Dear Breeder,
It is with great sadness that I write to you about the passing of a true friend to the breeding industry and to all of us involved with Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, Ken Barry.
Ken (pictured centre) with the staff & boards of TBA and Aushorse.
Many of you will also have been lucky enough to have known Ken and I’m sure you will be mourning his death earlier this week, as everybody at TBA is. For those of you who did not have that honour, I feel it is important to write a few words about a man who, despite battling ill health for many years, was indefatigable in his efforts to improve our industry.
Ken served on the board of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia for more than a dozen years. Throughout that period he made a huge contribution. A greatly respected lawyer who chaired the legal firm Norton Rose, Ken was not somebody to take a directorship lightly; he had a first rate intellect and often brought a new perspective or insight to an issue being discussed at the board table.
But Ken’s contribution to TBA was never restricted to our meetings. He was always putting his mind – and giving his time – to one issue or another. He would be the first director to put up their hand to work on a subcommittee and he was continually in contact with our chief executive and staff, providing assistance wherever he could.
He was also a very kind and warm man, who made friends with all who came into his orbit. He enjoyed a good joke and had a deep laugh that was contagious, often heard when he was attending one sale or another. But he was also somebody with great integrity and resolve, a man who could be counted on in difficult times.
I, along with every member of the boards of TBA and Aushorse, am mourning Ken’s death, both as a friend and colleague. The industry owes him a huge debt of gratitude.
Ken’s funeral will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Hawthorn, Melbourne, at 1.30pm this coming Wednesday (4th December) and I am sure that I will see many of you there.
Our thoughts are with Ken’s wife Lynne and their family.
Kind regards,
Basil
Basil Nolan
TBA President
