Lillian Isabel Wik, known as Belle, was born on October 9, 1910. 

She was one of nine children, including four brothers Horace, Jim, Jock and Cliff and four sisters Gladys, Maude, Phyllis and Jess.

Mrs Baker left school at 14 and worked as a nanny for two years, before becoming an apprentice tailoress.

She met her husband, Jung farmer Walter Baker, known as Charlie, at a Bachelor and Spinsters Ball and they married on March 29, 1938.

They farmed at Jung before retiring to Horsham in 1974.

The pair had four daughters, Isabel, Elaine, Elizabeth and Jocelyn, as well as nine grandchildren and 16 grade-grandchildren.

Mr Baker was a Wimmera Shire councillor and served two terms as shire president.

During this time, the couple met the Queen and other dignitaries such as the Governor General of Victoria.

Mrs Baker moved to Horsham’s Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village in 2006.

In 2010, she celebrated her 100^th birthday at the village.

However, life didn’t slow down after she reached the milestone – since turning 100, Mrs Baker met former premier Ted Ted Baillieu, became the unofficial ambassador for collecting money for flood relief at the home, attended a centenarians dinner at Parliament House, met the Governor General Quentin Bryce and was a queen of bingo.

Her daughter Jocelyn Radford said her mum was sharp as a tack right up until the end.

“She was very intelligent,” she said.

“She also loved her footy – every week she did her footy tipping and knew what was going on.

“She loved to be involved in everything and she was very independent.”

Mrs Radford said her mum was often asked what the secret to a long life was.

“She always said she didn’t know, she just went to bed at night and got up again in the morning,” she said.

“But she also never drank or smoked.”

Her daughter Elizabeth McDonald said her mum had great quality of life.

“We were very lucky,” she said.

Mrs McDonald said her mum liked to dress up and look her best.

“She always looked smart,” she said.

In March each year, Mrs Baker would start planning her Melbourne Cup day outfit, which would include pearls, shows, a bag, gloves and a hat.

Mrs McDonald said her mum had her place in the nursing home where she liked to sit each day.

“She got up every morning and made her bed, even though the nurses told her she didn’t have to,” Mrs McDonald said.

“The nurses there were brilliant to her.”

Three months ago representatives from the Horsham Historical Society spent two hours with Mrs Baker and recorded her telling her life story. 

Both Mrs McDonald and Mrs Radford were there and were amazed by their mum’s ability to recall her life so easily.

She was farewelled at a service on Tuesday.