The Old Barker Association (OBA) is an active group of men and women who share a common heritage. The Association was formed in 1908 and originally known as the Barker College Old Boys Union. The OBA provides a critical link between Barker College and its past students. Today there is in excess of 7,500 members of the OBA.
Our Vision
The OBA strives to act and to be recognised as the foremost alumni association among Australian independent schools. We seek to foster relationships among our Members and to uphold the values we gained from Barker. We seek to encourage our Members as they strive to fulfil their potential in the wider community and as part of the extended Barker family. Finally, we promote the virtues of Barker College and provide it with a continuing source of support and encouragement.
Our Mission
Our role at the OBA is to:
- Foster relationships among past students of Barker
- Encourage past students of Barker to achieve their goals and fulfil their potential
- Promote the interests of past students in the ongoing development of Barker
- Assist Barker and the Barker community in achieving their aims and objectives
- Assist in securing the future of Barker
- Further the interests and ideals of Barker
Membership
Membership of the OBA is open to all former students of Barker. Once the application for membership is approved, the applicant automatically becomes a Life Member of our Association. Honorary membership of the OBA is also bestowed on staff who have served at the school for 20 or more years. For Barker leavers, the normal process is for the life membership fee to be paid as part of the final year School fees.
An Association for Everyone
The OBA is not just a group of 'old blokes' and 'old girls' sitting around thinking of ways to lavish money on the school, supporting our sporting clubs, and supporting the running of reunions. Certainly, these are some of our more visible and enjoyable activities but there is a lot more to us than this. The OBA is about the union of our Members and their links to Barker. We have Members who left the school long before many of us were born. We have Members who are in their first year out of school. We share a common bond and that bond is Barker. Given our diversity and our common heritage we believe we have a lot to offer our Members and the school. We believe the OBA can serve as the conduit through which all the energies and skills of our Members can be directed to help each other and to help the school. We want the OBA to reflect the ideals and needs of all our Members.
