It is with much sadness that we hear of the passing of Barbara Gibson – Football West Life Member, Football Hall of Fame WA Inductee, recipient of an Australian Sports Medal for her services to sport, ‘Barbi’ and ‘Mum’ to many young soccer players – who left us on March 17, 2026, at the age of 95.
Alongside life partner Peter Dimopoulos, Barbara worked tirelessly from 1975 and throughout the 1980’s by nurturing to the growth and development of women’s football in WA. Her overall contribution to the game spanned five decades, as a player and an administrator.
Barbara was a pioneer in those early days for women’s soccer here in WA, helping to create and support new pathways for some of our most talented athletes including Australian internationals Sharon Mateljan (Loveless), Sandra Brentnall, Jae Pettit, Teresa Kozak (White) and Julie Gorton (Clayton). She was a late starter to playing the game, not entering the field until well into her 40’s.
Several significant events happened on Barbara’s watch. The first female President, Barbara Kozak, was elected in 1975 and the association changed its name from ‘Girls’ to the Western Australian Women’s Soccer Association. WA won and later hosted the National Championships, the State team toured India and Malaysia and Sandra Brentall scored Australia’s first ever women’s international goal.
A highlight of Barbara’s involvement in the game was her time as tour manager of the State team. In that capacity, she served at the 1975 National Championships, which was won by WA, and on tours to Malaysia and India in 1977 and 1980, where the team played against international opposition in front of crowds numbering in their tens of thousands.
Barbara served as Secretary, Treasurer and President of the WA Women’s Soccer Association. In 1984 she was appointed Vice-President of the Australian Women’s Soccer Association and a few years later was joined the Soccer Federation of WA as Secretary, a position she held for well over a decade.
At club level, Barbara was involved with the Bayswater City and Inglewood United clubs. Her final contribution to the game was as Secretary of the Football Hall of Fame WA between 2002 and 2014.
Rest in peace, pioneer. You are much loved and much remembered.
Find more information on Barbara, visit the Hero section of womensoccer.com.au.
Feature image: Barbara Gibson and Beryl Miles on tour with the State team (image courtesy of Jae Pettitt).