Guild's recipe for longevity

INTEREST in cake decorating in Orange has waxed and waned over the years, but the Orange branch of the Cake Decorators’ Guild is enjoying strong interest with plenty of members.

Last Saturday the group celebrated 30 years since it was first formed in Orange and the celebration cake depicting the autumn shades of Orange, which was a group effort by members, was cut at an afternoon tea held in the Senior Citizen’s Centre.

Cake decorating uses a combination of tried and true techniques as well as newer techniques introduced over the last few years, according to members.

Foundation member Angie Mason recalls when she first began cake decorating.

“In those days most people had fruit cakes for just about everything from christenings to 21st birthdays, engagements and weddings,” she said.

“Because they were fruit cakes you had plenty of time to work on them and decorate them.”

But with the current trend towards sponges and mud cakes the decorators only have a small time frame to create their masterpieces.

“You have to work pretty quickly now because the younger ones don’t like fruit cakes and the others only keep for a few days,” fellow foundation member Pam Norris said.

Mrs Mason says despite changing trends she still finds decorating her cakes with roses her favourite creation.

“I just love them - they look so beautiful on a cake,” she said.

Mrs Morris says she can’t go past orchids as her favourite.

Mrs Mason credits the recent interest in cake decorating to little being offered in the community in terms of courses to learn the craft.

“I learned at Tech (now TAFE) like a lot of people, but those courses just simply don’t exist any more,” she said.

“But it’s good to see we have so many members now as at times over the years we have been down to four or five members.”

If you would like to become involved in cake decorating the group will make you welcome. Call Beryl Hicks on 6366 5015.

The group meets on Saturdays.