Peter Luxton gave this eulogy at Barry Herbertson's funeral service on 18 Oct 2010:

I’d like to say a few words in memory of Barry. Barry was a friend to many at the Gold Coast Table Tennis Club, and he was a friend to me.


I have known Barry and Agnes since 1973. Barry was one of the first people that I met at the table tennis club. Over that time he has been exceptionally loyal, and I cannot remember him ever having a harsh word to me.

Barry was a very important person in the history of the GCTTA. He was a life member and was on the committee for over 30 years. Barry had a passion for Table Tennis, and especially for the Gold Coast Club. I shared many happy times with Barry talking positively about table tennis.

Barry was also one half of a very great team. – The Barry and Agnes team! Together they have been perhaps the most important influence in the survival of the GCTTA.


The club is now on the verge of a thriving membership, but there was a time when membership was barely a trickle. Throughout all of this, Barry and Agnes played a major part in keeping the club alive. Apart from word of mouth, they were the driving force behind the raffles, garage sales, and cake stalls etc. They also ran a Saturday night social tennis from which most of the proceeds went towards the TT club. Subsequently through much of their efforts (and sacrifices), we were able to secure our own premises.

On the TT scene, if Agnes was the book keeper and energetic worker, then Barry was the welcoming party. No new person ever walked into the club looking lost for very long when Barry was around. He made sure that they felt comfortable.

One enviable quality that impressed me about Barry is that he did not appear to be afraid of anyone. I think that he would have done anything to defend his family. I can think of a couple of occasions when he admirably faced up to men who appeared to be a threat to his loved ones. He did this with no hesitation.

As a TT player, Barry was steady and reliable. But more importantly, he was a good thinker. He was a student of the game, and he knew his strengths and weaknesses. He always tried to work out a way to win matches, and you had to play very well if you were to beat him. When I first joined the club as a youngster, he always gave me heaps of praise, but then he would go out and beat me – how frustrating! Eventually I did go on to become the better player, but he continued to be supportive of me. Barry and I once went undefeated as a doubles pair during a whole season of team’s competition. He always enjoyed recalling that partnership.

I know that on at least one occasion he won our club’s ‘B’ grade singles championship by defeating a very classy player. I’m sure that he won numerous other titles as well.

At the table, you could always tell when Barry was playing with full concentration… by watching his mouth. As each ball approached his bat, he would stick his tongue out as if an ice-cream had been offered to him. That was classic Barry.

  Barry and Agnes remained devoted to the table tennis club when it was moving from different venues until the club finally had the opportunity to purchase its own hall (in 1994). They didn’t hesitate when it was suggested that they could become co-sponsors to enable the construction of the new facility. To do this they had to place a mortgage on their house. It was therefore appropriate that the club’s street was named Herbertson Drive in honour of Barry and Agnes.

Thanks for the memories, Barry
Goodbye, we will miss you