Jan Baker

Jan Baker got involved with Melbourne Royal and the Melbourne Royal Show through her parents. Her father was the Melbourne Royal accountant and became Director of Finance for a number of years. After her marriage, Jan’s mother became involved in the Show, working as a steward in the Arts and Crafts Pavilion, where she specialised in the toys and dolls area. Growing up in Melbourne, Jan enjoyed attending the Show with friends and seeing the many different exhibits. Given her parents involvement in the Show, it was little surprise that Jan found herself getting involved in the organisational side of things before too long. ‘It was just something that evolved’, she recalls, ‘it was just part of the family life’.

 Jan started helping her mother in the Arts and Craft Pavilion as a steward. She soon found her niche and specialised in the woodwork, metalwork and students’ work section.

Well the role of a stewardess – now that hasn't altered a great deal over the years – was we were asked to go in about a week before the Show started, and we had the day when all the entries were being brought in. We had to mark them off in books and put them into the area where they are to be displayed ... Then after two days of entries coming in, we then had to go to our areas that had been put aside, and we had to check all the items that had come in against a book … Then we set up the display – we were allocated either wall areas or the big showcases – we just made our own displays, then the Show opened.

For over 50 years, Jan has volunteered her time and expertise to steward at the Melbourne Royal Show. In recognition of her tireless support, Jan was awarded the prestigious President’s Medal in 2004. ‘I was tickled to bits’, she remembers after finding out she had been honoured. ‘I had no idea in the world. It was at the stewardesses’ luncheon. They called me up and said they had this for me, and pinned it on me. I was quite tickled about that.’