Barnett and Crabb honoured

By Ken Casellas

Colin Barnett and Phil Crabb have been influential leaders and outstanding West Australian citizens throughout their working lives, and this year they have been recognised for their conspicuous service and contributions to society and the community.

Mr Barnett was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (one of six recipients this year) and Mr Crabb was made a Member of the Order.

Both gentlemen have enjoyed lengthy associations with the Claremont Football Club, and the club and its members offer them their warmest congratulations.

Mr Barnett received his award for his eminent service to the people and parliament of WA, particularly as Premier, to economic and infrastructure development, to social welfare reform, and to the Indigenous community.

He is WA’s fifth longest serving Premier, spending eight and a half years as the State’s 29^TH Premier. He also had two stints as Opposition leader.

His association with the Claremont Football Club began 53 years ago when he played on a wing on a wintry day and helped the side win the WAFL fourths premiership in 1970 when his teammates included Graham Moss and Russell Reynolds.

Mr Barnett then was a member of Claremont’s colts side in 1971 and the reserves side the following year. Then, in the past 30 years he has provided wise counsel and strong support, acting as a vice-patron for 24 years and then having the honour as the club’s No. 1 ticket holder from 2018 to 2021.

His assistance and advice in the recent redevelopment at Claremont Oval have been invaluable, and he thoroughly enjoyed playing in the legends game in October 2013 as part of Claremont’s Calling Last Drinks event to celebrate the end of an era as the club began its major redevelopment.

Mr Crabb, a respected mining executive and lifelong philanthropist, has been actively engaged in mineral exploration and mining activities throughout his adult life. He is a member of the WA mining Hall of Fame and received the Diggers and Dealers award for Mining Entrepreneur of the Year in 1992.

He was campaign chairman of the Cancer Council of WA fundraising committee (1997-2000) when his leadership was exemplified not only through his ability to encourage major donations from businesses and individuals but also the example by personally donating substantially towards the foundation. He was awarded the President’s Medal by the Cancer Council in 2000.

Mr Crabb was a member of Claremont’s reserves side in 1959 when his teammates included Wayne Harvey, John Rogers and John Dethridge. A fractured leg ended his aspirations of becoming a league player, and he went on to play for the South Bunbury Club for several years.

After his playing career with South Bunbury, he served as the club’s vice-president and president, as well as being honoured as the No. 1 ticket holder.

Mr Crabb was a vice-patron at Claremont in 1997 and 1998 before serving as the club’s patron for the following five years. And then he has been a club vice-patron for the past 20 years.

It was as Claremont’s patron that he was extremely supportive through personal donations and business advice. He was heavily involved in the Kimberley Aboriginal scholarships which he set up in 2004, providing a scholarship to four Kimberley Aboriginal boys to attend Christ Church Grammar School and receive football development training skills from the Claremont Club, which honoured him with life membership in 2015.