VALE VALE VALE TONY TONY TONY BARRY BARRY BARRY AN ACTOR-VIST, A COMRADE, A MATE

LateDecember2022,thesadnewsfilteredthroughthatproudETUhonorary member,self-proclaimedactor-vistandall-roundlegendTonyBarryhad passedawayfollowingalong15-yearbattlewithmelanomaTonyhada distinguishedmovie,TVandtheatrecareerthatstretchedclosetohalfa centuryWhileTonywaswell-known,ifarguablyunderappreciated,in Australia,hewasreveredacrosstheditchwherehewasaproud“honorary Kiwi”ThefollowingarticlewasprintedinvariousmediaoutletsacrossNZon December22

Australian actor Tony Barry, an "honorary Kiwi" and the co-star of the classic New Zealand film Goodbye Pork Pie, has died at age 81 Barry played John, a hitch-hiker who ends up on a comic cross-country journey in the 1981 hit film Filmmaker Dame Gaylene Preston wrote on Facebook of the actor's death yesterday "It is with a heavy heart that we farewell Tony Barry who died peacefully yesterday at Murwillumbah NSW after a long illness He was one of a kind "A fierce fighter for the underdog, working for indigenous rights and as part of rehabilitation programmes in the justice system and for the environment He considered himself an honorary Kiwi being the only Australian to feature on a NZ postage stamp for his role in Goodbye Pork Pie" Goodbye Pork Pie, the story of two aimless drifters who end up stealing a car and engaging in a wild car chase throughout New Zealand, was one of the first local-made movie hits, even sparking a remake in 2017 Born in Queensland, Barry performed in dozens of feature films and television series Among those paying tribute were actor Sam Neill, who called Barry "a hero of mine" Dame Gaylene wrote that Barry never stopped working despite a cancer diagnosis, which required a leg to be amputated in 2014 "Diagnosed with melanoma in 2007, he insisted in keeping going, working to the end "A mighty tree has fallen A warrior is lying down " RNZ

As pointed out above, Tony was more than an actor, he was an actor-vist He was determined to leave this place better that he found it and saw the opportunity to use his considerable skills and gifts to create a better future He was heavily involved in the anti-war movement, the fight against the nuclear industry, and toxic fracking, as well as fighting for justice for First Nations Australians, to name a few

As he pointed out, his willingness to fight for social justice came at a cost, with the loss of some roles “But that was a price I was willing to pay," he said "Activism is more than a word or attending a march and having a few beers with comrades. It’s a way of life.”

Tony was a massive part of the Not4Sale campaign during the 2012-2015 battle to unseat the appalling Newman Government During this time he also lost his left leg below the knee to the insidious disease, but that didn’t stop him A soon as he had a wheelchair he could access, he was back out on the frontline of the campaign, whether it was firing up the troops via video updates and ads, attending rallies, or just having his face plastered all over the state, he was delighted to do his bit because as he pointed out so eloquently, “privatise public electricity assets…? You’d have to be a mug.”

“I was involved in Not4Sale because I, like the ETU, believe that public assets should remain in public hands and as the campaign unfolded, my confidence grew because of the work and the strategies the ETU utilised to keep the issue of asset sales in front of Queenslanders We all knew we had one shot at it, and we better make it our best shot”

Tony and his best mate Shep were regular visitors to the ETU office during and after the campaign, and as recently as 2019 he was heavily involved in the Our Union Stories video competition

One of the most enduring memories of Tony and the ETU’s mutual respect was his passionate recital of one of his favourite poems by the late great Poet “Lorikeet” Denis Kevans at our union’s 100-year bash, where his passion was in full swing leaving even the most hardened union member with a lump in their throats

Gone But Never Forgotten. Vale Tony Barry - a comrade forever.