Page 119 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

featured on celebratory Australian postage stamps – part of a 17-stamp
Olympic Gold Medalist issue.

Commemorative Australian Stamp: 2000

An Amazing Achievement – The Best of the Best!

Natalie has a remarkable professional record, including:
• 1996 Olympic Games Bronze medal (Atlanta, USA)
• 1996 World Championships Bronze medal (Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil)
• 2000 Olympic Games Gold medal (Sydney, Australia)
• 2003 World Championships Bronze medal (Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil)
• 2004 Olympic Games 4th place (Athens, Greece)
• 2007 1st Place, Korean Open
• 2008 Olympic Games, 5th place (Beijing, China)

Natalie competed in the London 2012 Summer Olympics, with her Beach
Volleyball partner, Tamsin Hinchley, but, unfortunately they did not
progress beyond the pool stage of the competition. After the London
Olympics, Natalie retired from professional competition to focus on her
‘Sandstorm’ beach business, based in Nathan, and her promotional and
public speaking activities. In August 2012, Natalie announced that she and
her partner, Sarah Maxwell, each hoped to have a baby, fathered via IVF
by Natalie’s beach volleyball coach, Steve Anderson. Natalie broke the
news via an interview with the Australian magazine ‘New Idea’. Sarah and
Natalie have been together for the past 10 years, and married in 2008 in
New Zealand. Sarah was a Canadian Beach Volleyball champion before
her retirement.

Sarah Maxwell (left) & Natalie Louise Cook (right): Wedding Vows, November 2008

6.33 Children of Graham Joseph Blaker (1946- ) and Juliet

Elizabeth Hammond (1948- )
6.33.1 Jonathan James Blaker (1976- )
Born: 15 February 1976, Risedale Maternity Hospital, Abbey Road,
Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Baptised: St. Mary of Furness, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Married: 17 November 2007, aged 31 years, married Thiana Berthier da
Cunha; Paroquia Nossa Senhora de Salete, Rua Longe de Morretes,
Curitiba, Parana, Brasil
Divorced: 2011

Jonathan is the eldest of 3 sons born to Graham Joseph Blaker and Juliet
Elizabeth Hammond. He was educated at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic
Primary School, Richmond, North Yorkshire, followed by Henham