OBA Groups

Old Barker Football Club

Go to that mystery drawer in your office/kitchen and pull out a rubber band. Now, stretch that rubber band between your fingers and give it twang … that melodic B-flat is the phonological representation of the 035’s team hamstrings. Now pull a little harder … That higher pitch F-major is the shrill cry of mercy coming from the overburdened hamstrings of Ben Holland (96), Mike Poon (95) and Dave Garrick (95) … now pull a little harder … !Snap! That onomatopoeic climax sees Dominic Kua (03), Ned Robinson (05) and Ross Kightley (03) sidelined. Something was clearly lacking from the Barker PDHPE curriculum around the turn of the century. An early draw, victory and two losses for 035s in Division 1 sees the team mixing it with the best, a reasonable start for a team that spent 2022 in Division 3.

Division 2 got off to the worst possible season start. As former

OBA Volleyball

This year marks the exciting inauguration of Old Barker Volleyball. We are looking forward to a successful 2023 season in the Sydney North Volleyball Leagues’ A grade division, played on Monday evenings. While the Club is new, the team has been playing for five years and is comprised entirely of alumni that have coached or been coached by one another. It is because of this that our team still feels rooted in CAS Saturday mornings.

Barker Football Manger, and long-time economic tsar of the dismal science, John McGrath warned, the worst position on the football field was ‘left-rightout’… meaning you’d found yourself benched. The pre-season recruitment drive lacked sufficient magnetism, and a re-opening of borders saw a core playing group relocate overseas. An insufficient squad was forced to withdraw from the Division 2 full field competition for 2023. This appears to be a community wide phenomenon, with the Northern Suburbs Football Association having to compress all-age divisions from two team squads into singular teams below Division 3 and the 035s competition contracting from six divisions to four. Whether this is a sustained trend or an idiosyncratic response to a disconnection from team sport due to COVID remains to be seen.

Age appears to be catching up with the Division 4 men’s all age team, having gotten off to their slowest start in a football season since formation. With only three games played, it’s too early to draw too much into proceedings for a team that has claimed the most silverware in the last generation of competition. A good general saves his toughest battles for his best soldiers, and so it will be for Rahul Sathiaraj (13) and Liam Demaine (13) in rallying their troops.

There will be a strong push in the back end of 2023 to again canvas feasibility for a squad based all-age playing group to challenge upper echelons of community football. Please reach out to a club contact to express interest being part of the next chapter of OBFC annals in 2024. Contact information available at www.oldbarkerfc.com

We hope no readers’ fingers were injured while reading this article.

Matt Vickers (05)

Volleyball at Barker has grown significantly over the last few years going from three teams in 2019 to thirteen in the current 2023 season. The recent growth has been further driven by the successful establishment of a girl’s program. As the sports’ presence in the School strengthens, more graduating students have expressed interest in continuing their Volleyball career with Barker. Due to this, we are looking to expand to a second team in the latter half of this year.

As the founder of the Club, I personally want to thank the OBA Board Members for their assistance and time in the process of establishing the organisation.

Callan Butler (17)

Old Barker Rugby

Season 2023 is under way at Old Barker Rugby Club and, after a bye in Round One, there have been some promising results that followed, with optimism for at least a couple of teams to have Finals appearances later in the season. The weather has been kind and some entertaining rugby has been displayed under the allnew coaching staff this season, comprising Andrew Johnson (90) and Hugh Doran (09, 1st Grade), Sean Parker (2nd Grade), Angus Blakemore (16) and Sam Jackson (20, Colts), and Jordan Fowles (Women’s 7s).

Colts, under the captaincy of Ben Peden (20), and including the likes of Ed Taylor (20), Jack Colbran (21) and Grant Tucker (20), have shown signs of promise, and are hoping for some improved results as the season progresses.

2nd Grade have started the season strongly, with two wins from three

OBA Big Band

The OBA Big Band has spent the start of the year exploring and perfecting new material. Since making a conscious decision to focus on improvisation, our repertoire has become even more eclectic.

A new band favourite is the piece Il Barone Rosso. Originally written for the 1974 Italian movie La bellissima estate, it's now become an internet meme after being used as the theme for the popular TV show Curb Your Enthusiasm.

A recent addition is the piece "Wedding March", an Australian composition by Newtown-based mariachi Waiting for Guinness. The calm, slow march of the first movement contrasts with the fast, chaotic, 7/8 rhythms of the second. The formal precision when walking down the aisle, ultimately abandoned as a couple's giddy excitement takes over by the end of the day.

games, and stellar performances from the likes of Hamish Phipps (14), Liam Northcott (13) and Tim Potter (18) and some older heads showing they can still play a bit, including Gavin Opie (84), David Taylor (84) and Nick Eagleton (92). The “Peoples XV”, as they’ve become known, are always a highlight for the spectators, and silverware is anticipated come the pointy end of the season.

1st Grade have been training hard under their new coaching team and, after a couple of first up losses, are starting to reap the rewards with a big win over Old Ignatians in the last round. Strong performances from the likes of Sandy Locker (17), Angus Brodie (17), Adam Wigglesworth (15), and Connor Thomas (17) have been supported well by some rookie 1st graders such as Jack Breden (19), Charlie Vaughn (18), Andrew Castrisos (18) and Charlie Crawshaw (19). Finals beckon.

By the time you’ve read this, we will have celebrated our annual “Ladies

We look forward to performing these pieces at Barker Swings, later in the year. In the meantime, our most recent album is currently being mixed and mastered by members in the band. You can listen to our non-studio recordings and find out more at www. OBABigBand.com

Day” and hope to have raised a tidy sum for Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Women’s Shelter. This year sees Ladies Day being played against our archrival, Knox Old Boys, so hopefully as well as accumulating charity dollars, we’ll also have accumulated a brace of tries.

Our Women’s Sevens team has been training hard each week and the month of May finally sees their season getting underway. There are still some spots available in the squad and if anyone is interested in playing this year it’s never too late to come down (please contact bobrufcpresident@gmail.com).

Lastly, to find out any information about the season ahead, including announcements about upcoming games, events, or the Women’s Sevens program, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.