Father was a bricklayer, uncle was a carpenter, so Jim entered the building trade and became the Son part of A.E. Baker & Son. Met Loyola when he went to build a garage for Frank Brey Kraushaar’s new 1928 Ford car at Stanmore. Served in World War 2 as Private NX139320 when he was stationed at Moratai. After an eye injury he moved the family to Tahmoor and became a poultry farmer. Subsequently he became a plumber and ocasional carpenter for the Blue Circle Cement Co at Maldon, NSW.