Every day we hear about community heroes who show up week after week, quietly making The West a better place. That’s why we’re proud to spotlight our first Hero of The West, Chairman of the New Lynn Rugby League Club, Barbara Murphy.
Overseer of everything at the club, Barbara is serving her tenth and final year as Chairman – a milestone reached after her husband saw 9 years on the honours board and insisted she reached a decade.
Made a Life Member in 2022, Barbara has been an integral part of the club’s success, overcoming ups and downs, like her very first year navigating the club through a tough financial time. Now, under her watch, the club is financially stable and experiencing massive growth in player numbers, particularly in the girls’ game with eight junior girls’ teams this year.
Affectionately known as Aunty Barb, her favourite part of the job is watching the cycle of the club continue.
“A highlight is when the Under 6 grade players come back years later as coaches, managers, and committee members,” Barbara says. “It always puts a smile on my face.”
For Barbara, the club has always sat close to her heart. Growing up nearby on Gilliam Street, it was the neighbourhood kids’ spot to go kick a ball around. Her family has been part of the Stags from its early days in the 1960s, with her older siblings playing, her sister set up the touch module, and her father serving as the zambuck (first aid) on Saturdays.
“It’s New Lynn or nothing,” Barbara says. “Back then, it was just a block of toilets. The committee would bring down crates of beer to sit on to have their meetings.”
Today, the toilet block is a distant memory, replaced by a thriving community club. The Trusts have been proud to support Barbara and the New Lynn Rugby League Club, including a $21,000 ‘Million Dollar Mission’ grant. “We still have the big cheque up on the wall,” she said.
As she prepares to step back from the club, Barbara leaves behind a legacy of growth. “If you have dedicated people behind you, you’ll succeed. Everyone’s there for the love of the game.” Barbara says.
