Vale Barry Noel Vining OAM

Barry Vining grew up in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Camperdown and was a thoroughly-committed Newtown Bluebags and Jets supporter for all of his life.

One of his boyhood friends in those Camperdown days was the great Johnny Raper, and Barry and John remained good friends for the rest of their lives.

A highly-successful businessman in the international air freight industry, Barry joined the Newtown RLFC board in 1980 and became President in 1986. Along with fellow Director Terry Rowney, he was one of the most important figures in keeping the club alive in the wilderness years between 1984 and 1990, when the Newtown club did not field a team in any grade of rugby league.

As the club President Barry became renowned for his negotiating skills, his patience, strategic nous and top-level administrative expertise. He was President in the club’s years in the third-tier NSWRL Metropolitan Cup competition between 1991 and 1999, when the club’s first grade team won a premiership title in 1992, and then under Colin Murphy’s coaching won a hat-trick of premierships between 1995 and 1997.

Along with Terry Rowney and the club’s Patron, John Singleton, Barry helped negotiate Newtown’s promotion into the first-tier level of the NSW Rugby League in 2000, into what is now known as the NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.

Under Barry’s term of leadership, the club ascended from the depths of rugby league oblivion into being a well-respected and viable member of the flagship competition of the NSW Rugby League, winning premiership titles in 2012, 2019 and 2024, and also a NRL State Championship title in 2019.

The Newtown club continues to participate successfully in the second-tier level of rugby league in Australia, and the Jets’ story is one of the great survival sagas of modern rugby league. Barry Vining’s presidency from 1986 to 2018 and his administrative and organisational management capabilities most assuredly share the same legendary status as the Newtown Jets club.

Aside from rugby league, Barry also served in the international independent air freight industry for 45 years. He was a Director of the Australian Federation of International Freight Forwarders for 24 years from 1975 to 1999, which included a seven-year term as Chairman of the organisation.

In 1995 Barry was elected as Vice-President of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders (FIATA) and was made an Honorary Member of FIATA at the organisation’s World Congress in 2011.

His commitment in this industry to ethical practice, good governance and acting in the public interest were the hallmarks of his business activities.

Barry Vining’s outstanding contributions to rugby league football and to the international air freight forwarding industry over many decades combined to make him a most worthy recipient of the Order of Australia award.

Barry was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in June 2021 for his services to the international air freight industry and to rugby league football.

Newtown Jets members, supporters and friends worldwide will always remember Barry Vining for his superb and selfless service to their club and for his friendship and kindness to so many people.

He was without doubt one of the greatest figures in this club’s 116-year history.

The Newtown Rugby League community extends sincere condolences to his wife Vicki and his daughters, and to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rest in peace, Barry Noel Vining.