Keith Barnes
Image: Don & Marion Phillips
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Keith Barnes was born on 31 January 1922 in Melbourne, Victoria.1 
He married Irene Alice Phillips, daughter of Thomas James Phillips and Irene Gladys 'Sis' McDonald, on 7 April 1951 in Shepparton, Victoria.2 
He died on 2 June 2007 at age 85.3 

Family

Irene Alice Phillips b. 11 Oct 1929, d. 31 Aug 2019
Children
ChartsCampbell, John, descendant chart
McDonald, Archibald, descendant chart
O'Loughlin, Michael, descendant chart
Phillips, James, descendant chart
Steer, Edward, descendant chart

Story

Keith Barnes was born in Melbourne on 31 January 1922.1
 
Future Wife
Keith met his future wife, Irene Phillips, while working in Shepparton.4
 
When Keith was working as an announcer at radio station 3SR in Shepparton in 1946, he stayed at the nearby Hotel Australia. In a letter to his family in Melbourne, he wrote:
The people at the pub where I'm staying are very nice and tariff is only two and an arf notes. Mine host is Tom Phillips who is a very good bloke. Is he the chap you mentioned when I was down? And the family are one and all wonderful people. And I can wander in and out of the kitchen and everywhere when I feel like it for a bit of supper or something. In fact sometimes the daughter of the house is associated with me in my nocturnal searching. Just one big happy family, that's wot we are.4

 
As the friendship started to blossom, Rene used to go to 3SR and sit and knit.5
 
ENGAGEMENT
The engagement is announced of Irene Alice, only daughter of Mr and Mrs T Phillips, Hotel Australia, Shepparton, to Keith, third son of Mr and Mrs J Barnes, Henry street, Auburn.6
 
7
Marriage and Family
Irene Alice Phillips and Keith Barnes were married at St Brendan's in Shepparton on 7 April 1951. They had seven children.2
Keith & Rene Barnes (Phillips), St Brendan's, Shepparton, Apr 1951
Image: Don & Marion Phillips
Keith & Rene Barnes (centre), Don Phillips (second from right), Apr 1951
Keith & Rene Barnes (Phillips), Apr 1951
Image: Bub Williams
Rene & Keith Barnes, Apr 1951
Rene (Phillips) & Keith Barnes, Apr 1951
Image: Sheri Barnes
Tom & Sis Phillips, Apr 1951
Image: Lesley Blythman
Tom & Sis Phillips, Apr 1951
Image: Roylyn Phillips
The reception was held at the Star Supper Room in Shepparton.
Wedding of Keith Barnes & Rene Phillips, wedding party table has Rene (left), Don Phillips, Tom Phillips (second right) & Sis Phillips (right), Star Supper Room, Shepparton, Apr 1951
Image: Roylyn Phillips
Tom & Sis Phillips, Apr 1951
Image: Nene Courtie
From Patricia's Diary
Seen in Shepparton this week were Mr and Mrs Keith Barnes, who were returning from their honeymoon in Sydney to take up residence in Warrnambool. They stayed with the bride’s parents, Mr and Mrs TJ Phillips of the Hotel Australia. [Apr 1951]8
Keith & Rene (Phillips) Barnes, honeymoon, Sydney 1951
Image: Sheri Barnes
Postcard home from Rene & Keith on their honeymoon, Apr 1951
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Postcard home from Rene & Keith on their honeymoon, Apr 1951
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Family Life
Keith and Rene lived at Warrnambool, then Hamilton, then Melbourne (3UZ for 12 months), then Portland.

In Hamilton, Keith would occasionally bring someone home for tea unannounced. Sometimes it was Bert Newton.9
 
Meet your 3YB friends
...
Keith Barnes, 3YB's chief announcer, comes from one of the most radio-minded families in the world.

His eldest brother, John, is production manager of 2UW, Sydney, another brother, Deryck, has appeared on stage, screen, and television in England, and a third brother, Bill, is also an announcer.

Two of Keith's cousins, Patricia Kennedy, the radio actress, of Melbourne, and Norman Barnes, the singer, of Sydney, are also well known.

Keith has served on all Argus radio stations - 3SR, 3UL, and 3YB.

During the war he served in New Guinea and the islands.
... [May 1953]10
 
Tom's good friend Doc Kennedy was president of the trotting club. One time Tom, Sis and Doc Kennedy visited Keith and Rene while down for the Warrnambool races. One night Keith, Tom and Doc Kennedy went out to get the main course while Rene and Sis prepared the vegies and the rest of the meal. After sitting at the table for ages waiting for the boys to return, Sis and Rene finally gave up and decided they may as well go to bed! [Rene Barnes]9,11
 
Big O Milk Bar, Portland
When Keith left radio announcing, he and Rene moved to Portland where they bought a milk bar. It was called 'The Big O' and they were there for eleven years.

It had a house at the side. There were five children at the time; three were inside and two (Kevin & Tony) were in a caravan out the back.9
Rene & Keith Barnes, Big 'O' milk bar & take away, Portland, Jan 1983
The Big 'O' milk bar and take away, Portland, c. 2019
Image: The Big O Takeaway, Facebook

Citations

  1. [S15] Irene Barnes, personal communication, January 1999.
  2. [S15] Irene Barnes, personal communication, 26 April 1995.
  3. [S269] Lesley Blythman, personal communication.
  4. [S275] Keith Barnes, letter, 7 November 1946, to Keith's parents, Letter from Keith to his family while staying at the Hotel Australia, viewed 2013, copy held by Peter Phillips.
  5. [S408] Brian Phillips, personal communication, 2 June 2015.
  6. [S201] 'Engagement', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 22 November 1949, p. 4, viewed 25 May 2015, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/188086444
  7. [S201] 'Approaching marriages', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 3 April 1951, p. 7, viewed 2 September 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/170013768
  8. [S201] 'From Patricia's Diary', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 27 April 1951, p. 2, viewed 22 August 2021, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/170014294
  9. [S15] Irene Barnes, personal communication, 4 December 2013.
  10. [S220] 'Meet your 3YB friends', The Argus, 1848-1957, newspaper, Argus Office, 5 May 1953, p. 26, viewed 24 December 2011, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23242368
  11. [S102] Jack Phillips, personal communication, 2 March 2013.