Robbed and left for dead in a Tamworth car park in a brazen and forceful daylight robbery in December 2013, the 80-year old has fought back from her

horrific injuries, spurred on by a community who rallied behind her.

Fourteen months on, she still wears the scars, but she won’t let that get her down.

“I won’t let it define me,” she told The Leader yesterday.

“I’m just happy to have it all behind me.”

Mrs Bakker suffered broken bones, a bleed on the brain, and other terrible injuries when she was cowardly set upon from behind, robbed of her handbag, and forced head-first onto the concrete car park in City Plaza.

She spent close to a fortnight in hospital after the attack, and has had two return visits as well as numerous doctor’s appointments.

“She will wear the scars, the pain from broken bones, the trauma of it for the rest of her life,” sister and supporter Agnes Riley said.

“I still go into Coles and the girls in the bakery still ask, ‘How is your sister going? ’.

“There have been hundreds and hundreds of phone calls.”

It is this support, encouragement and friendship – some of it even from complete strangers – that has helped her along the road to recovery.

“The community at large, I can’t thank them enough,” Mrs Bakker said.

“People I know and even people I don’t know.

“Our Catholic clergy, the Dominican Sisters, the Sisters of Nazareth, my neighbours – it’s just been extraordinary.”

The fallout from her injuries robbed Mrs Bakker of 2014 and will follow through for the rest of her life, a Tamworth court was told in a powerful victim

impact statement this week.

The choir and music enthusiast was unable to enjoy her tasks until the end of last year.

Mrs Bakker’s children and her close and extended family, among others, have been a tower of strength to her.

“The police were phenomenal; the ambulance drivers, they were beautiful; as well as the Tamworth hospital staff,”

she said.

“All the authorities, especially Detective Senior Constable Rebecca McKenzie – the police were mighty.

“The first night I spent in hospital, they came round to my house with torches to check on it and make sure it

was all okay. I think that was extra special.

“The people from the DPP, there are too many to name but they gave me a lot of time.”

There were flowers from Coles, and a heartfelt thank you to those who rushed to her aid in the moments after which has made a difference to Mrs Bakker.

She had been sadly missed in her local church choir with members lending everything from their green thumb to a

friendly face to support their close friend, who has now made an inspirational return.

“I think she made a supreme effort,” Mrs Riley said.

“She has done so well, her sheer perseverance and aiming to get back to what she was.”