As has been explored before on the Western Plains App an 'iron ringer' is a person born in Cobar. This article is the first of a series called 'Iron Ringers and Ring-Ins', interviewing well-known Cobar locals, to find out what they do, where their passions lie, and their contributions to their local community. This time the Western Plains App is interviewing Barry Knight.

Barry Knight is a fourth generation iron ringer, born and raised in Cobar. His family have called Cobar home since 1871 and the tradition continues with his son Troy, and grandson representing the 5th and 6th generations to live in the district.

When the Western Plains App asked Barry why he loved Cobar so much he said "You live here long enough and you see how people help each other out, why would you live anywhere else?"

You call tell Barry and the Knight family are true Iron Ringers, with their name etched into the local geography.

The Tom Knight Memorial Oval – named after Barry's late brother - is where the Cobar Roosters and Roosterettes proudly play. 

"It's a great honour for the family to have the oval named Tom," says Barry. "He not only played ruby league in Cobar for many years, he was also the coach, on the committees and drove the buses for the junior and senior leagues."

Knight Drive leads to The New Tank or 'The Newey' as it is fondly known to Cobar locals.

The Newey was built in 1910, when another reservoir was needed to help supply a water-poor Cobar. "My Grandfather Harry and his brother George actually sank the tank, they were the contractors...that's why it's called Knight Drive", Barry Knight told the Western Plains App.

Barry's son Troy Knight (on the right}, representing Aurelia Metals, with Councillor Lillian Simpson, Thellie Wade and Sue Singleton at the Cobar Arts Council Art and Photography Exhibition opening last year IMAGE: Emma Datson

Barry Knight has himself held many roles in Cobar, both voluntary and paid. He worked at the CSA Mine, first as an apprentice in 1970 and then later as Development Miner; owned and ran a corner store on Brough Street; and worked for Essential Energy for over 20 years.

Barry spent 12 years as a Cobar Shire Councillor, including four years as Deputy Mayor; is a former president of St John's Parents & Friends and School Board; was involved with junior league, cricket and Little Athletics when his own children were younger.

These days he is a member of the Cobar RSL Sub Branch Committee; the driving force behind the Cobar Miner's Memorial and Festival of the Miner's Ghost; and with his late wife Ginni, the driving force behind the Cobar Poppy Fence.

Barry and his wife Ginni Knight, at the opening of the Cobar Miner's Memorial in 2021. IMAGE SUPPLIED.

Two years ago, Barry and Ginni were recognised in NSW Parliament by the Member for Barwon Roy Butler in November 2022, with a Community Recognition Statement. Mr Butler was effusive with praise for Barry saying "Barry has held positions on countless community committees and has dedicated thousands of hours of his time serving the community. 

"One major achievement is the Cobar Miners Memorial, commemorating miners who have lost their lives in Cobar mines or from mining-related illnesses. ... I commend and thank Barry and Ginni Knight on their tireless efforts for the good health of the community of Cobar", Mr Butler told the Parliament.

The Cobar Miners Memorial was a passion project of Barry. It took over seven years to complete and was opened on 19 June 2021. "I felt there was a need to build a Miners Memorial because one of best mates I went to school with got killed 50 years ago last year," Barry told the Western Plains App. "He died in November 1973, and I felt there was a need to have a place to remember these men".

The Cobar Miners Memorial at night not long after it opened in 2021. IMAGE SUPPLIED.

Cobar's Poppy Fence, featuring 600 poppies to remember Cobar's war veterans , was something that Barry's wife Ginni came up with after seeing something similar in New Zealand.

"We were in NZ in 2017 and we were in a little mining town," he said. "We were looking for ideas for the Miner's Memorial and Ginni went for a walk down to the beach. The Lions Club had put a poppy for each returned serviceman on the fence and Ginni said we are going to build one of those in Cobar."

And so they did. The Cobar Poppy Fence officially opened on 13 August 2022.

 "Ginni Knight passed away in October 2021, but her legacy lives on. Barry would say that it would not have been possible without his wife," Roy Butler, Member for Barwon, said in his Community Recognition Statement. "Ginni was his supporter and an amazing community contributor in her own right."

The Newey was sunk by Barry Knight's Grandfather Harry and his brother George. IMAGE: Emma Datson

Cobar has honoured Barry in their own way nominating him again in 2024 for an Australia Day Award.

In 2020 he was awarded the Citizen of the Year, for the Festival of the Miner's Ghost and Cobar Miners Memorial amongst his many other activities. The Cobar Miners Memorial and the Festival themselves have also been nominated for Australia Day Awards, with the inaugural memorial Night for our Lost Miners winning the Community Event of the Year in 2018.

Barry said "It's a great honour to be nominated for an Australia Day award but there are lots of other worthy people that should be nominated".

Today, Barry Knight, an Iron Ringer always, is still working and remains a driving force for the community of Cobar. As Roy Butler aptly said in 2022, "Barry is not done yet".