Mackay’s Dorothy Bath celebrates 100th birthday

From a wartime move and romance, to leading a Mackay scout troop and navigating for her husband, Mackay’s Dorothy Bath celebrates her 100th birthday. READ HER LIFE STORY

Dot Bath turns 100 on July 23 after living through one world war, Elizabeth and Philips romance and more.

A woman who lived through World War II, the construction of the Mackay Harbour and more will be celebrating her 100th birthday this month.

Born July 23, 1924, Dorothy Bath nee Baker first moved to Mackay in 1940 when she was just 16.

“In those days everybody was going to Brisbane to get away from the war,” Mrs Bath said.

She described how people in those days were terrified of the threat of invasion by the Japanese.

Dot was born Dorthy Baker and moved to Mackay in 1940 at the age of 16.

Shortly after moving to Mackay she befriended her neighbours, the Baths, and she would write letters with the Bath’s daughter.

“I used to write to my brother and his friends that didn’t have anybody writing to them so they’d get a letter,” she said.

“They thought that was wonderful.”

Her neighbour eventually wrote to her brother about Dorothy, finishing the last correspondence with “if you want to meet this nice girl, you should get some leave and come home”.

Young airman Bob Bath did as instructed and returned to Mackay and introduced himself to Dorothy.

“It was beautiful,” Mrs Bath said, recalling their wartime, whirlwind romance.

“We had our romance at the same time as Queen Elizabeth and Philip.

“I used to feel sorry for them because we could go down the street and have a kiss and cuddle, but if they did it the cameras of the world would be on them.”

Bob and Dot got married and had five sons.

Mrs Bath remembers taking to him straight away, although not as quickly as her mother did, who approved of the romance and eventual marriage.

“I loved our romance,” she laughed.

“I still do, I think romance is just lovely.”

Bob Baker had helped haul rocks to the under construct Mackay Harbour wall before enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force.

Bob and Dot later married and had five sons Denis, Sid, Jim, Greg and Ian.

Together, the family joined a local scouts troop, which Bob and Dot led.

Dorothy and Bob with their sons Denis, Sid, Jim, Greg and Ian.

Thanks to his connections in the military and around town, Bob was able to take his troop on a tour of an American submarine when it visited Mackay as well as a caribou aircraft that was diverted to Mackay airport from Brisbane unexpectedly.

While Mrs Bath never learned to drive, she was an expert navigator and it was a common joke in the family that Mr Bath would be lost on the road without her.

One of the technological developments Mrs bath has been most grateful for throughout her life has been the widespread introduction of toilets, particularly in rural areas as she still remembers unpleasant experiences visiting her grandfathers sugar cane in Bundaberg.

“I was only tiny at the time, about three years old,” Mrs Bath recounted, giggling.

“The toilet was just a hole in the ground with a board over the top of the hole and they’d say ‘you’d better hold her or she’ll fall in.’

“I haven’t lost my humour over the century yet, thank goodness.”

For her 90th birthday Dot was treated to a bike ride on a Harley Davidson.

Aaron Bath, Mrs Bath’s grandson, loved going to her house each weekend after his cricket games, where she would interrogate her grandchildren about their scores.

“They had an amazing head for numbers and facts in those days,” Mr Bath said.

She had a fondness for writing letters which she endeavoured to pass onto her grandchildren, particularly her granddaughter.

“She would write to her about every six months and my daughter would then send letters back,” he said.

“It was always very special receiving those.”

Dot with her grandkids and great grandkids.

Mrs Baths advice for living a long and happy life is to put faith in God, although she cautions against living to 100.

“There’s no fun in it, it’s very hard to do,” she said.

Although Dorothy is disappointed she won’t be receiving a letter from her idol, Queen Elizabeth, she will spend her centennial anniversary surrounded by her five sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren.