House debates

Wednesday, 11 February 2015

Statements by Members

Baker, Mrs Maisie, AO

1:57 pm

Photo of David FeeneyDavid Feeney (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Justice) Share this | | Hansard source

Today I rise to speak in recognition of the outstanding achievements of one of my electorate's most active and dedicated community members, Mrs Maisie Baker. On Australia Day this year, Maisie was posthumously awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her outstanding work with the community, having sadly passed away four months before the announcement of the award.

Maisie is well known in Batman for her work with Relay for Life, the Regent Presbyterian Church, the Regent Uniting Church, the Anti-Cancer Council, the Tyler Street Primary School and the Pink Lady organisation. One of her lasting legacies is the establishment of a Junior Neighbourhood Watch program at Tyler Street Primary School in Preston. This program has since been taken up by Victoria Police as a model for other primary schools. This most recent accolade is in addition to other well deserved awards, including an Australia Day Award from Darebin City Council in 2009.

Our warmest congratulations on this most recent award go out to her family, as do our deepest condolences on her loss. Maisie's kind spirit and dedication to helping others will be truly missed.