Heather Barraket – November 12, 1942-November 6, 2024
Heather Barraket, wife of Joe (dec), mother of Jessica and Thomas, passed away on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, aged 81 years.
Heather was born on November 12, 1942 in Canberra, a daughter to Gwen and David Rouse (both dec) and the second youngest of six children, Michael (dec), Sue, twin brother Donald, John, and Julie.
Their father David served in the Australian Army and later as an instructor at Duntroon.
When David took deployment at the start of WWII in 1944 the family moved to Ingham to be near Gwen’s family.
More moves came as David was posted to Darwin in 1945, to Seymour, Victoria in 1946, to Melbourne in 1953 and to Williamtown Airforce Base near Newcastle in 1957 where he was in charge of the Army’s Parachute Training Wing.
This meant a varied schooling life for Heather, starting at Seymour Primary School with a transfer to Moorabbin Primary School, next attending McKinnon High School in Melbourne until the family moved to Williamtown which meant attendance at Cook’s Hill Intermediate High School, and finally at Newcastle Girls’ High School.
Growing up in the 1950s in the early days of rock and roll, Heather loved all the new music of that time and all the dancing that went with it.
Heather was a big fan of Elvis Presley and music of the time such as Roy Orbison, the Righteous Brothers, Ricky Nelson, Franki Valli and the Four Seasons, the Ronettes, Dion and the Belmonts, and many more.
After finishing school in Newcastle, Heather decided to follow in her sister Sue’s footsteps and train to be a nurse at Epworth Hospital in Melbourne.
She ultimately trained to be both a midwife and a theatre sister.
During her nursing career she worked at Epworth Hospital, at various major hospitals in Sydney, at Cobram Hospital in Victoria, and in Narrabri.
It was in Narrabri that she met a young Joe Barraket and after a courtship the happy couple celebrated the occasion of their wedding in 1981.
Joe and Heather later welcomed two children into the family, Jess, born May 24, 1983, and Tom, born September 9, 1984.
Joe and Heather Barraket on their wedding day.
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A Eulogy for Mum by Tom Barraket
Mum was, without a doubt, the best mother anyone could have hoped for.
She gave Jess and I a childhood filled with love, warmth and affection.
She loved spending time with us, and all she ever wanted was for Jess and I to be happy.
She’d often tell me that the years before we started school were the happiest of her life, and I know that was because she felt so fulfilled as a mother.
She was also a wonderful grandmother, and I know that her three grandkids brought her immense joy and pride.
Watching her with them was like seeing her love come full circle, and it always warmed my heart to see her so happy with them.
I feel incredibly lucky to have had her in my life.
We were very close, not just as mother and son, but also as great friends.
We talked often, and there was always love and support in every conversation.
Mum had a very caring nature, and she spent much of her life looking after others, often at the expense of her own needs.
She had a successful nursing career but chose to dedicate herself fully to her family when Jess and I came along.
Every day, she poured herself into looking after us and everyone around her.
I remember her travelling to Sydney regularly to care for her parents when they were unwell, and then she devoted a decade to looking after Dad as he struggled with his health.
Mum didn’t think twice about putting others first.
She was the heart of our extended family, the matriarch who always kept us connected, kept us informed, and made sure we were all okay.
The hole she leaves in the family is immeasurable, and she will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Mum was always there for Jess and I, no matter what we got up to.
Jess and I were notorious for playing up and terrorising babysitters, but Mum was always our protector.
She never saw any bad in us.
One funny memory I have is when I was about nine, and mum’s cigarettes kept going missing.
It turned out I had been stealing them and selling them to the Year Six kids at primary school.
When Jess confessed to Mum, she didn’t scold me; instead, she said: “Well, Tom’s quite the entrepreneur, isn’t he?”
Mum was also like a second mother to many of my friends.
When I was at boarding school, half of my housemates would show up at our place on Saturday nights, not just for a meal, but for a good time with Mum, some laughs, and the occasional drink or cigarette.
My friends often talk about her with such warmth and affection, and I know many of them are thinking of her today.
Mum, I know you’re listening, and I just want to say how much I love you.
You were the best mother I could have asked for, and I will be forever grateful for the love and care you gave me.
The years we spent together were so special, and I will hold them close to my heart for the rest of my life.
You were always the voice in my head, encouraging me to do better, to be better, and to take care of my own family just as you took care of ours.
I will miss so many things about you – the phone calls, the trips to Sydney, the laughs, and the way you always made me feel like I was your top priority.
But most of all, I’ll miss saying ‘I love you’ and hearing you say it back.
You have been the most influential person in my life, and even though you’re no longer with us, my love for you will never fade.
Thank you for all the memories, Mum. I love you, always.
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Heather was held in great affection by many in the Narrabri community, a treasured friend and confidante.
In the words of her brother John, what made Heather special was that she had the most remarkable inner glow.
This inner beauty radiated love, kindness, caring, positivity, support, understanding, and most importantly, sunshine and happiness towards all those in her family, her friends and to many others who crossed her path in life.
A private and unassuming person, Heather duly requested a private funeral, in Jess’ words, “small and sweet, just like she was.”
Heather is survived by her siblings Sue, twin brother Donald, John, and Julie; her daughter Jess, son Tom and their partners and children.
Much adored grandmother to Xavier, Fiadh and Seán, she will be dearly missed, never forgotten, and remembered with deep affection.
