It’s a sad year for Tennant Creek, with us saying goodbye to a long-time local couple moving on to enjoy semi-retirement.

A farewell party Paster Mike Baker and his wife Lorraine will be held at the local Christian Family Church on Sunday.

Pastor Mike arrived in Tennant Creek in the early 80s, coming to Tennant Creek during the boomtown mining days when he worked for Budget car rentals.

He fell in love with the town and asked his then boss if there was ever a vacancy, he would take up the role.

Mike recalled the days of the big mining boom in Tennant Creek and fell in love with the history of the Barkly and mines.

The father of three started a local tourism bus operation, called Ten Ant Tours, which conveyed visitors to various mine sites and attractions throughout the region.

Some of the mines on the tour including Burntshirt Mine, Nobles Nob, Golden 40, Black Cat and in the later years the Dot 6 Mine night time tour.

Always a religious man, he strongly believes in the word of Jesus Christ.

In fact, he has over his decades in Tennant Creek become a mentor and friend to thousands of locals in his role as Pastor.

In this day and age, one must wonder how one becomes a pastor? 

Pastor Mike says he has always believed in The Lord.

He had served in the church with various positions and took over the role in 1999 when the former Tennant Creek pastor resigned.

“Tennant Creek has an exciting church and our meetings attract more than 40 people per week,” said Pastor Mike.

“We have other meetings which are predominantly Indigenous and others that are largely multicultural.

“Religious knows no race, no bias.”

The father of three is sad to say goodbye to Tennant Creek but believes it’s the best move for him and his wife of 51 years, Lorraine, to semi retire.

The crime rates and subsequent local despair is obvious to the couple.

“I believe we have one of the weakest government’s we’ve ever had,” he said.

“While religion was in the spotlight for not supporting same sex unions, in our Tennant Creek church we never turned anyone away.

“Now values are disappearing and it seems every man is for himself.

“There’s been too many fast changes in the last decade.

“The government is pandering to the minority, and they need to start showing good governance for the majority.”

Long-time friend and famed historical photographer of the Barkly met Paster Mike in the early 80s when he first arrived.

They began their friendship in the local Scouts group, where Karl says he “wangled him back into being an Adventurer Leader.”

During those years they would tour the old mines around the Barkly and had many adventures, including one where Pastor Mike forgot to tighten the nuts of the wheel in the car they were driving and they became a little stuck.

These adventures ignited his passion to begin the Ten Ant Tours venture.

Pastor Mike and his wife Lorraine have been friends to many and we are sad to see them go.

They will semi-retire to Peterborough in South Australia, with Lorraine still working as a nurse and Pastor Mike helping out with local church assemblies part time.

There will be a celebration of their time in Tennant Creek and a chance to say farewell (never say goodbye!) at 1pm on Sunday at the Tennant Creek Christian Family Church.

This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 28 May 2021.