The daughter of Phillip Wain, who was a co-founder of the health and beauty chain in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, announced that he passed away on March 14 at his residence in Australia.
Edwin “Eddie” Phillips, who was both a businessman and the co-founder of the health and beauty retail chain Philip Wain in Hong Kong and throughout Southeast Asia, passed away due to lung cancer at the age of 74.
Natasha, his daughter, disclosed the information on Wednesday, mentioning that Phillips passed away on March 14 at his residence in Byron Bay, Australia.
Phillips, renowned for introducing aerobics to Asia, launched the fitness chain alongside his business associate, Barry Wain, in the city during October 1977. The venture later extended its reach to Bangkok, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur.
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Natasha mentioned, “He was a gifted entrepreneur even when he was young and had a strong passion for fitness and well-being as he led an energetic sports-oriented life. Competing vigorously in judo and participating in various athletic activities, he also had an intense love for surfing.”
Whenever my brother and I participated in our extra-curricular activities at school, my dad was always eager to be there.
Natasha mentioned that she actively participated in drama productions, noting that she had extended an invitation to her dad for the special showing of the play.
South Pacific
which she was part of.
“I wasn’t aware of what a gala entailed, so I didn’t inform my dad that it required formal attire. As a result, he showed up to watch me perform wearing his usual clothes but still managed to pull it off with style,” she remembered.
Phillips has been married two times. His first marriage produced two offspring: Natasha and Bogart, who currently reside in Australia. The kids were born from his union with Deborah Sims.
Following his separation from Sims, Phillips tied the knot with Kellie Bright in Australia. They became parents to a boy named Jesse, yet their union ultimately concluded in divorce.
Phillips was born and raised in Entrance, a quaint seaside locale on the Central Coast of New South Wales. He began his professional journey at a gym in Sydney before obtaining certification from the prestigious Academy of Natural Healing.
In the 1970s, Phillips departed from Australia for Asia, journeying through Thailand prior to achieving success in Hong Kong.
Natasha mentioned that he was dubbed the “Fitness King of Hong Kong” and the “Spa King” in Australia.
His former spouse, Sims, who was referred to as “the Fitness and Aerobics Queen of Hong Kong,” contributed significantly to building the Phillip Wain brand over several years. Additionally, she represented the city as an Olympic swimmer.
In Australia, he established a vast business enterprise featuring Camp Eden Health Retreat in Queensland and Temple of the Body and Soul in Sydney. His investment holdings also encompassed establishments such as Kirra Beach Hotel in Queensland and the Pearl South Pacific Resort in Fiji.
He died in Byron Bay, an area he once described as “natural, undeveloped and has fabulous surfing”.
He stated in a 1998 interview with the Post that he could connect with nature both physically and spiritually.
He revealed to the Post in 1994 that besides surfing, he was an avid swimmer too. Each morning before breakfast, he would swim 70 lengths in his 17-meter pool located at his residence on Bowen Road.
Allan Zeman, chairman of the Hong Kong Lan Kwai Fong Group, said Phillips was “very popular” in the city’s social scene, and was often seen at the nightlife district Zeman founded.
Zeman mentioned that he was consistently well-dressed and maintained an excellent physique since he managed a gym.
He would often serve many affluent individuals. Back then, being a member there was the thing to do in Hong Kong.
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The article initially appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), which serves as the premier source for news coverage of China and Asia.
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