Kevin James Baker

Right from the start Kevin displayed a mischievous nature and would often run away to follow his father in the truck. His mum, along with a lot of mothers in those days, found the best solution to this problem was to tie him to the clothes line.

Sundays in the Baker household were dedicated to Sunday school, much to Kevin’s dismay. Dawn was a devoted Sunday school teacher and made certain he attended, and if there was one person Kevin would listen to, it was his beloved and cherished mother.

As a child, Kevin loved to go ‘rabbiting’, ride motorbikes, and ride horses.

Over the years Kevin also enjoyed and played many sports, such as cricket, football, boxing and basketball which he continued into adulthood. Kevin was always fiercely competitive and did well with whatever he put his mind to.

Kevin also went to dance lessons at the Progress Hall which he enjoyed and Judo in the shed at Flinders Ranges, and Pony Club became a shared family activity. Looking back, it became very clear that Kevin was most at home in the world of horses.

Growing up around horses on the family farm, at the age of nine he was given his first horse, a fiery grey Welsh Mountain Pony named Dino boy who came from his cousins in Balhannah.

After Dino, came a long string of beloved companions, there was Kawana Chief, Dakota Demon, Cobber, Ima Drifter, Kadiatcha Man, Pricky, Irish Gambler, Ockledoo was a favourite and later Topper, Duke and Amos.

Then came the miniatures, gifts for Petrea (soulmate), but they also stole Kevin’s heart. Killarney, Jellybean and Morgan and finally there was Big Joe, the horse Kevin most recently acquired to get back into the pleasure of riding once again. Hours and hours of enjoyment was spent with his horses over the years.

When Kevin was riding in the Pony Club he competed at horse jumping all around the state. He acquired shelves of trophies and ribbons and in the end his mother didn’t quite know what to do with them all, so she sewed them into bed sheet sets. Top sheets, bottom sheets, pillowcases as well as quilt covers. So many ribbons! Kevin’s equestrian skills particularly in novelties and show jumping, showcased not only his skill but also his ability to connect with his beloved horses.

Kevin also became known in his younger years for his boxing skills. He had a mean right hook and given his somewhat fiery temperament, if you hit him in the nose you could expect to be knocked out. Once again, his commitment to sport led him to several victories and a collection of titles. He has been the Open Light Heavyweight Champion and won the SA State Title. In one of his matches, during an elimination round for the State Title, he defeated his opponent within 30 seconds of the first round by a knockout.

Kevin’s schooling went a little differently. He attended Willsden Primary and then Augusta Park High. He was described as a bit of a ratbag at school and spent much of his time in the Headmasters Office. He even found himself being ejected from the school bus on a couple of occasions. His mum would often talk about the time he ran away from school. A relative who lived nearby the school could hear the staff calling out for Kevin over the PA system. A quick phone call to Dawn and Kevin was soon reunited with his teachers.

After leaving school, Kevin moved out of home and into a flat on his parent’s farm. He was close enough for Dawn to wake him each morning when he started his apprenticeship as a motor mechanic at Shane Grover Toyota where Kevin found his calling. His mother used to describe how he was forever pulling her appliances apart, just to see how they worked.

Kevin also had the advantage of learning to drive at a very early age. He would drive his dad and his dad’s mates’ home from the Travellers Rest pub if they’d had too much to drink. He learnt to be very innovative as it wasn’t easy to see over the dash and also manage the gears when you are only 7 years old, but Kevin made it work. This led to a lifelong passion with trucks, boats, bobcats, ride on lawnmowers, motorcycles, forklifts, electric scooters and of course cars, many, many cars.

It was during his time at Shane Grover Toyota's that he first met fellow mechanic Adam Rosenberg who remained one of his good mates. After completing his apprenticeship, Kevin worked in numerous places, Footner’s Plumbing, CD Motors, Autopro, even on oil rigs as well as being a bouncer in the evenings for some of the local pubs and clubs.

With all that experience under his belt Kevin started up his own business; KB Mechanical Repairs which he ran from his property. Petrea was his business partner as well as bookkeeper and all-round lackey, running around after him, helping to pick up cars, tow cars, drop off cars, fetch tools and run into Autopro or Auto One as it’s now called, for parts.

Kevin’s dad Jimmy came to work for him after his retirement and also his father-in-law Wayne. Their presence in the shed was a great relief for Petrea who by this time was well and truly over driving in and out to Autopro’s and dropping cars off!

Kevin’s son Joel worked for the business for a while too, but we use the term ‘work’ quite loosely here as his labour included losing screwdrivers, shifters and spanners much to Kevin’s delight.

Perhaps due to his adventurous nature Kevin had experienced quite a few near misses in his time like the many falls he had from riding the horses, or like the horrific car accident that nearly took his life in 1996. We were often left feeling like he was a cat with 9 lives…and if only that were true.

Beyond the boxing ring, stables, and work shed, Kevin was the hero who never hesitated to lend a hand. Whether rescuing someone stranded with car troubles or changing Tyres, he was always available to help out. I’m certain that there are many of you here today that Kevin would have assisted you roadside or helped in some way. That’s the type of man he was.

Family remained a constant source of joy for Kevin. When he learned his sister Wendy had given birth to Danielle, the first grandchild for his parents, Kevin became a very proud uncle. He would go on to also be uncle to Michael, Jamie, David, Denham, Kyan, Brok and Dylan and then later on a great Uncle to Arya, Dakota, Hamish, Aurora, Hunter, Madden, Jagger and Archer. He was a much-loved brother-in-law to John, Gary, and Chris.

Kevin finally moved out of home, purchasing the property right next door to his parents. During this time, he met his soulmate Petrea. Together they welcomed each other’s young children into their lives. Kevin’s daughter Taryn and son Dylan and Petrea’s boys Rhys and Tyler. The children formed strong bonds as the two families became one.

After many years together, Kevin and Petrea welcomed their son Joel into the world. For some of us the arrival of grandchildren is our chance to do over any mistakes we’ve made, for Kevin it was Joel’s arrival. This was a new chapter of parenting and he wanted to get it right, which he clearly did going by that beautiful letter Joel wrote to his dad at Christmas time.

Kevin and Petrea had many shared interests over there 29 years together. They loved horse riding together on Topper and Duke, they enjoyed occasionally buying takeaway and finding a nice parking spot to eat and chat. They preferred that than dining out in a flash restaurants and were most happy watching TV together in their loungeroom. They found they complimented one another’s personalities and worked well together.

Kevin, like a lot of men, didn’t like to verbalise his feelings, however, Petrea was the exception. On a holiday to America in 2013, with Petrea and Joel, Kevin proposed to Petrea in a lift of the Crown Plaza In New York. They were to be married in a chapel in Los Vegas, but sadly the itinerary didn’t allow time for it.

He would often post on her Facebook page his love. 2016 he posted ‘happy anniversary Petrea, you are my soulmate, thank you for 21 years and many more wonderful years to come. I love you’. And then again in 2017 he wrote, Petrea, 22 years and I wouldn’t swap it for anything. The best years of my life, with many more to come. Thank you’.

Again in 2019 – Happy anniversary, 24 years and I wouldn’t change a thing. You are my rock and my soul mate, love you forever xx’ Of course his family would give him plenty of stick for these uncharacteristic displays of ‘mushiness’ but of course everybody knew how much they loved each other. Together their home was filled with love, laughter, adventure and unspoken commitment to each other and their children.

Kevin and Petrea’s children recall countless memorable and cherish moments with him. Coming through the Quorn pass playing ‘corners’, Kevin chasing them around the house, adventures at Fisherman’s Bay and countless fishing escapades.

One of the many memories that stand out was an incident when Kevin almost capsized the boat by launching it into the air over big waves. Dylan ponders, ‘did we wear life jackets?’ Tyler adds ‘what’s a life jacket?’ Rhys chimes in ‘I think they were in the boat?’

Petrea remembers the chaos of boating trips with Kevin at times losing his, shall we say ‘composure’ like the time he got the boat stuck on a sandbar, the time he lost the anchor, or the time the boat broke down in the middle of the gulf resulting in a barrage of swearing and tense moments for all onboard.

Rhys reminisced about the way Kevin would smell of petrol and the grease-cover overalls when he would stroll in for dinner after being in the shed. In more recent years Rhys challenged Kevin to a run. His thinking was he could win now that Kevin was older, slower and not so fit however he didn’t account for Kevin’s competitiveness as he went flying past Rhys. Truth be told Kevin would have run himself into the ground rather than letting Rhys beat him.

Dylan cherishes the 8-ball games with Kevin, each match carefully recorded on the chalkboard of winners and losers. He also laughs while recalling the wrestling matches with siblings and cousins, with Petrea joking that Kevin used to ‘take them out like skittles’. Dylan emphasizes that Kevin never simply 'let them win,' and the kids would often band together to take Kevin out, but never quite managing to do it.

Tyler recounts the time Kevin fell off the ladder at his house while fixing the air conditioner. Wedged between the fence, A-frame, and ladder, Kevin couldn’t get himself up due to the position in which he fell. Tyler had to lift him up (no small feat for Tyler) and help get him out, and to this day, they all wonder how he didn’t end up in the hospital!

Tyler’s wife Tabatha recalls the notorious ‘Stirling North Primary School Bike Thief ‘incident. Kevin went to pick up the kids' bikes during the school day, drawing attention to himself by falling over the metal chains. On seeing this strange man lurking at the bike racks, children reported him to the front office for stealing the bikes, nearly prompting a call to the police. Tabatha had to clarify that he was indeed Sophia and Deklan’s Poppy, with permission to pick up the bikes.

Kevin and Joel liked talking to each other in riddles, frequently leaving Petrea confused and annoyed. Joel recalls his father’s wit, humour and logical nature, often stating, ‘door there’, after someone had walked into the frame, or ‘step there’ as someone was falling over.

Petrea fondly recalls Kevin's eBay addiction, scolding him for the diverse range of online purchases that filled their home – from spy glasses and smartwatches to motorized skateboards and electric cars; the list seemed endless. Kevin's hatred of vegetables, particularly peas, was a well-known quirk. The regular meetups at Traveller’s Rest and the laid-back evenings at Jimmy Baker's Beer Garden. These have become cherished memories, of the things that Kevin held dear.

The family shares laughs over the backyard bonfire that Kevin lit, resulting in smoking out half of Stirling North prompting a CFS response, and also the potato chips incident involving their cat COCO POPS. Kevin thought he’d be smart and eat Petrea’s chips that were sitting on the lounge armrest… but what he didn’t know was that Petrea had placed them there because the cat had previously licked all the salt off them, and they were there to be thrown in the bin. Kevin complained when he ate them that they were soggy.

As many of you would know, Kevin was a social butterfly and there wasn’t a piece of gossip that he didn’t already know, a friend he wouldn’t help or a good joke he wasn’t a part of. He used to enjoy social drinks in his shed with Reschke’s around the old diesel heater; and drinking shenanigans with his good mate Chris Parker at the Stirling Pub, alongside Greg Edwards and Petrea. He was good mates with Donald Hancock, with whom he did much building works and renovations on the family home. Kevin of course being the self-appointed and much underappreciated foreman of these jobs. Donald can be quoted as remembering Kevin as ‘the best evil mate he’d ever had’.

Kevin shared a bromance with Steve Pfitzner. Like all his relationships, it was fiercely competitive. They competed for years to see who could buy the biggest boat- much to the frustration of their partners, Petrea and Ange, Steve won that one! This friendship encompassed much laughter and untold mischief, together they could not be trusted- shenanigans would surely unfold.

Kevin was also close with his in-laws, Wayne and the late Marion Ellis. They were second parents to him and always welcomed on family trips around Australia, celebrations and around the Christmas dinner table. There was nothing Kevin loved more than gathering all the members of his extended family and providing the space for get-togethers. Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day, New Years, being together was what was important.

As the years went on, the joy of fatherhood expanded into the joy of grand fatherhood. For Kevin. With the arrival of Sophia, his first grandchild, Kevin embraced the role of Poppy with open arms. Sophia, the eldest daughter of Tabatha and Tyler, brought a new kind of light into Kevin's world, and he reveled in the joys of watching her grow and finding ways to spoil her.

The family continued to grow with the additions of Deklan and Kelsey, both children of Tabatha and Tyler. The laughter and pitter-patter of little feet set the scene for many happy memories and much spoilt grandies.

Kevin's grandchildren expanded further with the birth of baby Zara, a precious addition to the family tree, born to Rhys and Kirsty. And most recently, gorgeous little Luca, born to Dylan and Eloise. As the family continued to blossom, Kevin eagerly awaited the arrival of a sixth beautiful grandchild baby 'Ivy', to Rhys and his partner Kirsty.

Kevin loved to tease and torment. He was stubborn and at times could be hot-tempered but at his core he was a kind and generous man. He was able to travel with Petrea and has seen much of Australia from countless family trips. He skydived with his then 70-year-old mother Dawn, and he was a volunteer with the CFS. Kevin was a committed and devoted family man and community minded member. He also loved his four-legged family, all his animals including his horse Big Joe and Achilles his very spoilt Mastiff who sadly died from cancer after Kevin's death.

Kevin’s career took a change when he closed his business and secured a position with Pacific National as a Trainee Terminal Operator in May of 2011. This change meant a commute to Whyalla each day for work- but it was a change Kevin looked forward to.

Later, in July of 2012, Kevin commenced his training, before becoming a qualified train driver, in August of 2013. Kevin loved driving trains and from the moment he got into the driver's seat, he never looked back. He trained, under his good mate and colleague Mick Warren. Mick soon became his work wife and good buddy. Kevin enjoyed driving with Mick, who would often do the cooking when away. Kevin not being a good cook would usually do the dishes. Kevin would always supply chocolates for Mick when he knew Mick was trying to diet. It always ended up with Mick eating some Cherry Ripe bars.

Tragically, Kevin and his mate Mick were killed on New Years Eve 2023 at Barrier Highway Bindarrah, when their train they were driving home from Broken Hill collided with a truck and derailed. This sadly could have been prevented had the truck driver stopped at the level crossing!

On the 27th of August 2026 Pacific National held a private ceremony to name two of their new 94 class locos 9416 and 9417 after the drivers Kevin Baker and Mick Warren.

So now may the spirits of Kevin and Mick forever ride the rails of friendship together.

All the memories and times spent together will be cherished by us all as he remains forever in our hearts. Always loved and always missed but never forgotten.

Petrea and the family will miss him dearly.

Rest in Peace my Kevin

Love always Petrea,

your beautiful, children, Taryn, Rhys, Kirsty, Tyler, Tabatha, Dylan, Eloise and Joel.

and gorgeous Grandchildren, Sophia, Deklan, Kelsey, Zara, Luca and Ivy. xxx

We miss you!