Barry Power
Barry Power (1938 - 2024) was an Australian activist.
Radical life
After service in the Australian Merchant Marine Barry Power went into the NSW Public Service initially joining the Motor Registry Department in Rosebery and later the Department of Agriculture where he studied Agriculture part time to work in Plant Quarantine. For many years Power worked at Sydney Airport inspecting the bags of incoming passengers. It was whilst Power was working for the NSW Department of Agriculture that he met Lance Gowland a gay activist and CPA member. At Lance’s urging Barry became a CPA member and active in the NSW PSA (Public Service Association)
Barry Power bought a house in the June 1978 in Alexandria so he could be close to Sydney Airport. He and his partner Philip King turned it into a green oasis with a beautiful garden.
In 1979 Barry became active with his partner Philip in organising the Mardi Gras as many gays and lesbians were unwilling to become involved after the police attacked the event in 1978. With Lance Gowland and others, they helped the event get off the ground and make it the success that it is today.
Barry Power learned violin later in life and practising with Ron Austin (ex Christian Brothers and CAMP). Barry learnt Spanish to help with his travels around Latin America.
Barry was a big supporter of marriage equality, marrying his partner Philip King in a ceremony at the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriage in March 2018.[1]
CPA Gay Collective
In the 1980s Geoff Evans was aware of gay activists in the CPA – Lance Gowland, Brian McGahen. Evans then became organiser for the Sydney District of the CPA. He was interested in supporting communists in the gay movement and the CPA Sydney Branch had formed a homosexual collective. Geoff joined the group to provide support for a central human rights struggle, but as a straight man. His friend and housemate, Marilyn McCormack and Kim Back, an ex-lover were members, plus Lance Gowland, Brian McGahen, Barry Power, Graham Chuck and Peter Murphy. The collective was relatively small – about 8 – 10 people. It discussed politics in the gay movement, sexism among gay men, the politics of lesbian separatism. Perhaps Joyce Stevens, Margo Moore attended – there was an overlap between the gay and women’s collectives.[2]
SEARCH Foundation Sydney
Sydney attendees of the SEARCH Foundation 2014 AGM included Barry Power .
Sydney activists tendering apologies to the SEARCH Foundation 2006 AGM included Barry Power .
CPA Gay Collective
In the 1980s Geoff Evans was aware of gay activists in the CPA – Lance Gowland, Brian McGahen. Evans then became organiser for the Sydney District of the CPA. He was interested in supporting communists in the gay movement and the CPA Sydney Branch had formed a homosexual collective. Geoff joined the group to provide support for a central human rights struggle, but as a straight man. His friend and housemate, Marilyn McCormack and Kim Back, an ex-lover were members, plus Lance Gowland, Brian McGahen, Barry Power, Graham Chuck and Peter Murphy. The collective was relatively small – about 8 – 10 people. It discussed politics in the gay movement, sexism among gay men, the politics of lesbian separatism. Perhaps Joyce Stevens, Margo Moore attended – there was an overlap between the gay and women’s collectives.[3]
"STATEMENT REGARDING ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS"
In April 1986 several hundred attendees of The Broad Left Conference in Melbourne signed an add in the National Times "STATEMENT REGARDING ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS".
Signatories included Barry Power.