With party plans on hold due to COVID-19, the Inverell Men's Shed hosted a small gathering on Friday to celebrate dedicated, long-standing member Noel Barry's 90th birthday.
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In between sanding down dining room chairs, Noel dusted off his clothes to enjoy a barbecue lunch and some cake with his fellow Men's Shed members who've become more like family over the years.
Looking for something to keep him busy in his retirement, Noel joined the Inverell Men's Shed when it was situated in Ring Street and has watched it grow ever since.
Hailing from the North Star/Croppa Creek region, Noel was born in the original farmhouse at the Tullintulla property of Newstead, delivered by his grandmother and aunt during a flood of the Yalleroi Creek.
The 11,000 acre property had up to 18,000 head of sheep and there always work to do. Noel was the fourth born of 13 children.
As a young wheat share-farmer, Noel met his late wife Eileen in 1953 as she arrived at Yannarie Station, North Star to take on a governess role for the Thompson family.
Eileen was 17 at the time and had recently moved to Australia with her family from Bath, England.
After meeting in January, Noel asked for her hand in June and they married on October 31, 1953 in Goondiwindi. As a lover of animals and wide open spaces, farm life suited Eileen.
READ MORE: Sixty years together
Noel remembered her happily waking three to four times a night to feed and care for the lambs. The two eventually had three children: two sons, Colin and Kevin, and a daughter Maria.
"I went with her for nine months before we got married and we were married two months short of 65 years when I lost her. It will be two years on August 27. It's difficult when you're used to being together every day."
Noel and Eileen moved to Inverell in 1969 and over the years established three farms off Bundarra Road: Ardentenny, Hexham and Ventura and in the process built up some excellent sheep bloodlines.
"We used to show in Inverell, Glen Innes, Goondiwindi, Moree and Bingara- all those places. In 2004 we moved into town on Fernhill Road," he said.
Along with keeping busy at the Men's Shed, Noel takes pride in looking after his garden and hopes to rejuvenate trees and plants lost during the drought.
Due to the Queensland border closure and COVID-19 regulations, Colin, Kevin and Maria were unable to visit Inverell for the huge milestone. However, Noel's neighbours organised a small celebration on Saturday.
Noel thanked the Men's Shed.
"They've been good to me, they look after me well. Even when my wife passed away, they organised a guard of honour for her funeral and I feel very honoured for that."
