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John Edward Barrett (born 21 December 1928 in Frankston, Victoria) is a former Australian rules football player, who first played for the Frankston Bombers in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League during the second half of the 1940s, then for the Footscray and Fitzroy clubs in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the first half of the 1950s.

Following this, he played with Wangaratta Rovers (Ovens & Murray Football League, 1956), McKinnon Football Club (Federal Football League, 1957) and Hastings Football Club (Mornington Peninsula Football League, 1958-1961).

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.

Family, early years, and professional career
John E. Barrett, son of Edward Barrett († December 24, 1975) and his wife May, née Avage († October 1, 1971), was born at Maxwelton Private Hospital, Frankston, on 21 December 1928. His sister Judith Anne was born in 1931. Barrett is married to his wife Ky, née Schulmann. From this union two children were born, Ronald Armin (b. 1963, † 1990) and Karyn (b. 1966).

Barrett initially attended Frankston State School from 1935, from which he transferred to Frankston High School in 1941.

In 1941, he joined the Australian Air League, where he was involved in building model planes and observing flying objects in the airspace due to an impending Japanese invasion of Australia during World War II. In the military-style organization, he achieved the rank of Company Squadron Commander in 1942.

In 1946, he trained as a surveyor and worked for Mordialloc council. Barrett then held various positions as a salesman, 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 and another in Moore Park, both Sydney neighbourhoods. 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.

Australian rules football


In 1946, Barrett began his Australian rules football career with the Frankston Bombers, playing in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League. In 1949, he won the Grand final against the club from Mornington, after they had lost the Grand Final to Hastings Football Club in each of the previous three years.

From 1950 to 1953, the 6-foot-3, 76-pound Australian played for Melbourne′s Footscray Football Club (now the Western Bulldogs) 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, also based in Melbourne, between 1954 and 1955 in the AFL in a total of 22 games, scoring twice. He then left the Victorian Football League to play for Wangaratta Rovers Football Club (Ovens & Murray Football League) in 1956, McKinnon Football Club (Federal Football League) in 1957, and Hastings Football Club (Mornington Peninsula Football League) from 1958 to 1961.

In 1982, Barrett was elected to the board as director of the Australian Rules Football club Sydney Swans, where he served for three years.

Yacht racing
John Barrett showed an early interest in sailing and joined the Frankston Yacht Club in 1941. In 1976, he became a member of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney.

Barrett was part of the crew of the yacht Rager I, which finished 90th in the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 1981, 30th in 1982, and 99th in 1983. In the last two mentioned races he acted as navigator. In 1983 he competed in the race Sydney to Nouméa and back. In August 1989 he sailed from Southport to Mooloolaba on the yacht Ranger. In October of that year, he finished his ocean sailing career on the yacht Debutant, sailing from Hamilton Island to Sydney.

Other sports activities
With great passion, Barrett played golf from 1961 to 2020. From 1985 to 1989, he also liked to play tennis. .

Reception by the media
The Melbourne newspaper The Argus judged on 19 June 1950:.
 * “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 Melbourne′s paper The Sporting Globe on 12 July 1950:
 * “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 Weekly Times of Melbourne predicted on 5 July 1950:
 * “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:
 * “He did a grand job in a back pocket, and has also shone in the centre. This season he has not been regular, but is a good type who should be useful for a long time.”

The Argus noticed on 7 April 1952:
 * “Barrett pleased officials by his tenacity, pace, and disposal.”

The Argus found on 12 May 1954:
 * “Best of the seconds was John Barrett, former Footscray player, who shone on the wing.”

The Sporting Globe praised on 28 July 1954:
 * “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.”