Harnett (Mayor) Gilbert Barry
| Type of person | Individual |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10/09/1932 |
| Place of birth | Adelaide |
| Date of death | 2023 |
| Place of death | Gawler , South Australia |
Gilbert Barry Harnett was a Gawler Councillor for Evanston Ward from 1973 to 1978. He was Mayor of Gawler from 1978 to 1989. He was a Gawler Alderman from 1989 to 1991.
Harnett Gilbert Barry [Gil]
Born in Adelaide 10/9/1932, he is the youngest of the three sons of Leo and Mary Harnett [nee Coglin] of Torrens Park. His father, Leo, was a carpenter and builder who spent some time during WW2 building Army huts south of Darwin. His two older brothers, Leo and Frank, served in the R.A.A.F.
Gil was educated by the Sisters of Saint Joseph at Kingswood and then at the Christian Brothers College in Wakefield Street Adelaide. The Christian Brothers encouraged leadership qualities and a desire for further education.
On leaving School, Gil graduated from the University of Adelaide with a degree in Pharmacy. During the 4 year course he served his apprenticeship at the Stempel and Jolly Pharmacy which was close to the Bee-Hive Corner in King William Street, Adelaide.
On 7th May 1955 Gil married Mary O’Loughlin in Saint Patrick’s Church, Grote Street, Adelaide. They had 5 children, 8 grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren over the following sixty or so years.
Gil arrived in Gawler in December 1955 after working for six months with Carrig Chemists at West Beach. He was offered the job of opening a new Pharmacy on Adelaide Road, Gawler South by Os Conley, a pharmacist in Murray Street Gawler. The new Pharmacy was to be next to a medical clinic run by the well-known Doctor Vin Rice and Partners. Over the next couple of years, due to ill-health, Os Conley needed a relief pharmacist and Humphrey George arrived in Gawler. Gil and Humphrey worked the business between them and got on well together. In 1959, Os Conley retired from Gawler and sold his two Pharmacies to Gil and Humphrey.
This was the beginning of one of the longest business partnerships in Australia. [In their retirement this partnership continues with their association with the Kingsford Hotel, Gawler and the Risdon Hotel in Port Pirie.]
During the 1960’s, Gil was the foundation member of the Gawler Chamber of Commerce, the Chairman of Meals on Wheels, and the Treasurer of the then Bush Nursing Society; later known as the Royal District Nursing Service.
In 1973, Gil was elected to the Gawler Council and served for 5 years as the Evanston Ward Councillor. During that time, he served as Deputy Mayor before being elected Mayor in 1878; following Cec Creedon in that role. In 1979, Council established a Community Needs Study which was the forerunner of Gawler’s future development. It considered upgrading the Elderly Centre and establishing a Handy-Man Scheme.
Earlier in 1978, Council bought land around Dead Man’s Pass from the Riggs family. During this time Reid Street was widened and Light Square was developed and the Coles Northern Market was built. They were all important to the Town, along with the Gawler Public Library and the Sport and Recreation Centre. This Centre was funded entirely by the Gawler community, as no Government funds were available.
In 1985, Gil led the Council delegation which appeared before the State Government Select Committee inquiring into boundary changes. Gawler was largely successful in its submission and, this in turn, expanded its economic base.
Other highlights during Gil’s tenure as Mayor were The World Championship of the Equestrian Three Day Event in the presence of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh in 1986. The Freedom of Entry to the Town of Gawler to the crew of the patrol ship H.M.A.S. Gawler in 1986 produced an impressive parade and ceremony in Murray Street. There was also the celebration of 150 years of Gawler history with a parade in Gawler and a gathering at Clonlea Park and the launch of Derek Whitelock’s book “Gawler” added to the occasion.
Gil acknowledges the enormous contributions made to the Town by organisations such as the Gawler Show Society, the strong Service Clubs, the sporting Clubs, all the community groups and the business sector. They are all responsible for helping make Gawler such a magnificent place in which to live.
On his retirement as Mayor in 1989, Gill thanked his wife Mary for her support on the journey. Gil was succeeded in the role by Bob Bartlett. Gil served the community as a Justice of the Peace for approximately 40 years.
Gil and Mary have been fortunate to have travelled widely; both overseas and across Australia. In his retirement, Gil has volunteered for the Saint Vincent De Paul Society, is involved in the Gawler Catholic Parish and enjoys his connection with the Kingsford and Risdon Hotels. Gil and Mary have been blessed with a long and happy marriage and a loving, close-knit family.
Please Click Here to view footage of Mayor, Gil Harnett being interviewed for television program 'State Affair' in August 1982.
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