[2] Her interest in poetry as a child led her to publish a collection of her poems in 1922, From a City Garden.
Phillips was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) on 14 June 1975 for services to music.
In 1994, she attained VIP status at the Second Australian Composing Women's Festival and Conference and the Composer-of-Honour commendation from the School of Music-Conservatorium at Monash University with a concert of her music in her presence.
[2] As part of her 100th birthday celebrations, ABC Classic FM sponsored a concert on 6 June 1999 focusing on four of her instrumental scores.
The performers were Robert Chamberlain (piano), Isin Cakmakcioglu (violin), Rachel Atkinson (cello) and Anne Gilby (oboe) A large audience filled the ABC's Iwaki Auditorium in Melbourne.