THEY were lifetime mates and Moree Lions Club members for what seemed like forever – and they died within one day of each other.
Barrie Brooks and Geoff Cullen were Moree Lions bedrock, each with more than 50 years’ service to the local chapter.
Barrie passed away on February 11 after a short illness, one day after the death of his good mate, Geoff.
Barrie was 87 and Geoff was 83.
Geoff joined Moree Lions Club in 1965 and Barrie signed up five years later.
Barrie was still involved in the club up until his death and regularly attended fortnightly club meetings at Moree Services Club.
About 10 years ago, ill-health slowed Geoff down a bit and he stepped back from club duties, but the connection held fast.
Between them, Barrie and Geoff served the Moree community as Lions Club members for 106 years, and helped shape the club to what it is today.
They both received the coveted Melvin Jones Fellowship Medal, named in honour of the Lions Club founder who started the movement to “unite on the basis of unselfish community service”.
Barrie Brooks and Geoff Cullen stood by those words their entire lives.
Lions president four times
Barrie was Moree Lions Club president four times, and in 2021 was presented the JD Richardson Award for 50 years’ service.
The award is named after Jim Richardson, the first Australian to serve as a director on the Lions International board.
Barrie was also twice district convention chair, zone chair six times and Golden Grain Festival chair three times.
When not turning steaks or flipping eggs at a Lions barbecue, Barrie was for many years Moree Legacy president.
He also sat on various committees, including Moree Services Club, St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish Council and Moree RSL Sub-Branch.
Barrie’s son, Michael, said his father served the Moree community proudly, and without fanfare.
“Dad was devoted to his community, and the Lions Club was a huge part of his life,” Michael said.
Barrie’s work didn’t go unnoticed.
In 2022, his name was etched to the Moree Plains Elders Honour Roll, which recognises Elders who have helped build better relationships between Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders and the wider Australian community.
In 2021, Barrie was named Moree Plains Shire Citizen of the Year at the Australia Day ceremony held in Jellicoe Park.
At last year’s Moree Lions’ 70th birthday lunch, Barrie held back tears when district governor Yvie Kearns awarded him a certificate of appreciation for 54 years’ involvement with the Moree club.
“With so much community service, dad was often acknowledged for his work, with various awards. None were more rewarding than receiving the Moree Citizen of the Year award,” Michael said.
After attending St Philomena’s Catholic School, Barrie was called up to National Service in 1957.
Afterwards, he began work as a mechanic for Crane and Co, the local Ford dealership at the time, under his father, George, who managed the company.
“Dad often had the job of driving brand-new Ford Customlines from the port in Sydney to Moree to be sold at the dealership,” Michael said.
“He became well-known in the district for servicing Fordson tractors, which would often require customer liaison in places like the Garah pub,” he smiled.
Geoff the unassuming family man
Geoff Cullen was an unassuming family man and hard worker, a truck driver who worked even harder behind the scenes for decades to make his community and the town of Moree a better place.
He sat two terms as Moree Lions Club president and was one of Moree’s unsung champions, who went about making a difference in so many quiet, unassuming ways.
Geoff’s daughter, Sonya, said Moree Lions Club was a big part of her father’s life.
“Dad was always proud of the work the Lions did together as a team, and he especially loved the mateship that went with it,” Sonya said.
“He used to sit at the kitchen table, writing in his little notebook about things they had discussed at meetings, jokes they told, jobs they had to do in preparation for the next meeting or fundraising events the club was organising. The Golden Grain Festivals were a big part of that organising.
“Mostly, I think it was the unassuming things he did with the Lions that they were all proud off . . . helping and supporting the community and doing what he loved doing with his mates,” Sonya said.
Geoff is survived by wife Margaret, children Fiona, Sonya and Geoffrey Junior, and grandchildren Tess and Chelsea, whom he adored.
This working life
Barrie, a devout South Sydney Rabbitohs fan, owned a Moree taxi for a few years and worked with various Moree dealerships and companies.
Between 1978 and 1994 he was in spare parts at Moree Header Sales for good friend and fellow Lions member Bernie Keitlinghaus and later as service manager at Moree Toyota.
Towards the end of his working life, Barrie served terms in spare parts at Gough and Gilmour and FH Smith and Son.
While he was sorting out spare parts and machinery services, Geoff Cullen was driving the heavy vehicles that needed them.
Geoff worked hard his entire life, including time at Thompson’s Plumbing, Haddad’s Transport, Cullen and Sons Boring Contractors, Wal McDonald, Johnstone’s Concrete and Quarry and Christakos Brothers Transport.
He later saw out his retirement years at Mackay’s Earthworks and Gwydir Spray Shop.
While there were many proud moments in the life and giving times of Barrie Brooks, two stood out like beacons – the births of grandchildren Amelya and Will in 2004 and 2005.
“Every chance he got, dad would proudly take Amelya and Will for morning tea, milkshakes, selling legacy and Anzac badges, emptying the tin hat at the services club, and selling Lions mints and Christmas cakes and puddings all over town,” Michael said.
“And the whole time, giving them love and mentoring them the Brooks way.
“Dad would always be proud to tell people his grandkids’ latest accomplishments or activities and everything the kids were doing at the time.
“He became quite text-savvy and used this to communicate constantly with them, especially Will, to keep each other up-to-date on the football.”
Barrie is survived by son Michael and daughter-in-law, Heidi, and grandchildren, Amelya and Will.
Funeral details
Geoffrey Thomas Cullen was laid to rest at Moree Cemetery on Thursday, February 13.
The funeral of his mate, Barrie James Brooks, will be held at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church on Wednesday, February 19 at 10.30am, followed by interment at Moree Cemetery.
Rest in peace, boys.
Moree Online News last year wrote about Barrie and Geoff’s commitment to Moree Lions Club:
