The Brisbane Hustlers rugby club has announced the death of founding team member and committee contributor Brett Barakat, with tributes shared by teammates and friends online.
Club Rebuild And Committee Work
The Brisbane Hustlers said the club rebuilt in 2012 after a hiatus, with Barakat among those who helped re-establish the team. The club described him as a committee member who supported the group’s work as it moved toward early Purchas Cup campaigns and preparations linked to the Bingham Cup.
The club said Barakat was often the first person new players met at training, regularly checking in and helping newcomers feel included.
Support For Events And Fundraising
In its tribute, the Brisbane Hustlers said Barakat threw himself into club activities including open days, a new players night, boot camp, awards nights, Rugger Bugger events, and the club’s first trivia night in 2014.
The club also said he helped manage the team at the Bingham Cup in Sydney in 2014 and led an outdoor cinema night on the oval screening Scrum, raising funds needed to get two teams to the tournament.
Wider Community Connections
Barakat had also spent time living in Sydney and was involved with community groups there, including helping put together the first Arab float in Mardi Gras, according to accounts shared in tributes.
A separate tribute described Barakat as an organiser who brought Arab LGBTQIA+ people together through regular gatherings and performances, and also recalled time spent with him in Lebanon.
Gathering Details And Funeral Plans
An informal gathering in Sydney has been announced for Saturday 20 December, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Beauchamp Hotel, 265 Oxford St, Darlinghurst.
Updates shared online stated the Barakat family will hold a funeral service on Friday 9 January 2026. A further update said the funeral is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Queensland time at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters, with additional burial and wake information shared separately. A Sydney memorial Mass is planned for mid-January 2026.
Next Steps
Those organising the Sydney gathering have encouraged people to share memories and photos, with ongoing details about events to be circulated through a family-linked WhatsApp update group.
Published 17-Dec-2025
