Vale: Barry Lee
29.03.1945 – 28.04.2022
THE late Barry Lee had more than one profession in his working career but one thing which remained unchanged was his commitment to his family.
Barry George Lee was the second son of George and Valerie Lee.
He was raised on the family farm at Calvert with his older brother, Neville and his younger brother, Kevin.
Early education for Barry was through correspondence for Years 1 and 2, then from Year 3 he attended Calvert State School, before completing his Scholarship year at Grandchester State School.
At the age of 13, Barry left school to help his parents on the farm and he continued working on the farm until the age of 20.
In 1965, Barry’s birthdate was drawn in the National Service Ballot, and he was conscripted to the Australian Army and began his service on June 30, 1965.
On completion of his 12 weeks induction training at Kapooka, with further driver training and training in helicopter and plane loading, Barry’s platoon, Detachment 176 Air Supply Company, was deployed to Vietnam in April 1966.
After 351 days of service in Vietnam, Barry returned home, completed his National Service and was discharged from the Army on June 29, 1967.
He returned to help his father on the farm, while securing employment as a Fettler with Queensland Railways.
His first role was at Calvert, before moving to Walloon and Rosewood and it was at this time, he met local lady, Jeanie Coyne.
Barry and Jeanie dated for four years, before they were married at the St Luke’s Anglican Church in Rosewood on April 17, 1971.
The couple built a house in Makepeace Street, Rosewood and in time, they became the parents of two children, Shane and Donna.
The family made many wonderful memories together through holidays, birthdays, Christmas and special celebrations.
Together the family had many adventures through train trips to Cairns and Charleville and through involvement with hockey, swimming, tennis and school sport.
For all things spelling and math, Barry was the ‘go to’ man, to his children there was nothing that he did not know and he was always there to help and support his family.
Barry retired from Queensland Rail in 2003 after 36 years of service, he approached his work as he did everything else in life, with dedication and purpose, determined to do the best job he could.
After his retirement, he established his own mowing business and he volunteered his time to many organisations in both the Rosewood and Ipswich areas.
The family soon grew with the addition of five grandchildren, Grace, Lexie, Linc, Remi and Asha, and the family holiday tradition continued adding many more memorable moments.
Barry was a lover of most sports, though cricket was the one sport he was most keen on. The family travelled together to the Gabba to watch many games and late nights were a regular thing for Barry as he stayed up to watch his favourite game.
In 2006, Barry and his son Shane made the trip to Melbourne to watch a Boxing Day test and witnessed the late Shane Warne take his 700th wicket in test cricket … a special moment that will last with father and son forever.
A combined love of rail travel resulted in Barry and Jeanie going on trips to Rockhampton, Longreach, Cairns, Sydney, Adelaide and Darwin.
The couple were at their happiest travelling domestically in their van, though they did take one overseas trip to the east coast of America.
Barry’s final trip was in 2021 to Wandoan to see the Soldier Settlers Avenue of Honour which was something that was on his bucket list for many years.
Barry was known to many as a kind selfless soul, who always put others first.
He was a generous man that will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.
