Barry Gibbons, 88, has been running and working in the horse rings at Walbundrie Show for 70 years … and counting! Photo: Jodie O’Sullivan.
As with so many classic Aussie yarns, the story of Barry Gibbons’ connection to the Walbundrie Show begins with a bet made in the local pub by his grandfather.
That grandfather was Arthur E Gibbons, the man who ran the shop at Walbundrie. Arthur had wagered with another local over who had the fastest horse – a debate that could only be settled with a race down the Rand road.
Gibbons lost the bet in 1911 – but the community won a legacy. The race marked the beginning of an institution that has since become the Walbundrie Show.
And now young Barry, 88, is celebrating an extraordinary milestone of his own: 70 years volunteering at the same annual event, proving that a love for good horses and community truly runs in the Gibbons blood!
On Monday 5 October, you’ll find Barry once again manning the caravan for entry to the horse rings, where he’s worked and stewarded since he was 18 years old.
Barry says it was “only natural” he’d take up volunteer duties given his mum and older brother were heavily involved in the show.
“We had a bit of tradition in it,” he reflects. “I used to run the pony ring but now I work in the caravan selling tickets, measuring the horses and helping out as a steward if they’re short.”
Barry himself used to ride a fair bit – and even bred a few horses – before he married Jean and raised a family of four daughters (Wendy, Leeanne, Maxine and Janelle).
However, he adds that he only ever competed with a horse of his own once, “because I was too busy after that”.
“It’s a pretty big day,” he says.
For Barry, now a Life Member, one of the greatest joys across seven decades of service has been watching generations of local families trot through the ring.
“I’ve had the pleasure of stewarding four generations of the Shipard family,” Barry says, referencing the renowned harness and show pony exhibitor Neil Shipard’s family.
“When I started, old Mr Harold Shipard from Bungowannah was driving sulkies. Then his son Neil took over for years and years. That was followed by his daughter Julie, who married (Albury businessman and councillor) Phil Bullivant, and then I was putting ribbons on their daughter. So, four generations has been a real highlight for me.”
From ponies to poultry and pavilions, sideshows, showbags and showgirl competitions, the Labour Day Monday show is considered one of the region’s largest one-day agricultural events.
Region caught up with Barry as part of our Life Lessons series ahead of the 113th Walbundrie Show, reflecting on his time with this staple community event driven by the dedication of generations of local volunteers:
Where did you go to school?
I went to the local school at Walbundrie then Albury Grammar (now Scots School Albury) until the equivalent of Year 10.
I was pretty good at maths but I could not get along with algebra. I told my teacher I won’t ever need algebra – and I’ve never needed it!
Your family farmed at Walbundrie?
It was what they called a soldier settlement block – my father drew that after the First War. (‘Inverness’, on the Kywong-Howlong Road, would become a highly productive mixed farming enterprise.)
Dad passed away when I was two (from war-related illness). He was gassed in the trenches in France. He was actually in the 14th Battalion with Albert Jacka (the first Australian to be decorated with the Victoria Cross).
My brother – who was 10 years older than me and had just started at Yanco Agricultural High School – had to come home and run the farm at 12 years old.
That would have been a big ask – even in those days?
I can remember it was pretty tough in 1944 when there was a major drought, and the (Second World War) was on. You really remember those things, how tough it was …
We had sheep (not so much cropping in those days) and then gradually towards the end of the 1940s, things picked up and wool was very good and we had record prices when I was at Albury Grammar, and things just went from there.
How did you meet Jean?
In those days, there were dances on a Saturday night … we met there. I also used to play a fair bit of football (for Walbundrie) and Jean played a lot of netball for Walla.
Jean and Barry Gibbons, both 88, who now live at Thurgoona after decades of farming and community service in the community of Walbundrie. Photo: Jodie O’Sullivan.
So Jean, was it love at first sight when you met Barry?
(Laughing) Oh, that’s too long ago to remember!
You’ve been married for 65 years – what’s the secret to a good marriage?
Barry: Working together.
Jean: Discussing things and coming to a mutual understanding. We’ve had a beautiful family of four daughters, 10 grandchildren (one grandson passed away four years ago in a road accident) and four great-grandchildren, with another on the way.
What’s a piece of advice you’d pass on?
Try and stay within the rules I suppose.
We’ve never been ones to drink a lot, although I do enjoy a beer. Work hard and make the most of life!
A much-loved family portrait of Barry and Jean Gibbons with their four daughters hangs on the wall of the couple’s home at Thurgoona … “That’s when I had more hair”, Barry says.
How’s Australia going as a country?
Very bad really! It’s getting hard now to run a business. You only have to look at what’s happened with Greenfreight (the Border family-owned trucking giant recently announced the sale of the majority of its highway business due largely to economic pressures). Good businesses are heading overseas because they can’t make a profit here.
What’s one thing you would change about the world?
If we could only stop countries going to war. The Russia and Ukraine war really upsets me … those little kids are just like our little kids. The Ukraine grows 11 per cent of the world’s wheat and they’ve had this war thrust upon them by someone who wants to take over their land!
What worries you the most about modern society?
I’m a bit worried about this AI thing. You read some things that it could help find a cure for cancer and then you read another thing that a billion people could lose their lives.
You moved off the farm in 2015 to Thurgoona but have you retired?
Jean: He’ll never retire!
Barry: We sold our home place, but kept nearly 400 acres and Jean’s nephew Shannon McLellan share farms it, and I help him. We get on well and work as a good team.
What’s kept you coming back as a volunteer all these years?
You grow into it. They have a big working bee in the lead-up, and I used to cut a lot of the grass (the council do it now) on the grounds and up the street to make it look nice. I still do what I can.
Jean (also a Life Member) also used to work out there for many years and was in charge of the pavilion with all the exhibits like the cakes, schoolwork and such.
What’s your fondest memory of the show?
Being a worker, I didn’t get a lot of time with my own children at the show. My happiest day was when I had all 10 grandchildren in the dodgem cars together; there were about four cars and they were all running into each other … that was great!
Walbundrie Show is at Walbundrie Showgrounds, Billabong Street, Monday 5 October, 7 am to 5 pm.
