The night St Kilda legend Trevor Barker met Cher

A visiting celebrity being presented with a football jumper is a standard PR move, but when US superstar Cher landed in Melbourne in 1981, there was a lot more to the story.

Trevor Barker and Cher in 1981.

A visiting celebrity being presented with a football jumper is little more than a potential membership drive for a club, but December 3, 1981, in Collins St was one with a difference.

It was when US superstar Cher was on her first world solo tour, one that featured three backing singers, six dancers, three drag queens dressed as Bette Midler, Cher and Diana Ross, a mechanical bull and 12 costume changes, which meant she was never in the same outfit for more than eight minutes.

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It was also where she met a young St Kilda footballer named Trevor Barker, who is his role as promotions officer for his beloved Saints, was given the task of presenting Cher with a No.2 guernsey, as he wore No.1.

What happened next went with Barker to his grave when he died from cancer in April, 1996, or as one close friend said during the week “a gentleman never tells”. And it’s probably not appropriate to raise the question with Cher next time she tours Australia.

Trevor Barker meets Cher in 1981.

Cher in Saints colours.

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