The hard working mum created history recently when she was bestowed with life membership at the Wanderers' AGM at Balmain Leagues Club. Melinda is the first woman to achieve the feat with the Wanderers club and joins her father Bob and brother Craig on a distinguished honour roll.It is also the first time that three members of a family have received life membership of the famous Leichhardt-based club that has Junior League ties dating back to 1911.
The Barnett family are highly respected in the Balmain district with Bob, a Wanderers stalwart and long-serving Balmain Junior League executive member and life member who has given sterling service over a 40 year period. Craig, 43, continues to give the Wanderers' yeoman service as Senior Vice President after a decorated playing career at club and junior representative level.
He played in eight premiership-winning teams and helped Balmain win S.G Ball Cup (1982) and Jersey Flegg Cup (1984) titles as a talented ball playing forward. An emotional Melinda said it was "a nice feeling" to receive a life membership badge - especially from a club like the Wanderers that is steeped in tradition.
"It was a huge shock and something I never expected. I'm excited and proud to be given such recognition by my fellow club members," said Melinda. "This club has been my life for over 35 years and I've loved every minute of it." Melinda has been associated with the Wanderers since 1974 when she would help her late mother Noeline (another tireless volunteer) in the canteen at Blackmore Oval.
The Barnett family have devoted many hours to the Wanderers club with Melinda helping out in so many ways. If she wasn't serving customers in the canteen, you'd find her offering words of encouragement from the sidelines or helping to raise funds for the club. When the Wanderers became the first junior rugby league club in Australia to tour England in 1985, Melinda played a pivotal role by working tirelessly behind the scenes.
Melinda has managed the Wanderers' U/6 team - coached by her 17 year old son Jeremy for the past three years - and enjoys watching her 8 year old nephew Max compete in the Mini League competition. One of her proudest moments came in 2007, when son Jeremy took out the Noeline Barnett Memorial Club Person of the Year Award.
story by Chris Karas
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