Footy world in shock as Newtown Jets club legend dies while celebrating his team’s grand final win
The man who saved Australia’s most iconic football team from oblivion has died just hours after the side achieved one of its most memorable major final victories.
Barry Vining, 85, suffered a heart attack and could not be revived after watching the Newtown Jets complete a 28-22 grand final win over the North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup decider on Sunday.
He had been club president for 32 years during the most tumultuous years in Jets history and was watching the finals at home when disaster struck.
A good friend of Barry told me 2GB that his final moments were spent celebrating his beloved Jets after their big final victory.
“He was so excited, he’s 85 now, he was so excited he literally had a heart attack and unfortunately he was sitting there at home with his lovely wife Vicki and his family all watching,” said the man, identified only as Rob . .
“They had to work on him as much as possible, an ambulance was called and they worked on him, but unfortunately he didn’t make it.”
Barry is credited with saving the Newtown Jets from complete extinction.
“Mr. Vining will always be remembered as one of the most effective and respected club presidents in Newtown’s 116-year history,” the club said in a statement.
“A celebration of Barry’s contribution to the Newtown Jets is being organized and details will be released shortly.”
Former president Barry Vining (left) is pictured with Newtown and St George legend Johnny Raper prior to their deaths
Barry had watched the Newtown Jets win the NSW Cup just hours before he died (photo: the Jets celebrate their victory on Sunday)
The Jets, originally known as the Newtown Bluebags, were kicked out of the NSWRL’s first-year competition in 1983 due to financial problems.
During the wilderness years from 1984 to 1990, the club struggled to survive without fielding a team in any division. Their resilience paid off with a return to competitive play in the NSWRL Metropolitan Cup and subsequent promotion to the NSW Cup.
Rob said Barry had such a deep love for the Jets that he would have loved to continue in the same way.
“I don’t think he could have orchestrated it any better. “If he had to go, I think that would absolutely have been the way for Barry,” he said.
“I know it’s a sad time when someone passes away, but if Barry had to go, I don’t think he could have handled it any better… he lived for that team and that club.”
The tributes are starting to pour in from lifelong Jets fans.
“I just heard the sad news of the passing of Barry Vining, a huge supporter of the Newtown Jets. He was the former chairman of our club and he was partly the reason that we were able to keep the club running after 1983. RIP,” said one supporter.
‘Very sad news, a true Bluebag legend. RIP,” another fan added.
“Condolences RIP Barry, you were the most important person in the survival and revival of the Jets,” another lamented.
Barry grew up in Camperdown and embraced his passion for rugby league early on, becoming a devoted supporter of Newtown.
Barry joined the Newtown RLFC board in 1980 and rose to president in 1986. Together with director Terry Rowney, he played a crucial role in the club’s preservation during the wilderness years of 1984 to 1990, a period when the club had no was successful. team in any class.
Under his leadership, Newtown emerged from obscurity to become a respected and thriving member of the NSW Rugby League.
Barry led the club in the NSWRL Metropolitan Cup competition over the years, achieving a premiership in 1992 and a remarkable hat-trick of premierships from 1995 to 1997 under coach Colin Murphy.
His efforts, alongside those of Terry Rowney and Patron John Singleton, facilitated Newtown’s promotion to the second-tier NSW Rugby League in 2000, now known as the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
The Newtown Jets claiming the 2019 NRL State Championship was a crowning achievement after the club spent most of the 1980s in the wilderness
The club’s resurgence was marked by premiership victories in 2012 and 2019, and an NRL state championship in 2019.
In addition to rugby league, Barry’s influence extended to the air freight industry. In his 45-year career, he was director of the Australian Federation of International Freight Forwarders for 24 years, including seven years as chairman.
In 1995, Barry was elected vice president of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders (FIATA) and honored as an honorary member at the 2011 FIATA World Congress.
His commitment to ethical practices, good governance and public interest defined his business legacy.
Barry Vining’s life was a testament to dedication, vision and integrity.
Newtown has carved out a niche as a family-friendly, down-to-earth rugby league offering in Sydney’s trendy Inner West, ensuring Barry’s legacy will be felt for many years to come.