Mr Barry Griffiths and Paige Gibbins.
PHOTO: MIKE RICHARDS
Mr Barry Griffiths By Paige Gibbins From being put in a children’s home from age seven to living in a flat with his 14-year-old sister at the age of 12, Barry Griffiths grew up here, there and everywhere. Born July 13, 1940 to mother Lorna Griffiths and father, the late John Griffiths, Barry was the youngest of seven kids and lived in Melbourne, Victoria. He had one brother, John and five sisters, Leonie, Joan, Valerie, Judith and Jennifer. Born not knowing his father, all Barry knew was his name was John and he was tragically killed, just before Barry’s birth. Living with his family until age seven, Barry was placed in a children’s home at Stawell, in country Victoria, for five years as his mother struggled to take care of all seven children on her own. His sisters were also put into different children’s homes in different parts of Melbourne. Unable to talk, Barry had a difficult
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time growing up. His favourite memory was the most enjoyable time spent every Christmas when they had a “home picnic” at the Grampians National Park. When aged 12, his sister Judith (aged 14), moved to Queensland taking Barry with her. They lived in a flat by themselves on Goondoon Street, Gladstone. Barry attended Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School but didn’t attend high school. After Judith left at 21, he had to provide for himself. Gladstone Meatworks was Barry’s first workplace in 1956, where he worked until it closed in 1963. He claims “it was his favourite job” working in the hides. Starting early in the morning he would finish mid-afternoon, taking the bus to work and home. Barry stated, “The blood in the slaughterhouse was slippery and hard to work on”. He
worked with cattle and sheep mostly, saying there were no pigs in the slaughter, at the time. From December 1965 until 1969, Barry worked in the Port Curtis Dairy Butter Factory. He then worked for Queensland Rail for 31 years, earning a Golden Pass to take the train anywhere in Queensland for free. Monto’s Valma (Val) Myles came to meet Barry in Gladstone. They wrote each other letters, before dating for six months and finally getting married, in the Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, January 19, 1980. They’ve been married for 37 years and are very happy. They have lived in their Barney Point home for their whole marriage and “wouldn’t have it any other way”. Val and Barry didn’t have any children unfortunately, although they would have liked them. Playing sports wasn’t part of his childhood, but as Barry got older he
developed a talent for darts. Barry played locally and for the Railway Interstate Darts Championship. He was picked for the Queensland team against New South Wales. Sadly, they lost the first game, but in the second his team pulled through with a victory. Barry played darts for over 20 years and still loves the sport. Barry has enjoyed life’s ups and downs and wishes to continue living in his house in Barney Point with wife Val for many more years.
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Barry has enjoyed life’s ups and downs and wishes to continue living in his house in Barney Point with wife Val for many more years.