In Conversation with Sally Thomson (’77, nee Harris): A Family Legacy

It seemed so strange considering other buildings were named after either previous locations of the school (Toorak, Eton Hall) or after Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent (Chaseley, the Sister Helen Orchestra Room, or the Eunice Science and Resource Centre). So why have one named after a man who was not a teacher or principal, and wasn’t a past pupil?

Philip Harris was a remarkable part of our school community for a long time, as was his family. He and his wife, Elizabeth, sent their three daughters, Sally, Joanna and Belinda to St Margaret’s, and their granddaughters, Jessica, Hannah, Ellika and Libby also attended the school.

I recently had the privilege of speaking with Sally Thomson (’77, nee Harris) about her father and his legacy, and how his own kindness, selflessness and his love for the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent has largely inspired her own desire to give back to the school. 

Who was Philip Harris?

Philip was a Pharmacist who gave so much of himself to St Margaret’s in his volunteering roles. He served as President of the P&F Association in 1979 and 1980 and became a member of the School Advisory Committee (later named School Council) in its inaugural year of 1981. He was Chair of School Council from 1987 to April 2001, a remarkable tenure that spanned principals, the school’s centenary celebrations, and fundamental transformations in the school. He was also named School Patron in 2006 in celebration of his continued support and love for the school and Sisters.

Sally recalls how her father would have two phones – his work and his personal – that would constantly be ringing between the demands of work and his volunteering commitments. Yet, he never faulted in his service to either, and as Sally says, Philip gave so much of himself to the school and the Sisters he cared about, and for him, his volunteering was all about giving back.

Everyone who knew Philip agreed on one thing: that he was an incredibly kind and generous person. For Sally, “his greatest strength was his kindness”.

“Dad was compassionate, caring, funny, engaging and so much more. He was also a gentleman, and his integrity was a huge part of his strength and character.”

The Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent

When I asked Sally why her father was so passionate about the school and inspired to join its governing board, it was obvious that, for her father, it was his passion and deep care for the Sisters that inspired his commitment to the school. He cared deeply about them, the values they stood for, and wanted to ensure their legacy would endure for all future St Margaret’s students to learn from and be inspired by. He was a strong advocate for their mission to provide young women with an empowered future, emblematic of his decision to send his own girls to a school founded on values that resonated so deeply with himself and his wife.

“Dad was part of the group who worked with the Sisters to appoint and commence the first School Council in 1981 with Justice Peter Connolly as the first Chair. Dad became Chair of School Council in 1987 and retired in April 2001. Ensuring the future of the Sisters’ legacy was important to Dad and give him peace of mind when they instigated the Trust.”

Philip would visit the Sisters frequently, to the point, Sally recalls, that “Mother always had the same carpark reserved for him”. Their family connection was so deep, in fact, that Sally had to be interviewed by Sister Chaseley before her wedding could take place in the School Chapel!

Because of her father’s deep affinity for the Sisters, Sally herself has a strong passion for ensuring his love and support of the SSA remains alive in her and her own service to the school. As the Society of the Sacred Advent has commenced a new chapter of its life with Vowed Members Reverend Sister Jan Crombie and Reverend Sister Gillian Moses, alongside Sister Gillian, Sally is proud to see the SSA continue to breathe new life into the mission her father was so immensely proud of.

Service to Others

For Sally, her own volunteerism and deep connection to St Margaret’s is undoubtedly because of her parents, who were both extensively involved, including her Mother’s own volunteering in the tuckshop, on the P&F, Fun Fairs, the Mothers’ Group as the “cup and saucer lady”, plant stalls, and Sally’s most memorable mention, shovelling manure for said plant stalls. Both of her parents were heavily involved in St Margaret’s, and particularly when her father was at the helm of School Council, her mother afforded him a safe space and companionship.

Sally’s own volunteering commitments have encompassed both St Margaret’s and elsewhere, spanning Ashgrove Memorial Kindergarten and Preschool, Ashgrove State School, in-classroom and excursion volunteering, Ashgrove Swimming Club, Brisbane Grammar School, a book shop, and of course, her volunteering at St Margaret’s has encompassed the Tuckshop (with Lesley Huxley and Susanne Allen), the P&F Committee in roles of Committee Member, Secretary, Treasurer and President, as part of the inaugural MAYO Festival Committee, and the Old Girls’ Association in roles such as Committee Member, Secretary, Vice President, and currently as Treasurer.

For Sally, her involvement in St Margaret’s continues a very strong family legacy, one in which for her is an immense privilege to be part of.

“I feel that I am honouring my Dad via volunteering.”

When the Philip Harris Sports Centre was demolished and to be reopened in 2020, the question was posed to Philip and the wider Harris family if they would like it to remain named the Philip Harris Gym or, instead, the Harris Family Gym. While Philip wanted the recognition to be attributed to his whole family, the rest of the Harris’ vetoed this, insisting that it remain in his name in celebration of his vast legacy and dedication to the school. For Philip, this was truly something special, and to be able to attend the opening of the Philip Harris Gym in August 2020, three months prior to his passing, was unbelievably special for him and his family.

“It was overwhelming with emotion; you could see it sitting with him. You don’t volunteer expecting a reward,” said Sally.  

Sally continues to be an advocate for the work and passion long established by her own parents, and anyone who has had the privilege to spend time with her knows how deeply passionate she is about the school and its core values. Moreover, I am sure that for anyone who knew Philip, too, Sally is an embodiment of the values he stood for, too: kindness, selflessness, and unwavering service to others. It is within Sally that we can see the deep bonds that bind St Margaret’s Old Girls to the school that has given us all so much, and how we can continue to pay it forward.

The Harris family are a testament to the powerful connection we all have to St Margaret’s as past students, and I know her and her family will continue to honour her father’s legacy through their own kindness and selflessness, emblematic of Philip Harris – to them, Dad or, affectionately, Grumps – in each and every way.

By Lizzie Fowler (’19)

Relationships & Mentoring Manager