View source for John Barrett (Australian footballer)

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer (1928–2023)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = John Barrett
| image = John Edward Barrett, 1950-1955.png
| fullname = John Edward Barrett
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|12|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Frankston, Victoria]], Australia
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|08|11|1928|12|21|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Kingswood, New South Wales]], Australia
| originalteam = Frankston ([[Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League|MPFL]])
| height = 177 cm
| weight = 76 kg
| position =
| statsend = 1955
| years1 = 1950–53
| club1 = {{AFL Foo}}
| games_goals1 = 32 (1)
| years2 = 1954–55
| club2 = {{AFL Fit}}
| games_goals2 = 22 (1)
| games_goalstotal = 54 (2)
| club3 = [[Wangaratta Rovers Football Club|Wangaratta Rovers]]
| years3 = 1956
| club4 = McKinnon
| years4 = 1957
| club5 = [[Hastings Football Club|Hastings]]
| years5 = 1958-1961
| careerhighlights =
}}
'''John Edward Barrett''' (21 December 1928 – 11 August 2023) was an [[Australian rules football]] player, who first played for the [[Frankston Football Netball Club|Frankston Bombers]] in the [[Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League]] during the second half of the 1940s, then for the [[Western Bulldogs|Footscray]] and [[Fitzroy Football Club|Fitzroy]] clubs in the [[Victorian Football League]] (VFL) during the first half of the 1950s.
Following this, he played with [[Wangaratta Rovers Football Club|Wangaratta Rovers]] (Ovens & Murray Football League, 1956), McKinnon Football Club (Federal Football League, 1957) and [[Hastings Football Club]] (Mornington Peninsula Football League, 1958-1961). Starting in 1982, Barrett was a member of the board of Aussie-Rules-Football-Club [[Sydney Swans]], for three years.
In addition, he participated in the [[Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race]] three times between 1981 and 1983. Later in 1983 he sailed in a yacht race from [[Sydney]] to [[Nouméa]] and back.
From 1988 to 1992, he volunteered to organise the [[Clean Up Australia]] days.
== Family, early years, and professional career ==
[[File:John Edward Barrett, 2012.png|thumb|upright|John Edward Barrett, 2012]]
[[File:Rubbish hauled from Sydney's Cooks River on Clean Up Australia Day March 1991.png|thumb|Rubbish hauled from Sydney's [[Cooks River]] on Clean Up Australia Day March 3, 1991]]
John Edward Barrett, son of Edward Barrett (died 1975) and his wife May, née Avage (died 1971), was born at Maxwelton Private Hospital, Frankston, on 21 December 1928.<ref>[[:File:John Edward Barrett - Extract of entry No. 127979.png|''John Edward Barrett - Extract of entry No. 127979'']]</ref> His sister Judith Anne was born in 1931. Barrett was married to his wife Ky, née Schulmann. Two children were born to this union, Ronald Armin (1963–1990) and Karyn (born 1966).<ref name="Highlights" />
Barrett initially attended Frankston State School from 1935, where he represented his school on official occasions.<ref name="Highlights" /><ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75037418 ''Armistice Observance.''] In: Standard (Frankston) dated 15 November 1940, pg.&nbsp;5.</ref> He transferred to [[Frankston High School]]<ref name="article/75052905">[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75049128 ''High School Results.''] In: Standard (Frankston) dated 7 January 1944, pg.&nbsp;2.<br />[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75052905 ''Frankston High School. Examinations Results.''] In: Mornington Standard dated 18 January 1945, pg.&nbsp;7.</ref> in 1941.<ref name="Highlights" /> In this year he joined the [[Australian Air League]], where he was involved in building model planes<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75042271 ''Air League.''] In: Mornington Standard dated 24 April 1942, pg.&nbsp;1.</ref> and observing flying objects in the airspace due to an impending [[Proposed Japanese invasion of Australia during World War II|Japanese invasion of Australia during World War II]].<ref name="Highlights" /> In the military-style organization, he achieved the rank of ''Company Squadron Commander'' in 1942.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75042015 ''Air League. Frankston Promotions.''] In: Mornington Standard) dated 13 March 1942, pg.&nbsp;2.</ref> In 1944 he passed the examination for the award medal of the ''Royal Life Saving Society Australia.''<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75052392 ''Frankston High School.''] In: [[Mornington Standard]] dated 9 November 1944, pg.&nbsp;3.</ref> Barrett represented the school as [[Head girl and head boy|Senior Prefect]] and has also been a [[House system|'House' Captain]] as well as Captain of the School Cricket, Football, Swimming and Athletic Teams.<ref>[[:File:John Edward Barrett - referral Frankston High School 1945, typed.png|''John Edward Barrett - referral Frankston High School 1945, typed'']]<br />[[:File:John Edward Barrett - referral Frankston High School 1945, handwritten.png|''John Edward Barrett - referral Frankston High School 1946, handwritten'']]</ref> He finished high school with an Honor Certificate in 1945.<ref name="article/75052905" />
In 1946, Engineering Cadet Barrett trained as a [[Surveying|surveyor]] and worked for [[Mordialloc]] council.<ref>[[:File:John Edward Barrett - referral City of Mordialloc, 1952 (Tony Clerk).png|''Referral for John Edward Barrett by Tony Clerk, 7th of May 1952.'']]<br />[[:File:John Edward Barrett - referral City of Mordialloc, 1952 (Walter Galt).png|''Referral for John Edward Barrett by City Engineer & Building Surveyor of the City of Mordialloc, Walter Galt, 21st of April 1952.'']]</ref> From 1951 he held various positions as a salesman, until 1955 with ''International Harvester Company'' in South Melbourne,<ref>[[:File:Referral letter International Harvester Company of Australia for John Edward Barrett, 1955.png|Referral letter International Harvester Company of Australia for John Edward Barrett, 12th of September 1955.]]</ref> until 1957 with ''Donovan-Brush Motors'' in Wangaratta,<ref>[[:File:Referral Letter Donovan-Brush Motors for John Edward Barrett, 1957.png|Referral Letter Donovan-Brush Motors for John Edward Barrett, 2nd of February 1957.]]</ref> until 1958 with ''Wormald Brothers'' in South Melbourne,<ref>[[:File:Referral letter Wormald Brothers for John Edward Barrett, 1958.png|Referral letter Wormald Brothers for John Edward Barrett, 6th of November 1958.]]</ref> and most recently as General Sales Manager for ''Hardboard Australia'', for which he relocated to Sydney with his family in 1976. Barrett retired from the company in 1986, after 25 years of service. During the period from 1988 to 1990, he managed two hotels, one in [[Waterloo, New South Wales|Waterloo]] and another in [[Moore Park, New South Wales|Moore Park]], both Sydney neighbourhoods.<ref name="Highlights" />
From 1988 to 1992, he volunteered to run the Sydney office of [[Clean Up Australia]] together with [[Kim McKay]], who had started the initiative with [[Ian Kiernan]].<ref name="Highlights" /><ref>[[:File:John Barrett - Clean up Australia appreciation document.png]]</ref> From there he organised the help of 40.000 people, who hauled about 4,000 tonnes of garbage from 140 locations in [[Port Jackson|Sydney Harbour]] alone on January 21, 1989. For the ''Clean up day'' in 1990 in 252 locations, John Barrett enlisted the support of the [[Royal Australian Navy]], the [[Australian Army]], the [[Sydney Water|Water Board]], the [[Maritime Services Board]] (MSB), the [[New South Wales Department of Corrective Services|Department of Corrective Services]], the State Pollution Control Commission, the [[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service|National Parks and Wildlife Service]] and the 24 Sydney councils with foreshore land. The Navy was providing two landing craft and service personnel for the Harbour, the MSB supplied rubbish pick-up barges, and the Department of correctives services arranged work teams of people who have been sentenced to community service.<ref name="SMH">Paul Bailey: ''Syringes and straws await huge beachcomber army.'' In: [[Sydney Morning Herald]] dated 30 Dezember 1989, pg.&nbsp;2.</ref> 1992 about 25,500 tonnes of waste was collected nation-wide by 400,000 volunteers.<ref>Rebecca Lang: [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126974827 ''Nation-wide clean-up to take festival atmosphere.''] In: [[The Canberra Times]] dated 9 February 1993, pg.&nbsp;2.</ref>
John Edward Barrett died in [[Kingswood, New South Wales]] on 11 August 2023, at the age of 94.<ref>[[:File:John Edward Barrett - Obituary in Blue Mountain Gazette, 2023.png|''Obituary John Edward Barrett.'']] In: Blue Mountains Gazette, 16 August 2023, pg. 44, section Death & Funerals.</ref>
== Sports career ==
=== Australian rules football ===
{{multiple image
| align = right
| total_width = 320
| image1 = John Barrett 1955.png
| alt1 =
| caption1 = John Edward Barrett, 1954
| image2 = John Barrett during training, 1954.png
| alt2 =
| caption2 = "A mighty punt during training", 1954
| footer =
}}
Barrett played Australian rules football as early as his high school days. In the 1945 season, the school's senior team, captained by John Barrett, did not lose a single game.<ref>Mary A. Evans, Heather Murray, Jenny Evans: ''Optima Semper. Frankston High School 1924–1994.'' Frankston High School Council, Frankston 1995, ISBN 0-646-24096-X, pg.&nbsp;70.</ref>
In 1946,<ref name="Highlights" /> Barrett began his professional [[Australian rules football]] career with the [[Frankston Football Netball Club|Frankston Bombers]],<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224931551?searchTerm=John%20Barrett%20Footscray ''Former Peninsula players do well in city.''] In: [[The Herald and Weekly Times|Weekly Times]] dated 5 July 1950, pg.&nbsp;67.</ref><ref name="The Argus">[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22836422?searchTerm=John%20Barrett%20Frankston%20football ''Club-Room Gossip.''] In: [[The Argus (Melbourne)]] dated 19 June 1950, pg.&nbsp;21.</ref> playing in the [[Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League]].<ref>James Weston: [http://mp3.news.com.au/hwt/cfpdf/Mornington%20Peninsula%20Nepean%20FL/dromana%20frankston.pdf ''The Australian Game of Football: Since 1858.''] Geoff Slattery Publishing for the Australian Football League, 2008.</ref> In 1949, he won the [[Grand final]] against the club from Mornington,<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22775837 ''Peninsula Grand Final.''] In:  The Argus (Melbourne) dated 2 September 1949S, pg.&nbsp;17.</ref> after they had lost the Grand Final to [[Hastings Football Club]] in each of the previous three years.<ref name="Highlights" />
[[File:John Barrett giving autographs, 1954.png|thumb|left|"Hints from an expert", Barrett passing on his experience, 1954]]
From 1950<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244115153 ''Footscray Find New Star!''] In: [[The Herald and Weekly Times|The Herald (Melbourne)]] dated 19 June 1950, pg.&nbsp;14.<br />[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206224577 ''North Selects Young Follower. New Players.''] In: [[The Age|The Age (Melbourne)]] dated 23 June 1950, pg.&nbsp;15.<br />[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22837696 ''Footscray chose new colt.''] In: The Argus (Melbourne) dated 23 June 1950, pg.&nbsp;14.</ref> to 1953, the 1.77 metre, 76-kilo<ref name ="double ref" /> Australian played for Melbourne's [[Footscray Football Club]] (now the [[Western Bulldogs]])<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245137908 ''Bulldogs to run March 1.''] In: The Herald (Melbourne) dated 20 January 1954, pg.&nbsp;23.</ref> in the [[Victorian Football League]] (VFL), which later became the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL). He scored one goal in 32 games played for the club.
Following this, he played for the [[Fitzroy Football Club]], the Fitzroy Gorillas,<ref>[https://www.statscrew.com/aussiefootball/stats/p-barrejoh001 ''John Barrett.''] In: statscrew.com</ref> also based in Melbourne, between 1954<ref>
[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/26595653 ''Schoolboy star at Footscray.''] In: The Argus (Melbourne) dated 10 March 1954, pg.&nbsp;23.<br />[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/26604181 ''League Club Notes. Fitzroy.''] In: The Argus (Melbourne) dated 21 April 1954, pg.&nbsp;22.<br />[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205702356 ''Round-up of League Football Training. Fitzroy.''] In: The Age (Melbourne) dated 21 April 1954, pg.&nbsp;11.<br />[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23417211 ''Fitzroy – Saints alter 6. First Games.''] In: The Argus (Melbourne) dated 14 May 1954, pg.&nbsp;23.</ref> and 1955 in the AFL in a total of 22 games, scoring twice.<ref name ="double ref">[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/J/John_Barrett.html ''John Barrett.''] In: afltables.com<br />[https://australianfootball.com/players/playerseason/john%2Bbarrett/7931 ''John Barrett.''] In: australianfootball.com</ref> He then left the Victorian Football League to play for [[Wangaratta Rovers Football Club]] ([[Ovens & Murray Football Netball League|Ovens & Murray Football League]]) in 1956,<ref>''Albury vs. Wangaretta'' In: "The Critic." Football Record of Football in the O. & M. League. Issue 22, nr. 9 dated 23 June 1956, pg.&nbsp;9.</ref> McKinnon Football Club ([[Federal Football League]]) in 1957, and [[Hastings Football Club]] ([[Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League|Mornington Peninsula Football League]]) from 1958 to 1961.<ref name="Highlights">John Edward Barrett: ''Life Highlights''. Tabular Autobiography, 2006.</ref>
In 1982, Barrett was elected to the board of directors of Australian Rules Football club [[Sydney Swans]],<ref>''Swans fight new threat to survival.'' In: [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)]] dated 11 September 1982.</ref> where he served for three years.<ref name="Highlights" /><ref>Greg Growden: ''I'll quit, says Quade.'' In: [[Sydney Morning Herald ]] dated 17 September 1982, pg.&nbsp;26.<br />[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116448477 ''Australian Football: Edgley heads Swans.''] In: [[The Canberra Times]] dated 7 February 1983, pg.&nbsp;19.<br />Kevin Taylor: ''The Sydney Swans. The Complete History 1874—1986.'' Allen & Unwin Australia, Sydney 1987, ISBN 0-04-796132-5, pg.&nbsp;117.<br />[[:File:Sydney Swans Recognition Certificate John Barrett 1984.png|Recognition certificate by Michael Edgely, President of the Sydney Swans, for John Edward Barrett, October 1984.]] On there, his last name was misspelled as Barratt (sic!).</ref>
=== Yacht racing ===
[[File:John Edward Barrett & Leigh Gloury, around 1949.png|thumb|John Barrett and his friend [[Leigh Gloury]] working on their yacht ''Greensleeves'', around 1949]]
John Barrett showed an early interest in sailing and joined the Frankston Yacht Club in 1941, where he became a member of skipper [[Leigh Gloury]]'s<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/74276625 ''Frankston Yacht Club.''] In: Frankston Standard dated 7 July 1949, pg.&nbsp;9.</ref> crew of the yacht ''Greensleeves''.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/74253728 ''Yachting.''] In: Frankston Standard dated 21 December 1949, pg.&nbsp;9.</ref> In 1976, he joined the [[Cruising Yacht Club of Australia]] in [[Rushcutters Bay]], Sydney.<ref name="Highlights" />
Barrett was part of the crew of Skipper Michael Clements' yacht ''Rager I'', which finished 90th in the annual [[Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race]] in 1981,<ref>[[Peter Wherrett]]: [https://cyca.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Offshore-No. 64-February-March-1982-small.pdf ''The Hobart '81.''] In: Offshore no. 64, February–March 1982, pg.&nbsp;10.</ref> 30th in 1982,<ref>[https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/media.prod.cyca/media/3440169/1983-offshore-sydney-hobart-race-cyca-archives.pdf ''Race History 1981–1982.''] In: Hitachi Sydney–Hobart Yacht Race Program 1983, pg.&nbsp;96.</ref> and 99th in 1983.<ref>[https://cyca.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Offshore-No.-76-March-1984-small.pdf ''Hobart 1983 Results.''] In: Offshore no. 76, March 1984, pg.&nbsp;21.</ref> In the last two mentioned races he acted as navigator.<ref>[https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/media.prod.cyca/media/3440169/1983-offshore-sydney-hobart-race-cyca-archives.pdf ''Entries 1983.''] In: Hitachi Sydney–Hobart Yacht Race Program 1983, pg.&nbsp;33, 96.<br />[[:File:Syd.-Hob. Yacht Race 1982, Details of Yacht and Crew, Rager I, Navigator's Logbook.png|Excerpt]] of Navigator's Logbook Rager I, Details of Yacht and Crew, Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race 1982, pg.&nbsp;1.</ref> In 1983 he competed in the race Sydney to [[Nouméa]] and back.<ref>Peter Campbell: [https://cyca.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/No. 69-OFFSHORE-December-1982-January-83-low-res.pdf ''The 1983 Sydney-New Caledonia Race.''] In: Offshore no. 69, December 1982—January 83, pg.&nbsp;20–22.</ref> In August 1989 he sailed from [[Southport, Queensland|Southport]] to [[Mooloolaba]] on the yacht ''Rager''.<ref>[https://cyca.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Offshore-August-September-1989.pdf ''Rager.''] In: Offshore, August/September 1989, pg.&nbsp;14,&nbsp;38.<br />Geoff Errington: [https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/media.prod.cyca/media/3441937/1989-jupiters-yacht-classic-race-report.pdf ''Jupiters Yacht Classic. Witchcraft II Sails Out of The Cauldron.''] In: Offshore, October/November 1989, pg.&nbsp;28-30. The top photo on pg.&nbsp;30 shows John Barrett in white clothing on the far right of the image.</ref> In October of that year, he finished his ocean sailing career on the yacht ''Debutant'', sailing from [[Hamilton Island (Queensland)|Hamilton Island]] to Sydney.<ref name="Highlights" />
=== Other sports activities ===
With great passion, Barrett played golf from 1961 to 2020. From 1985 to 1989, he also enjoyed playing [[tennis]].<ref name="Highlights" />
== Reception by the media ==
The Melbourne newspaper ''[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]]'' judged on 19 June 1950:<ref name="The Argus" />
:"John is a centre-man from Frankston, and is said to be something out of the ordinary. [...] He is only 21, is sturdily built, and has tons of pace."
[[Cyril Nott]] highlighted in the Melbourne paper ''[[The Sporting Globe]]'' on 12 July 1950:<ref>[[Cyril Nott]]: [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/178607213 ''Young Talent With Bulldogs.''] In: Sporting Globe (Melbourne) dated 12 July 1950, p.&nbsp;15.</ref>
: "Sure in the air, clever and elusive on the ground, Barrett should prove one of the cleverest centres, when he gains a little more experience."
The ''[[The Herald and Weekly Times|Weekly Times]]'' of Melbourne predicted on 5 July 1950:<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224931551 ''Former Peninsula players do well in city.''] In Weekly Times (Melbourne) dated 5 July 1950, pg.&nbsp;67.</ref>
: "Before he went to Footscray, John Barrett, who is 21, was one of Frankston's stars. Football fans on the Peninsula who know him well consider that Barrett has all the courage and ability to become a star defender with the experience he will gain in the league."
''The Argus'' noted on 7 September 1951:<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23078364 ''Footscray seek first premiership.''] In: The Argus (Melbourne) dated 7 September 1951, pg.&nbsp;5.</ref>
: "He did a grand job in a back pocket, and has also shone in the centre. This season he has not been [a] regular, but is a good type who should be useful for a long time."
''The Argus'' noticed on 7 April 1952:<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23173031 ''Footscray have men to fill vacancies.''] In: The Argus (Melbourne) dated 7 April 1952, p.&nbsp;9.</ref>
: "Barrett pleased officials by his tenacity, pace, and disposal."
''The Argus'' found on 12 May 1954:<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23435818 ''League Club Notes.''] In: The Argus dated 12 May 1954, pg.&nbsp;25.</ref>
: "Best of the seconds was John Barrett, former Footscray player, who shone on the wing."
The ''Sporting Globe'' praised Barrett on 28 July 1954:<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/176559293 ''They're home now.''] In: Sporting Globe (Melbourne) dated 28 July 1954, pg.&nbsp;4.</ref>
: "John Barrett, Fitzroy's new back pocket player, was best man afield in the shock win over Collingwood. Barrett's fearless dashes and clever anticipation broke up numerous Magpie attacking moves."
In an article dated 30 December 1989 about ''Clean up Sydney'' 1990, Paul Bailey of [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] referred to:<ref name="SMH" />
: "Mr Clean... collection co-ordinator John Barrett hopes to rid the Harbour shores of their plastic coating."
== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|d=Q19519321|c=Category:John Edward Barrett|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|species=no|s=no|q=no}}
* {{AFL Tables|ref=J/John_Barrett.html}}
* {{AustralianFootball|ref=John%2BBarrett/7931}}
== Notes ==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrett, John}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Frankston Bombers players]]
[[Category:Western Bulldogs players]]
[[Category:Fitzroy Football Club players]]
[[Category:Wangaratta Rovers Football Club players]]
[[Category:Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race]]