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Marjorie Gladys Baker OAM

Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women logo
Marjorie Baker

Awarded for service to the Community

Born: 1927

Died: 2000

Entered on roll: 2005


Marjorie Baker was born in Legerwood. She was educated at the Glen Dhu Primary and Charles Street Schools and attended Miss Warren’s Business College. She married in 1949 and had three children, two daughters (one deceased) and a son. Throughout her life, Marjorie provided dedicated service to many community organisations.

Marjorie was a voluntary member of Women’s Australian National Service (WANS), where she assisted with the care of babies at the Queen Victoria Hospital nursery and in a nursing home. She played the piano at WANS social dances. She was the pianist for the Daylette Dancing School for 10 years, later forming the Marj Baker Trio, which played at local dances. Marjorie also assisted the Red Cross community services by playing piano at Eskleigh and Nazareth House nursing homes and was the organist for the Anglican Church. When World War II ended, the family piano was lifted onto her father’s truck and taken to the Quadrant Mall, where she played most of the day as part of the celebrations.

Marjorie lost her second child to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In 1978, she called a meeting and formed a group interested in finding out why babies died of SIDS - this was the beginning of SIDS Tasmania (now SIDS and Kids Tasmania). As a community based organisation, its objectives were to provide funds for research into SIDS and to provide support for families. Marjorie contributed at many levels to the work of SIDS Tasmania including as State President, Treasurer, Support Counsellor and as a judge of the Mrs Australia Awards.

Marjorie was also actively involved with Inner Wheel, serving as the District Chairman of District A80 (Kings Meadows and Beaconsfield). She contributed to the Community Partnership Group and was an active member of the Beauty Point Hospital Auxiliary, attending many State conferences. She was made a life member of the Glen Dhu Primary School Mothers Club and Kings Meadows High School Parents and Friends.

Marjorie assisted in the formation of the Beauty Point branch of the Rheumatism and Arthritis Foundation of Tasmania (RAFT). In 2000, Marjorie was a member of a local committee that was responsible for beautifying Brady’s Lookout. Marjorie was named as West Tamar Citizen of the Year in 1997 and received the SIDS Tasmania Perpetual Award in 1999. Following her death, Marjorie received an Order of Australia Medal in 2001 for her service to the community through her work with SIDS.

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