Baking students rise to the top

TWO budding bakers studying at Federation University have proven their talents after winning big at a national competition.

Recently, second-year student Maylee Howard was crowned National Apprentice Pastry Cook of the Year while Caleb Braszell, nearing his second year at TAFE, received the nod for National Apprentice Baker of the Year at the Excellence in Baking awards.

The duo received the titles during an awards dinner in Sydney following a competition as part of the two-day Baking Industry Trade Show.

Howard said she was pleased with win.

“It was a bit unbelievable and very exciting,” she said. “It’s definitely helping me to gain more opportunities to gain work experience at other bakeries.”

Working as an apprentice at a bakery owned by her parents in Geelong, Howard attributes her interest in the craft to a lifelong family connection.

“I’ve always been in the kitchen with dad making stuff so it’s been a lifelong influence,” she said.

“Dad had a bakery about 18 years ago and recently opened this one up after that gap. I really want to gain as much experience as I can and maybe one day take over the family bakery.”

Howard was able to tour the Gumnut Patisserie during the Sydney trip and will later return there for work experience.

She’ll next compete in the WorldSkills Australia national competition in August.

With Howard and Braszell based in Geelong and Melton respectively, the pair commuted to Fed Uni’s SMB campus each Thursday for the past few months to practice for the competition.

Both were given six-and-a-half hours during the event with Ms Howard making 10 different products in the pastry category and Braszell creating 15 different loaves in the bread category.

Braszell’s baking journey started about three years ago when he moved from a retail position to making white bread at the bakery he worked at in Melton.

He’s since moved on to work at a bakery in the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield and said he hopes to have his own business one day.

“When I started learning more about different breads, I started enjoying it,” he said.

“I’ve always liked cooking and I’ve always wanted to have my own business. A bakery seemed like an achievable business to have.

“It was pretty cool to be able to say you’re the best apprentice baker. The thing that made it cooler was winning the same award with Maylee.”