Maureen Hartley fondly remembers the man whose first play was presented by La Mama in 1974.
Always a fervent Fitzroy Football Club supporter, Barry was a unique and colourful character.
Born and raised in Reservoir, his creative voice was quintessentially Melbourne. His characters were "the overlooked, the battlers, the dreamers and the everyday people" (VABT).
Playwright, journalist, author, illustrator, painter, teacher, poet, actor and mentor, he leaves behind a huge legacy of plays and artworks full of wit, warmth and humanity.
From 1975 many of his plays were presented at La Mama, including – Ghost, The Interview, The Great Oscar Wilde Trial, The Bridal Suite, The Banana Bender, One Woman Shoe, Mag & Bag, Greenroom, Eat Your Greens, The Death of Minnie, Tyranny.
He won the 1995 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Remembering Ronald Ryan (at Playbox).
Ever generous and kind, Barry gave away many of his artworks.
He once told me stories of working as an apprentice set painter at Ch 7, and how he couldn’t draw hands.
When he was in the audience for his own plays, he laughed the loudest, sometimes before the funniest line was said.
He wrote regular articles in The Herald, The Age and The Melbourne Times. I remember one particular article in the TMT about the lady in his corner shop Milk Bar, who he likened to his grandmother. I laughed and cried at the same time. I often did while reading his work.
I discovered a recent Trouble Magazine interview called Last Words (July 2026), where Barry was asked the meaning of life.
Acknowledging the simple aspects of humanity he replied:
"The purpose of life is to thank Christ you are alive because in death you will never read Jane Austen or sip incredibly nice and delicious minestrone soup somewhere friendly …
"If you are lucky enough to put your stuff on in the morning and go to work then you’ve kicked a goal."
(Trouble interviewer): What stays the same in your life, no matter how much other things change?
BD: What stays the same despite everything is kindness which is probably all we shall be remembered for once we are gone from here...
Vale Barry.
You will be remembered,
Maureen Hartley, La Mama
