda Town Hall, where he met a "pretty wall flower" from Dandenong (those are Mum's words), Dorothy Hutchinson. After training it from Prahran to Dandenong so many times, he decided it would be easier to marry her. They bought land in the new suburb of East Bentleigh and had their house built. Over the next 12 or so years their 4 sons were born.

The time eventually came for FJ to have a go himself and he opened his own business, "Maddocks Hardware" in Moorabbin. It was a highly successful move. He was involved with the establishment of two buying groups - an innovative concept at the time and he helped lift the professionalism of retail hardware. He was admired and respected by fellow retailers, suppliers and customers.

It was a hectic time for him. He had his four boys, his father had died and his mother, suffering from diabetes, that lead to blindness, came to live at Mawby Rd.
He tended to his mother's needs and gave her insulin injections.
Phil brushing his mother's hair with such love and admiration was wonderful to see. After living there for a couple of years, his beloved mother passed away.
All this finally took its toll on Phil and at the age of 42 he suffered a serious heart attack. He spent weeks in bed but eventually rallied - there was no way he was leaving his family - then.

He did however decide to sell the business and was immediately offered work as a manager at Brita Hardware - back in Bentleigh. He really liked it there; it was a wonderful happy store where he made many good friends.

In their later years, Phil and Dot discovered overseas travel and had many happy holidays in New Zealand, Europe and the UK - it was a really wonderful time for them both.

Phil and Dot worked together as a team and provided for the family exceptionally well - with a lovely house, always neat and clean; good food; education; memorable holidays that often involved caravanning for miles up the east coast. They gave the guidance that growing boys need, instilling morals and ethics with understanding and truly unconditional love.

As his sons grew into adulthood his life became more settled - Phil seemed content. He took pride in his children's achievements and was always interested in and often involved with their activities. He was an adoring and proud grandfather, a model to all his children and grandchildren - adored in turn by all his family.