Ed’s letter

It’s not surprising our incoming 29th Tasmanian Governor Barbara Baker feels as though she has big shoes to fill stepping into the role so ably conducted by the state’s previous and first female governor, Kate Warner. However, after reading in this week’s cover story how Ms Baker plans to approach the role it appears she – who also has quite a few firsts to her name including being the first Tasmanian woman to be appointed a federal magistrate – is more than up to the task. This is even more apparent when you read how she is more than willing to have a bit of a laugh at herself and is quite aware from her judicial experience that you can’t please all the people all of the time. Ms Baker comes across as a friendly, approachable person with an incredibly strong work ethic not only judging from the heights she scaled in legal circles but also the levels to which she rose on various sporting fields. She also appears friendly, approachable and down-to-earth and if her husband’s glowing appraisal is anything to go by, his divulgence that she enjoys meeting people and is a good listener, also bodes well for the task ahead.