Mr Geoff Baker
"Mr Southdown”
Geoff Baker was a stalwart sheep breeder and dedicated exhibitor at the Melbourne Royal Show for over four decades. Despite a declining number of Southdown entries, Geoff’s belief in the breed's importance in the prime lamb industry never faltered.
In 1969, after winning numerous ribbons for his Southdown, Shropshire, and Texel sheep at the show, Geoff Baker achieved his biggest accomplishment. His two-year-old Southdown ram, The Chief, won the interbreed championship, marking the highlight of his career. The Chief, a 144kg ram with impressive length, width, and muscle, secured praise from judges in a close competition with a Poll Dorset exhibit.
Geoff Baker's dedication to exhibiting sheep continued late into his life. At the age of 77, he remained an active participant, showcasing over 30 sheep across three breeds at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show, and taking home colourful displays from Sheepvention.
Regarded as affable and well-liked, Geoff Baker, also known as "Mr Southdown," passed away in 2010 at the age of 82. His Southdown stud was later dispersed, marking the end of an era for one of Australia’s largest Southdown flocks.