BAIRD, George Mackie (1872-1939)
Rev. George Mackie Baird, Presbyterian Minister, became Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Tasmania.
H was born at Scarsdale, Victoria according to the enrolment register on 6 July 1872, the fifth of eight children of Rev. Charles Joseph Baird ( -1910) and Blanche, nee Groves ( -1920. He entered Geelong College as a day student, entered by Rev. C G Baird, on 2 August 1886 and was at the School to 1889. He was a member of the College 1st Football XX of 1889.
After matriculating in 1889 he entered Ormond College, The University of Melbourne, where he graduated BA, and played in the Ormond Tennis four. In 1904, he married Caroline Ethel Shaw, the daughter of William and Margaret Shaw, at Scarsdale. They had two children, both born at Numurkah: Charles Gibson Baird (1907-1986)in 1907 who also attended College; and Margaret Hamilton Baird in 1909.
He was a Cadet before the First World War and then served for one year in the University of Melbourne Officers Corps as Chaplain. He served 3 months at Broadmeadows camp partly with the AIF and partly with the Citizens Force. He was engaged as a Presbyterian minister in Richmond when he enlisted at the age of 46 on 25 June 1918 in the Chaplain’s Department, and embarked on HMAT A37 Barambah on 31 August 1918, arriving in London three days after the signing of the Armistice. He served at Longbridge Deverell in 1918, and at No 2 AGH, Wimereux, and 3rd Tunnelling Corps in 1919. He returned to Australia at the rank of Major, embarking on RMS Orontes on 16 December 1919. On his return to Australia he was at St Andrews Manse, Launceston. He died 26 April 1939.
His brothers: John Chalmers Baird (1862-1928); Charles Joseph Baird (1866-1900); William Joseph W Baird (1864-); Warburton Thomas Baird (1869-1936); Arthur Leeson Baird (1877-1959); Ernest McNicol Baird (1879-1952) all received education at Geelong College.
Sources: 'Geelong Collegians at the Great War' compiled by J. Affleck. pp133-4 (citing The University of Melbourne: Record of Active Service of Teachers, Graduates, Undergraduates, Officers and Servants 1926; Pegasus; National Archives).