Outside of Rotary, he is also a behind-the-scenes philanthropist who often gets directly involved with his causes.
He was President of North Ryde and Macquarie Park Clubs on four occasions. District Chair for ROMAC. Club Director for Rotary Foundation and International. He has been an active Rotarian at all levels. He is adept at getting grants for funding for overseas projects. He is not one to get caught up in all the Rotary protocol but works tirelessly and quietly in the field doing real work. He has assisted so many in need and kept in touch with those people over the years. He has worked in Nepal, PNG, Vanuatu. He has worked closely with the Department of Education also in taking disadvantaged students to Vanuatu to work on building projects and computer installations in remote parts of Vanuatu.
Phill has also sponsored many disadvantaged children through the Smith Family. This is to assist these children with their education and schooling needs. He has been formally recognised by the Smith Family for his contributions.
Around 2002, Phill Isaacs became a frequent and enthusiastic volunteer in a remote-area conservation program in the Colo River gorges, within Wollemi Wilderness. This involved undertaking arduous multi-day walks and rafting trips while treating thousands of invasive willow trees and other significant weeds. The program was conducted by the Friends of the Colo, a Landcare Group volunteering for the NSW NPWS. Phill soon earned a reputation as an observant weed-spotter and diligent worker. Fellow volunteers, mindful of his work with Rotary, marvelled at how he could fit these remote activities into his busy life.
In early 2007 six key members of the Friends of the Colo, including Phill Isaacs, were invited to undertake an experimental remote coastal weeding program in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The experience inspired them to immediately set up a Tasmania-based self-managed volunteer group named SPRATS (Sea Spurge Remote Area Team) to carry on the work. Phill was a prime instigator in this, and became part of the founding management committee. He played a key role in successfully applying for a major Commonwealth grant to support the project, and did so again for subsequent grants. He also managed the finances in connection with the grants.
Phill has maintained his strong interest in SPRATS, which in its peak year engaged some 75 volunteers. In most years he has spent between 10 and 21 challenging days weeding sea spurge on the west wilderness coast, often as a party leader.During one of these activities, the notorious bushfire that devastated the Tasmanian town of Dunalley blew up. Having completed his SPRATS deployment, Phill immediately signed on as a volunteer with Blaze Aid and spent several days rebuilding farm fences in the affected area.
Phill regularly donates his time and facilities at his Leura home for the annual Koori Flag Raising and Mirror Flashing ceremony. The event acknowledges the traditional owners of this land, the Gundungurra & D'harawal peoples and has occurred in this country for thousands of years. Phill has explored many "secret" indigenous artifacts and rock paintings.
He is a compassionate, humble, but clever person who is a proud Australian. He has a broad but sensitive understanding of our country and its original people.
His corporate career progressed from bench scientist in the Commonwealth public service to a CEO of a major business in the Asia Pacific region. Along the way, he has been involved in community service through many different organisations. He and his wife Carol, have raised a high achieving but grounded family, with daughter Kim and son Mitchell. Carol and Phill share a love of bushwalking and passionate about environment and conservation issues.
To Phill we simply say THANK YOU.