Gloucester CWA members shine in Group Land Cookery Competition

REPRESENTATIVES from the CWA Gloucester Branch and Evening Branch recently did battle with peers from across the region in a fiercely competitive cooking competition.

Ahead of the CWA state conference in Forster in May, the Wauchope branch hosted the Land Cookery and Friendship Day at Wauchope RSL Club on Thursday 19 February.

It was attended by 52 members from 11 branches, spanning Gloucester in the south to Nambucca Valley in the north.

The competition was hotly-contested with 110 entries from across the Mid North Coast.

The judge, Ellice Schrader from Cessnock CWA Branch, was very impressed with the high standard of entries.

The combined Gloucester Branches secured an impressive nine first places, six seconds and five thirds across eighteen sections, which covered cakes, slices, biscuits, jams and chutneys.

The competition is overseen by a dedicated CWA Land Cookery Committee and is sponsored by The Land newspaper.

This cherished tradition marks its 75^th anniversary in 2026.

To celebrate the occasion the cooking schedule included a surprise butter loaf cake.

“This is a very difficult cake to make because you have to make two cakes of different colours then combine the two to bake,” the CWA’s Barbara Reichert told NOTA.

Trish Mason from Gloucester Evening Branch won this section while Denise Hawdon came second.

Trish was also awarded second place for her jam, chutney and peppermint slice.

Denise was awarded first place for her light fruit cake, steamed fruit pudding and plain butter cake, and secured second place for her sultana cake.

Barbara Reichert‘s coconut cake and gluten free magic bean cake were winning entries while her light fruit cake was awarded second place.

First time entrant Lauren McRae was awarded second place for her butter cake and strawberry jam.

Gloucester Branch stalwart Christine Bolton was awarded first place for her sultana cake and third for her plain butter cake.

Judy Hopkins was awarded first place for her coffee sponge cake and third place for her peppermint slice and Alice’s fancy biscuits.

While a popular CWA challenge, the Land Cookery Competition is also open to anyone who resides in NSW or the ACT.

Local Gloucester identity and ardent jam cook Bob Lamb was awarded third place for his tomato jam entry.

Barbara Reichert told News Of The Area, “The highlight of the day was when Eli Stuckings, a first-time competitor in the Junior Section for 18 years and under, was awarded first place for his chocolate cake.

“The recipe Eli used was handed down through generations.

“The recipe was originally his great, great grandmother’s.

“It was a wonderful achievement.”

Gloucester’s nine finalists will now compete in the Land Cookery Competition to be held at the CWA‘s Annual State Conference at Forster in May.

By Marilyn SANDERSON