Mary Baker - Mirboo North

Mary Baker is a well-known and highly respected member of the Mirboo North community and surrounding areas. In fact, for more than two decades now, she has been referred to as 'The Pool Lady' or 'The Face of the Mirboo North Swimming Pool'. But she is all of that and more!

While no one can deny the countless hours and year that Mary has spent fighting the good fight for the Mirboo North Swimming Pool, she has also volunteered on many other committees and organisations, wanting to make a difference and making strong connections and lifelong friends along the way.

As a mother of four, Mary's volunteer days began over thirty years ago, and she shows no sign of slowing down. Being the nurturing mother (and grandmother) that she is, when her children were young, she supported them in pursuing all their interests and their love of sports in particular.

Since the late 80s/90s, Mary has been a volunteer on many organisations and committees and held a range of positions. While we won't read out the full list of where she has been involved in (as it certainly has been exhaustive!) they have ranged from swimming clubs, netball associations, school council, catholic women's league, Mirboo Country Development Inc, aged and community care committees, lions club, event committees and of course the Friends of the Mirboo North Swimming Pool. Despite the variation in duties, one thing remains the same which is in all that Mary does, community involvement and community engagement are at the forefront.

In her everyday persona, Mary is quiet and unassuming, but given anything to do with the Mirboo North Swimming Pool, she is affectionately referred to as like a terrier with a bone, which will fight tooth and nail to hold on to that bone. Her involvement in pool events such as Mirboo North Idol and Movie Night have made them highly anticipated on the community calendar which get bigger and better every year.

In the last year, the pandemic has seen the cancellation of many community events and while most community-minded people have taken a break, the opposite could be said for Mary. With a sense of community loneliness and lack of connection, Mary wanted to do more and was inducted as a member of the Mirboo North Lions Club. She's also supporting Friends of the Aged Care who have seen a drop in members by taking on the role of bookings officer. This has all been as Mary has been working behind the scenes, planning the much awaited and highly anticipated grand opening of the pool following its redevelopment. As events manager she has been working closely with all stakeholders on a grand opening to remember.

Mary should be extremely proud of all that she has achieved and the community thanks her for her years of dedication and service.