Sally McNichol (Tapping) and her grandaughter Athie McNichol (10-Tappnig).
Camera IconSally McNichol (Tapping) and her grandaughter Athie McNichol (10-Tappnig). Credit: Supplied/Martin Kennealey www.communitypix.com.au d488369

Tapping youngster a finalist in Big Bethanie Bake Off

Tyler BrownWanneroo Times

A RECIPE handed down through generations has seen Tapping youngster Athie McNichol become a finalist in this year’s Big Bethanie Bake Off.

The fifth annual competition aims to close intergenerational gaps by encouraging WA seniors and school children to present their favourite recipes, along with the story behind them.

Entries were judged on creativity, nutritional value, the complexity of the recipe and the story.

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Four seniors and four juniors have been chosen to compete against each other in the live bake off competition at Have-a-Go Day at Burswood Park on November 14.

Miss McNichol will be making her great-great-grandmother Marie’s hazelnut and chocolate cake with the help of her grandmother Sally.

The Spring Hill Primary School student said Marie was a peasant born in Bohemia in 1885.

She said Marie finished her schooling at the age of 14 and left home just after her 16th birthday.

“She started work as a skivvy and over the next five years she worked her way up to being a cook,” she said.

“She then left Bohemia (Czech Republic) and moved to Vienna (Austria) where she first worked as a cook at a family home and then she and a friend rented their own flat and worked as freelance cooks.

“One of her jobs was working as a cook to the family of a master baker and she learned a great deal of the finer art of baking.”

Miss McNichol said Marie worked for 12 years in Vienna before marrying and having three children.

“She always remained independent and continued with her love for cooking and baking,” she said.

“Everyone admired her cooking and baking – it was her poetry.”

Also from the northern suburbs is senior finalist Wendy Warren.

The Hillarys resident has volunteered at Bethanie Mount Claremont Living Well Centre for the past nine years.

She will be making Christmas shortbread from a family recipe given to her by a friend.

Joining her on stage will be her 12-year-old grandson Max.

The Big Bethanie Bake Off will take place from 10am to 12.30pm.

The 2018 Big Bethanie Bake Off Finalists

Senior finalists –

Wayne Belcher from Braemar Aged Care for Wayne’s Crepes

Wendy Warren from Bethanie Mount Claremont Living Well Centre for her Christmas shortbread

Ruby Neill from Bethanie Kwinana Living Well Centre for her cauliflower mustard pickle

Joan Edmonds from Bethanie Mount Claremont Living Well Centre for Grandma’s Patty Cakes

Junior finalists –

Travis Whitaker from Ashfield Primary School for his Nana’s Scottish Oatmeal

Nichola Powell from St Anthony’s School Greenmount for her Hainanese fried rice

Tom Rechichi from St Anthony’s School Greenmount for his gnocchi

Athie McNichol from Spring Hill Primary School for her great-great-grandmother’s hazelnut and chocolate cake