Barry James Oliver
Barry attended Grammar when the school consisted mainly of boarders, and day students were far less in numbers.
The entire school operated from the original red brick building. Classrooms on the ground floor and boarders’ dormitories on the first floor.
The Art Room was a former R.A.A.F. hut that was purchased after the 1956 Olympics. These huts were used to accommodate the international rowers during the Rowing Events on Lake Wendouree.
Students attended Chapel every morning in the original timber Church and Assemblies were held in Manifold Hall (now the Chapel of St. Mark). Mr J Dart was the headmaster, and all teaching staff wore black gowns.
Classes were known as Remove A (Yr.7) Remove B (Yr.8) Shell (Yr.9) followed by Intermediate, Leaving and Matriculation.
The cane was used for punishment and Fatigues (Detentions) were common among students. These usually took the form of trimming the school Cyprus hedge which surrounded the school grounds, working in the school vegetable garden (that supplied the boarders dining room), cleaning the cow shed or chicken yard, feeding and cleaning the pigsty.
Barry participated in various sports whilst at Grammar including 1st Football and Hockey. His passion was Athletics; long distance running and is well remembered for his success during the Combined Schools Lap of the Lake.
He continued with athletics after leaving Grammar and studying at Monash University.
As an English teacher he wrote several books assisting Year 12 English students, as well as training and encouraging many students to take up athletics.
Barry competed in Triathlons both before and after retirement. He was still training every day until he succumbed to his illness.
His other passion was training English Pointer Dogs where he spent many years competing and judging Australian and International Field trials. Barry’s love of the English Pointer breed was passed down from his father James Edward OLIVER, who also attended Ballarat Grammar in the 1930’s.
Barry leaves behind his wife Kathy, daughter Cree, and grandchildren Lachlan and Henrietta. Sisters Carole Oliver O.A.M. (HODDER), and Cheryl Oliver (VALPIED).
Uncle of Andrew HODDER (’85), Ryan HODDER (’91), Bronson VALPIED (’97), Pasquale VALPIED (’99, father of Elodie and Remy VALPIED currently attending Grammar Junior School).
Cheryl Oliver (Valpied)
Acknowledgement of Country
Ballarat and Queen’s Anglican Grammar School acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, live and work, the Wadawurrung People, and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Commitment to Child Safety
Ballarat Grammar maintains a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse and actively implements measures to identify and manage any risks of harm to students within our school environment. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people are central and fundamental responsibilities of the School. We are firmly committed to fostering a child-safe culture that provides an environment where students are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices heard in decisions that affect their lives. Ballarat Grammar values diversity and strictly prohibits any racist or discriminatory practices. All members of our school community share the responsibility to care for children and young people by promptly raising any concerns regarding their safety, promoting their wellbeing, and protecting them from all forms of harm or abuse.
