Vale Phillip Wohlers

Phillip served as Abound Communities’ CEO for over 20 years after joining Abound Communities (or the Old Colonists Association of Victoria, as it was then known) as Finance Manager in 1999. A favourite Phillip anecdote was that he only ever worked for two organisations: Moonee Valley Racing Club, where he started in the back room as a teen and left as its CFO two decades later and ofcourse, Abound Communities.

Phillip was a kind, humble and considerate human; always smiling, always warm and always making everyone feel at home. In that regard, he truly lived the values of our organisation: to be inclusive, to be giving and to always “enrich the lives of our people“. Abound Communities’ residents, staff and volunteers meant the world to Phillip, and we know that feeling was often reciprocated.

For those that were able to attend the service or watch the live stream, we heard his friends and loved ones describe him as a gentleman – in both the literal and traditional senses of the word. We also heard about his more larrikin side, especially in his youth, and his passion for music. In his personal life he enjoyed cooking, sharing recipes, fishing, going down to Phillip Island, following his beloved Essendon Bombers, and most importantly spending time with his family: his wife, two daughters and grandson Chase, who many said was the apple of his eye.

Our hearts go out to the Wohlers family, who have lost a beloved brother, husband, father and grandfather, and everyone else feeling his loss.

Thank you, Phillip, for all you’ve done; you have much to be proud of.