IN OUR SCHOOLS
A GROUP of talented up-and-coming chefs has showed off their skills at Worldskills Australia’s regional cookery competition held at Kirwan State High School.
St Margaret Mary’s College student Shannon Volker received first place in the Townsville leg of the competition, followed by Kirwan High students Dylan Kruse in second place and Natasha Karetu in third.
Judged by cookery teachers from TAFE Townsville, Shannon crafted a prize-winning bruschetta duo, a breast of chicken with a vegetable selection including duchesse potatoes and jardinière carrots with creamy mustard sauce ( pictured), and a lemon polenta cake.
“I was nervous before I went, but when we got there it was pretty calm with the cooking and everything,” she said.
“It was fun. It was really exciting to win, I wasn’t expecting it because I had never cooked in that kitchen before.”
The Year 11 student is studying a certificate II in hospitality through school and a certificate II in kitchen operations through TAFE.
“I cook every day at home, I’ve liked cooking since I was really young,” she said.
“I want to work in a restaurant when I’m older.”
Shannon’s teacher Janice Lomonaco said Shannon also volunteered her time to help out at St Margaret Mary’s College’s cafe, Cafe Alacoque.
“It’s wonderful having students who are keen to do that sort of stuff,” Ms Lomonaco said. “We’re very proud of her.”
Judge Natalie Cashin from TAFE Townsville said the regional cookery competitions were extremely exciting events.
“For school students they did a fantastic job,” she said.
“The food was restaurant-quality, you could definitely serve it in a restaurant or for a function.
“They did a chicken dish and every dish was cooked perfectly, it was very difficult to judge.”
Ms Cashin said the certificate II in kitchen operations that Shannon and other contestants were competing was a very popular course.
“We have full classes,” she said.
“It’s good just to learn how to cook, even if they don’t go on to become chefs, they have the basic skills for life.
“With all the TV shows, people are showing more of an interest in learning how to cook properly and seeing that cooking can be fun.
“I definitely recommend doing these courses while still in school.”
Shannon is now eligible for the national finals of the Worldskills Australia Cookery Competition, to be held next year.
More than 500 Worldskills regional competitions are held in 34 regions across Australia every two years.
Worldskills said culinary competitions played a vital role in the continual rise in standards of culinary excellence across Australia and the National Championships was Australia’s biggest vocational education and excellence competition.