Committee For Lorne: Community Profile – March 29, 2018

Sixty five years ago Barb, remembers walking to Kalimna Falls as a five year old, something she has only just repeated. It was the Queen who gave the family another reason to come to the area again. They waited by the rail tracks in Geelong to see her arrive by train.

Barb grew up in the Wimmera at Donald but attended senior school as a boarder at Morongo in Geelong. Since Lorne was her parent’s favourite spot, many weekends were enjoyed here. She had thought she would study teaching after school but instead began a business career in Melbourne. She became a director and partner of Suzan Johnston’s School of Deportment and ended up teaching anyway.

She married John and they produced two girls. When the girls reached senior school, Barb took up a position as Court Officer in the Federal Court and was employed for 12 years. As it was casual and part time, it suited her perfectly until she retired permanently to Lorne in 2017.

Barb admits she has been passionate about sport all her life and puts tennis top of the list. She still goes to Melbourne once a week to play. Golf rates highly too and since retiring she has become an active member of the Lorne Country Club. She also enjoys theatre and her garden.

A love of travel has taken the Barbers all over the world, on numerous cruises and lately on long road trips around Australia. They have driven to Perth, northwest Queensland and to Uluru to see the giant solar light installation. With a daughter in London, this year they are going to Spain and Portugal via the UK, to visit her. “We have managed to get tickets to the Chelsea Flower Show while we are there and I am also hoping to spend a day at Wimbledon.”

The Barbers regularly rented accommodation in Lorne for family holidays but 20 years ago bought land and built their house, big enough to entertain children, their two grandsons and friends. Lorne is home now. “I found Lorne’s vibrant community easy to settle in. As well as the Golf Club I’m a member of the Aquatic Club, Bowling Club, Gardening Group, attend yoga and play bridge“. They volunteer at the Lorne Sculpture Biennale too.

CW