Phil Eastick died on the evening of 11 February 2010. He was one of the most original thinkers I have ever met. He started his adult life intending to follow on of the most prosaic professions, the law, but gave it away to become a rock and roll roadie. He eventually became the manager of Alice Cooper and Julio Iglesias.

Phil was credited with getting Alice to give up his cocaine and alcohol addictions by persuading him to take up something that was equally addictive but harmless; golf. Alice allegedly plays 36 holes of golf everyday.

Phil returned to Australia with his American wife Robin and daughter Sarah early in the nineties and settled in Gawler South Australia. He soon became a strategic adviser to the South Australian Government and industry on matters related to information technology. His greatest skill was as a conceptual thinker in a public policy concept. Phil could envisage how whole systems could be integrated using technology to improve outcomes and efficiencies. His work with Dr. Terry Cutler on a strategic plan for South Australia was a model of enlightened thinking.

Phil was always thinking of better ways to deliver services to the public. It was a pity that in the end public services let him down. He was a long time renal patient of Queen Elizabeth Hospital renal unit. When he went into hospital for a sore leg he didn't think he would be there long, however Royal Adelaide Hospital thought his problems may be kidney related. He was transferred back to QEH but only in time for the whole renal unit to be relocated to Royal Adelaide Hospital. Phil and his family felt they were being overlooked in this transition.

Phil Eastick deserves to be remembered as someone who made a great contribution to South Australia.