OBA President’s Message

The Old Barker Association is particularly excited about the opportunities the year holds for us and for you and your families.

As we start the new year, we are also focused on delivering on our Strategic Goals:

• enhance opportunities for members to strengthen their connection with each other and other members of the School community,

• continue to deliver a comprehensive Support for Life program,

• strengthen our relationship with the School by supporting initiatives that enhance student and staff experiences at Barker,

• ensure that the OBA has a sustainable financial strategy and comprehensive governance approach. We are counting down the days until our first networking and mentoring event for 2023, which will provide our members the chance to hear about the OBA’s bespoke mentoring platform that will allow members to come together and meet other likeminded members, learn from each other and on the night have a drink and bite to eat together. More details will be sent out about our 2023 calendar of events, and I’d encourage you to attend at least one – particularly those who have not had the chance to be part of one of our events in the past.

In 2023 we are looking forward to trialling new programs and events, as well as maintaining our much cherished programs such as Support for Life and our affiliates programs, which has welcomed OBA Robotics and OBA Volleyball to the fold. Make sure to try something new and let us know what other offerings you would like us to explore in 2023.

We have already welcomed the School back for 2023 and I was lucky enough to be invited to welcome the new Year 7 students, where the OBA presented all students with a training shirt. This is always one of the best moments of the year, with the kids so excited to be meeting each other, finding new friends and getting something together that they will treasure for years ahead. Already some of the kids are swapping stories of using their brother or sisters’ shirts when they get bigger!

These moments remind me of how amazing it is to have an alumni organisation that has a close connection with the School it represents. Barker has always made a concerted effort to ensure that our members have an enduring relationship with the current school, and 2023 will be a year filled with Back to Barker sports days, reunions, student mentoring and OBA Seniors visits.

Good luck to the entire Barker community for the year ahead – I hope it is filled with opportunity and abundance!

Angus Abadee (07) OBA President