Community
16 July, 2025
Goodbye Barbara
THE district will farewell a much-loved community member who will leave after 26 years to be closer to family.
Naroghid’s Barbara Porter has become well-known for her dedication to the community over the years, utilising her skills as a chef, embroiderer, dressmaker, quiltmaker, china painter, cake decorator and more to make a positive difference on those around her.
There’s a long list of things she’s gotten up to over the years and has taught to others in Cobden but, sadly, she and husband Raymond have sold their home to move closer to family in Echuca.
Mrs Porter had a send-off luncheon last Monday, hosted by the Country Women’s Association (CWA), which she said was “lovely”.
“My fellow CWA member Jennifer Kripp wrote up a list of all the things I’ve been involved in and what I’ve done – some of which I’d forgotten,” she said.
“I’ve done volunteer work here at the Cobden Tech and supported the kindergarten and the schools in Camperdown.”
Her time with the CWA included bringing her baking and cake decorating skills to the group’s fundraising efforts, which often saw hundreds raised through raffle draws.
“I would donate a cake for a raffle which could make $400 or $500 off of just the one cake,” she said.
“We would sit in the supermarket and sell tickets, and people were always happy to support the CWA because our money goes back around.”
As a woman of many talents, Mrs Porter said she also had her limitations.
“I do lots of things, but I don’t mow lawns and I don’t like grocery shopping,” she said.
“You bring it and I’ll cook it, I’m not fussed.”
In preparing for the move, Mrs Porter said she has been giving away many of her possessions to make the travel lighter.
“All my cake decorating equipment I gave to Terang College, which they’ll use at Noorat Primary School because both their teachers do cake decorating,” she said.
Mrs Porter, reflecting on her time in the region, said some of her fondest memories came from the demonstrations she was able to put on directly from her own home.
She ran cooking workshops from her home’s commercial kitchen or would bring together groups to learn more about china painting.
“I’ve regularly had groups come to visit and they come to have a look at what I do, a talk and host a cooking demonstration before we had lunch together,” she said.
“It’s not always the young ones – it’s the old ones that come on the bus groups.
“I used to have a bus that would come from Geelong twice a month.”
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period, Mrs Porter said she organised a display through her quilt group.
“When we had COVID, we couldn’t have a quilt exhibition, so I put forward the proposal that we would make wall hangings in every shop in Cobden,” she said.
“We had 48 pieces that were made from each individual in our quilt group and we decorated the town for others to see despite the ongoing restrictions.
“Two of us hung them and people walking around town could see them – which, to me, would probably be one of the best things that I’ve done.”
When it came to what she thought she would miss the most, Mrs Porter said it would be the friends she’s made over the years, but she was also looking forward to making many more.
“I’ll miss the people, but I’ll meet others that are like-minded too,” she said.
She said she would miss Cobden and surrounds as the area was unique in a location which offered endless possibilities.
“There’s plenty of groups that you can tap into to fill your life in – you never should be lonely,” Mrs Porter said.
“That’s another thing about this region here.
“If I want to go to the beach, I can go to the beach – I’m only half an hour away, or three-quarters of an hour to Warrnambool.
“If I want to go to the mountains, I’m only a couple of hours from here to Hamilton or Ararat or Horsham.
“It’s very easy and it’s still a quiet area.
“It’s a different pace altogether and you can do as much or as little as you want.”
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