Baking finalists take to the track

Naming a race and awarding a sash to the winning horse was just some of the fun finalists experienced at the 2017 Excellence in Baking Awards Night.

One hundred people gathered at the 2017 Excellence in Baking Awards night in November. The awards went to Rachel Hoffer from Queensland, who won the 2017 Official National Apprentice Baker of the Year, and Joshua Nickl from New South Wales, who won the 2017 Official National Apprentice Pastry Cook.

Rachel and Joshua had fought it out with four other bakers and pastry cooks earlier in November at the William Angliss Institute. Contestants ranged from first to fourth year apprentices.

The awards night was held at Moonee Valley Racecourse on 17 November. Finalists had a race named after the competition and were treated to presenting the winning owner of the horse with a sash, before posing for a group photo in front of the famous winning post.

Peter LeSueur, National Manager for Bakery Peerless Food EOI (gold sponsors of the event), announced the winners. He said that everyone had seen the competition grow and that it had given confidence back to industry to support apprentices.

Also on the night, new honourees were announced for service to the baking industry. The Baking Association of Australia’s (BAA) Tony Smith presented the award to Mary and Murray Partridge. Tony said that Mary and Murray had worked for many years to support events and industry.

“Even now, after selling their bakery, they are still assisting the industry,” Tony said.

Tony also announced Peter LeSueur was to be honoured for his service over many years in “more ways than just sponsorship.”

“Peter has been used as a sounding board for many events by different committees, and offered valuable advice,” said Tony.

2018 Excellence in Baking will be hosted by the BAA Queensland at Southbank Queensland TAFE, with the awards night to be held at the Treasury Casino Brisbane.