William Angliss Institute student Adriana Borg has been announced as the recipient of the 2024 John Patrick Conway Excellence in Baking Competition winner.

The Certificate III in Cake and Pastry apprentice took out the award with a display called Around the World in Classics.

Adriana said she dedicated weeks of practice to refine her skills in both presentation and formulating recipes.

“Although the competition was intense and stressful, it was an incredible experience,” she said.

“Winning means a lot for my future career.”

The competition’s seven-hour practical challenge tested the students as they created 12 Danish pastries, 24 choux pastries, a gateaux, two fruit flans and 12 fruit flan tartlets.

Adriana, who is currently am apprentice baker at LaManna, received $3000 for her prize, which she said will be used to equip her home bakery, purchasing a new mixer and fridge.

The second prize of $1500 was awarded to William Angliss Certificate IV Patisserie student Yeji Kim. Yeji Kim also secured first prize in the 2024 Dilmah Tea Maker’s Tea-Inspired Dessert Competition earlier this year. The third prize of $500 went to Certificate III in Baking student Mai Goshima and Lourdes Lagatule, who is also completing a Cerificate IV in Patisserie.

Cobb Lane Bakery chef and Certificate III in Baking graduate Kelynn Hoi returned to help judge the event – an experience she described as being different to competing.

“Adriana’s products were all professionally made, with a well thought out theme that was reflected in her presentation,”Kelynn said.

“I enjoyed her lemon meringue pie inspired by profiteroles (choux pastry). They were beautifully decorated with torched meringue flowers.

The John Patrick Conway Excellence in Baking Competition is an opportunity that enables the institute’s baking students to showcase their baking skills. The judges evaluated their creations against strict criteria, including a written component and a final presentation.

Some of the competitors will now move forward to compete in the WorldSkills Patisserie and Baking Competition, in the hopes of reaching the 2025 National Championships.