What I See With Peter Fiorenza: Basketball canteen queen Barbara Willock hangs up apron after 18 years

There is an old term I like to use every now and again — salt of the earth. Google suggests there are a number of meanings for the phrase, which seems to have Biblical origins. But I like the following definition from the Cambridge Dictionary: “very honest and reasonable, and not thinking you are special in any way”. And that is how I think of my friend Barbara Willock. To be honest, I don’t know Barbara that well, but I have known her for many years. In fact, I grew up with Barbara’s kids, and my brother and I spent a period of our formative years playing junior basketball for the Stateside Basketball Club. It was, along with most youngsters in Geraldton, at the time when Eighth Street, Wonthella, was the centre of our weekend universe. Barbara helped to organise things at the Eighth Street stadium. It was easy because she lived across the road. Barbara still lives across the road but her children are all grown up, including her grandchildren, who she nurtured along the way. Even today, Barb still has an association with Stateside that has morphed into a strong association with the Geraldton Buccaneers. You could say that this happy-go-lucky soul has been an important cog for almost two decades, running the canteen at the stadium. For the past 18 years — come rain, hail or shine — Barbara has kept hungry tummies full with thousands of hamburgers, hot dogs, pies, sausage rolls, sandwiches, chips, lollies and drinks. You could say that everyone who goes to basketball in Geraldton knows Barb. I don’t go all that often, but I make sure I always catch up with her whenever I’m there, because that’s just what you do when you go to the basketball in Geraldton. Sadly, Barbara has decided to call it a day. You should never reveal a lady’s age, but let’s say she is certainly no spring chicken and is keen to step back and relax. And after 18 uninterrupted years, she surely deserves that. Her shoes will not be easy to fill either. Today, there are not too many people who would be prepared to spend time — several days a week and most of the weekend — behind a counter and in a hot, busy kitchen. And not just taking that onboard, but also continuing the PR job of chatting with the public, keeping up-to-date with their lives, giving advice and lending an ear. From what I have witnessed and heard, Barbara is all of this and more. Without a doubt, Barbara is indeed a fine example of what being “salt of the earth” is all about. Peter Fiorenza hosts Sports Shed Saturday (9am to noon) and Fiorenza on Sunday (10am to noon) on Radio MAMA. He’s also on Radio Geraldton (radiogeraldton.com.au).