Agent TypePersonActivities & OccupationsTeachersHistoryNoreen was the only child of older parents, her mother being 45 years old when she was born. She left school after completing Leaving Certificate and although she wanted to complete further studies in journalism or teaching, the Depression prevented this. She needed to work to support her elderly sick father and dependent mother. Her father died in 1936 leaving his wife and Noreen with debts for which Noreen became responsible. Noreen worked at home dressmaking as well as having a responsible administration job at a local Ballarat factory. With frugal living and careful financial planning she was able to save enough to repay the debt and make herself and her mother secure. She saw no future in the work she was doing so she decided to follow her dream of 10 years earlier and applied for teaching. Her first appointment was to Ocean Grove Primary School and then she had a period at Flowerdale Rural School before entering Melbourne Teachers College in 1943. Following her training she was Rural School Head Mistress at Rainbow East and later Middle Tarwin. She resigned from the Education Department in 1946 to marry Eric Wohlfahrt after his return from World War II.
![[2007.0042] Papers of Noreen Veronica Baker](/img/placeholder.gif?1773707079 "[2007.0042] Papers of Noreen Veronica Baker")