General News
27 December, 2023
Stunning display of a family legacy
Several descendants of the late Frank Baker of Jung gathered earlier this year at Woods’ Farming and Heritage Museum Rupanyup for a very special occasion.
Frank was a very successful breeder and exhibitor of the Clydesdale horses of the bygone era. His son Allan followed in his footsteps at their farm called Valetta situated on the edge of the township of Jung. They won many trophies at the Agricultural Shows from 1920’s to 1950’s when these magnificent horses were the pinnacle of all exhibits.
Frank’s trophies had previously been distributed amongst his children, Mertyl (Excell), Raymond, Greta (Kerr), Allan, Edna (O’Loughlin). The families recently decided to gather as many of the trophies they could and present them for all future generations to delight in their beauty.
This gathering of Bakers was a celebration of the achievements of their forebearers and to view the display which has only been put together in a large glass cabinet at the museum this year
The centre piece of the display is the large intricately designed punch bowl, ‘The Breeders Challenge Trophy” which was worth 75 guineas when donated by the Horsham Pastoral Society in 1911.
It was a perpetual trophy for the winner of a “Two-Year-Old Filly Bred and Owned by the Exhibitor”. It was a requirement for this category to be won three times, never by the same horse, and to then become the property of the successful exhibitor. It was won by Frank Baker in 1925, 1936, and 1931, hence him becoming the very proud owner of this magnificent trophy. The trophy has been in the hands of his son Allen’s family for almost 80 years and kindly donated for the display.
The family members at this reunion consisted of Frank’s grandson’s wife, Hazel Excell who is 98 years old, and a further eight grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, one great, great grandchild and fourteen in-laws!