Gordon Barbary
From Snoutslouts
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Biographical
- Born: 28 January 1905
- Height: 177 cm
- Weight: 68 kg
- Recruited from: Renmark
- Previous Club: Moonta
- GFC League Debut: 1926
Guernsey Number:
Gordon Barbary was widely admired as a speedy wingman for Glenelg and South Australia before bowing out of senior football with a short season at Norwood in 1930.
Born in Moonta on 28 January 1905, Barbary was one of three sons and six daughters of Martin Barbary and his wife Sarah, née Arbon. He was captain of the Moonta District High School football team for three years and then played at Renmark for four seasons. On a visit home he played three games with the Moonta Turks and gained selection in a Yorke Peninsula representative team. He moved to Adelaide in 1925 but, because his employment took him to the country, played only with a junior club.
Barbary, 177 cm and 68 kg, made his league debut on the wing for Glenelg against West Torrens at Adelaide Oval on 4 June 1926 but early in his career at the Bay he tore ligaments in his left leg and needed medical care for six weeks. In four seasons with Glenelg he played 54 games, kicked nine goals and played half-back, wing, half-forward and ruck. He shone in his first interstate appearances as a brilliant wingman in the ANFC Carnival in Melbourne in 1927.
In his last season with Glenelg, Barbary endured a 20.10 to 6.19 drubbing at Norwood Oval on 29 June 1929 – and just up The Parade three hours later married Katherine Veronica Cahill, of Malvern, at the Norwood Wesley Church. The bride’s nephews, John and Darrell Cahill, sons of her brother John, would become notable players with Port Adelaide. Another of her brothers, Laurie, was a champion wingman with South Adelaide and Richmond.
Barbary started promisingly with Norwood in 1930 and was selected for the Australian carnival in Adelaide that year. He again did well but Victoria proved too strong. Gordon’s last league game was the semi-final loss to Port Adelaide.
An electrician,Gordon also ran professionally and coached football. In 1932 he was appointed Millicent player-coach but was injured and left the club with £40 compensation. In 1948 he coached North Whyalla to the first premiership on Whyalla’s Memorial Oval. He coached the North Adelaide Junior Colts in 1954, Senior Colts in 1955-56 and Seconds in 1957.
Gordon Barbary died at Plympton on 7 February 1964 and is buried at Centennial Park. One of his sons, Barrie Barbary, won many accolades as a player with North Adelaide, Woodville and South Australia, including a Magarey Medal. In latter years Barrie was a coaching assistant at Glenelg.
References
1. Pride of the Bay
