Hello and welcome.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
This week, I gave Vic Baker a call. A friend had mentioned him as one of Shepp’s interesting seniors; some bells rang for me, and I wasn’t sure why.
Somehow, I associated him with Shepp’s retail sector, but maybe there was some other connection.
We chatted for a while. He was originally from Tatura and remembered me marrying another Tatura fellow — and living there for a few years.
He said he didn’t think his family was particularly interesting, although there were quite a few of them.
In fact, there are 1150 descendants from his great-grandfather.
So, of course, I said, “Tell me about him”.
David Baker’s story
David was born in Watlington, Oxfordshire, England, in 1835, and he emigrated on the Wanderer — along with 184 others.
The ship arrived in Hobart in February 1855.
He met and married Bridget in a small church in Oaklands, Tasmania, in 1858. (Vic tells me he has visited the church, which still stands.)
Then, the adventure began
David and Bridget boarded a ship to Adelaide. However, David’s chosen destination was the Goulburn Valley.
So, they walked — to Undera.
I’ve just checked the distance; it is 713 km/443 miles. In fact, they walked even further because they reached the Goulburn and decided that the soil wasn’t as good as some they’d passed over.
They walked back to Undera.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about a couple of strong women who helped get this region going. Surely Bridget is one of these.
Turning around and going back! I’d have said, “Come back with a horse or cart. I’m not taking another step.”
When I mentioned this to Vic, he said, “Maybe he put her in the wheelbarrow for a while”.
There was nothing at Undera, so David made a claim for some land. He then walked to the Claims Department in Melbourne to formalise it. And he was just getting started.
His wife died in childbirth, and he remarried. There were 14 children from the two marriages.
We need to find out how many were born to poor, tired Bridget. David claimed and was given 60 pounds to build a school in 1876.
There were 71 children attending, eight of whom belonged to David.
Farmers came and went from the district, and when land became available, David purchased it for his offspring.
He also built a butcher shop and a bakery on his farm. Then he built a hotel on Echuca Rd, which became the first stop for Cobb and Co coaches (Mooroopna to Echuca).
The post office was then added to the hotel, and David was postmaster, at 10 pounds per annum, for several years.
Undera flourished for some time until the railway came. At this point, businesses relocated to Tatura to be nearer the trains that carried needed goods.
David died in 1891 — at just 56.
However, he had achieved a great deal, and, in my opinion, all 1150 of his descendants should be proud of his efforts.
His will included 319 acres and a licensed hotel — all of which sold for around £2000.
By the way, Vic’s wife was Leonie O’Neill, and he was strongly associated with our retail sector, managing O’Neill’s Drapery Store for 22 years.
So, I didn’t dream it! And Vic will be a useful contact for Town Talk; his memory is quite remarkable.
We had two lengthy conversations — and I think there will be more.
Want to live for ever?
Recently, I watched a television news story about a man who believes he can live for ever.
A multi-millionaire — as the result of an early tech idea, he spends millions of dollars every year on experiments and supplements.
He says he is now ageing more slowly than a 10-year-old; however, as I don’t know how quickly a 10-year-old ages, I was not impressed.
This guy spends his days exercising and taking pills — more than a hundred daily. He also eats the same food for every meal, every day.
I kept wondering what he was doing and why he was doing it. What about living the days you have now, mate?
What about helping a few people out? How about paying some mortgages for people in trouble? What about feeding a few hungry people? You are not doing God’s work.
I want to tell you a story — a very short history of our planet. It can be fact or fiction — whatever you wish, it’s fine by me!
A long, long time ago, when our planet was new, those interested put up their hands to live on it.
Many had helped create the planet; it was so very beautiful, and it offered something for everyone.
It was a test case of a kind. Everyone living on it had free will. They could communicate with those at home, and they could stay for as long as they wanted.
They could also return home whenever they chose. When they did, nobody cried, no-one was sad, because they all knew they would be together again.
There was no death.
They lived in what is called the fifth dimension; they were peaceful and content. The planet met all their needs.
Some called it Eden, and it lasted for many hundreds of our years.
And then, things started to go wrong — because some people saw opportunities to have power over others.
A few wanted to be the boss of the world, and arguments and even fights broke out. It was no longer paradise, and no longer in the fifth dimension.
It dropped to the fourth and then the third dimension; life was very tough on the planet.
They could no longer communicate with those at home, and they could no longer live for as long as they wished.
There was constant strife, and there were wars.
After World War II, when the pain of millions of humans was witnessed and felt at home, a decision was made to intervene.
It was a reluctant decision — humanity had free will but was not coping. Around 1980, help was given; it has continued — and increased — ever since.
Today, millions of people live in the fourth and fifth dimensions — and everyone is welcome. You probably won’t recognise them; their lives don’t appear to be any different to yours.
They are silent but very grateful. Their view of the world is different, as is their attitude to others.
They are community-focused, and when they talk of love, they mean it. They are filled with a quiet but very real joy.
And for our world, there is hope where once there was despair. This is not the end of the human story — it is a new beginning.
I can’t imagine why anyone would want to live for ever, but if you really want to, perhaps there are two ways to do it.
One is to take 120 pills every day — and eat the same green meal for ever — or do it God’s way and open your heart to the world.
Family birthday gathering
Sunday’s birthday celebrations were a little quieter than usual. My first grandson was in Auckland, speaking at an education seminar.
I was definitely not at my best. I forgot some food I’d prepared and burnt some that I’d briefly remembered. I’ve also got two birthday cakes in the fridge; I forgot them too. However, the gang was happy.
They hung their named baubles, made plans for Christmas, and laughed a lot (mostly at me!).
I apologise for the photos, which are not relevant to today’s stories. An Elf took them — and I’ve nothing else.
Please take care of everyone, particularly on the roads — and may it be easy, my friends.
Marnie
Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.
Phone: Send a text to 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back if you wish.)
Town Talk