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    SWEET ACHIEVEMENT: Founding members of Cake Decorators Association of Victoria Horsham branch.

Cake decorators share joy

By LOTTE REITER

It would likely require little asking around to ascertain that many people find joy in eating a well-made cake, pudding or pastry.

But if you ask a small group of Horsham women who have been making and decorating charity, display and made-to-order cakes for nearly 30 years, they’ll say it is just as nice to be on the creator’s side.

Cake Decorators Association of Victoria Horsham branch consists of about 15 to 20 women who meet monthly to share ideas, host workshops and master new decorating techniques.



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From the phasing out of intricate piping and lace work into today’s more common trends of butter cream and stacked ‘naked’ cakes, the group has long been witness to the changing interests of sweet tooths and decorators alike.

Branch secretary and founding member Julie Wirth said one thing that had stayed consistent, however, was the opportunity to bring happiness to others. 

She said the group had been donating to the Christian Emergency Food Centre annually for more than 10 years, and prior to that donating to the Salvation Army.

And it was 2019’s Christmas period that saw the women give one of their highest donations yet, with more than 100 cakes going towards the food centre’s festive hampers.

“Usually we create about 70 to 100 cakes, so this was one of our higher donations,” Mrs Wirth said.

“It depends on if the ladies decide to do just one cake or more.

“Workshops were held to make the decorations, then to ice and decorate the cakes, and we had donations of cakes from Coles, Woolworths and the food centre, along with our own members.

“You can never do enough for the hampers the food centre provides, because they have something like 500 each year, but it’s just nice to bring a smile to people’s faces and help out.”

Mrs Wirth said her passion for cake decorating stemmed from when she first started making birthday cakes for her children.

But after seeing the then Marnoo branch of the Cake Decorators Association present a workshop at a field days event, she and a couple of women thought, ‘why not form our own branch in Horsham?’.

Mrs Wirth said since then, the Horsham branch had hosted community workshops, their own field days demonstrations, and attended the association’s yearly state seminars to show-off the region’s cake-decorating skills, with plans to attend this year’s seminar in April at Wangaratta.

“It’s good to get together, and the friendship is just great,” she said.

“Our motto is ‘It’s good to compare, but better to share’, so members might see something demonstrated at a meeting and then go home and find a better way, and share that with the group next time. We have become a family.”

Mrs Wirth said new members were always welcome to attend.

She said the group met on the third Tuesday of each month, with their next meeting in February at 10am in Horsham RSL’s conference room.

Mrs Wirth said people could call her on 5382 3636 for more information.

The entire January 15, 2020 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!