If you are at home affected by COVID-19 lockdowns, you might find you are spending more time in the kitchen baking and creating.
Key points:
- Australia’s annual Threatened Species Bake Off is under way
- The event is run by the Threatened Species Commissioner and aims to raise awareness of wildlife in need
- A panel of judges will choose the winners next month and entries can be submitted from home
Australia’s Threatened Species Commissioner, Sally Box, is calling on Australians to put their creative cooking skills to the test.
The commissioner’s fifth annual Threatened Species Bake Off is under way, an event that aims to build awareness and increase conversations around threatened species.
Senior advisor with the office of the Threatened Species Commissioner, Dr Kerry Cameron, says it’s open to children and adults and can be done from home.
“The idea is that Australians will choose a threatened species that interests them and then bake something that represents that species, it might be some koala cupcakes or a cake with another kind of creature on it, or a plant,” she said.
Supplied: Threatened Species Commissioner
)“There’s over 1,800 nationally listed threatened species in Australia.”
Creating a sweet treat in the shape of a grey nurse shark, rare native frog, or an echidna might not be within everyone’s skill set, but it’s a challenge already being taken up by many.
After the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, the 2020 Bake Off drew a record number of entries.
Supplied: Katie Young’s Cakes
)“Last year was our first lockdown Bake Off,” Dr Cameron said.
“The beauty of it is you can enter simply by just posting your picture online, on social media using the hashtag #tsbakeoff and then post on Instagram or Facebook.”
A focus on ecosystem engineers
Supplied: Bikkie Smalls
)Dr Cameron said the theme of this year’s Bake Off was “ecosystem engineers”, and the role they play in terrestrial and aquatic environments.
Ecosystem engineers include threatened mammals that dig and turn the soil, improving soil health, like the Kangaroo Island echidna, greater bilby, and the eastern barred bandicoot.
“So, this year we are keen for people to think about species that contribute to how the ecosystem functions as they exist,” Dr Cameron said.
Supplied: Threatened Species Commissioner
)“So, it might be a bilby or something that digs holes and aerates the soil, or a flying fox that spreads seeds around or another kind of animal that creates habitat, a plant might create habitat for birds or possums, things like that, so it’s pretty broad.
Supplied: Threatened Species Commissioner
)Dr Cameron will also be entering a creation of her own after a strong effort last year, featuring the grey nurse shark.
“I live in Coffs Harbour and I love to scuba dive. I am a marine biologist so I did a grey nurse shark last year,” she said.
“So I did macarons. It was my first attempt at macarons and they were delicious.
Supplied: Threatened Species Commissioner
)“Lots of people from Coffs Harbour make frogs or some of the birds.
“You can make a great cake of a bird and use different lollies for the different colours of feather … people have been really creative.”
Supplied: Threatened Species Commissioner
)Expert panel of judges
Supplied: Threatened Species Commissioner
)The bake off will be judged by baker Katherine Sabbath, water scientist Brad Moggridge, ecologist Dr Bec West, and acting Threatened Species Commissioner, Dr Fiona Fraser.
Submissions are open until September 8 and there are a range of categories, from children to an open division and people’s choice.
Dr Cameron hasn’t settled on a creation yet.
“Maybe a giant barred frog this year,” she said.
“I am not quite sure how I will do it but they are a yellow, goldie frog with lovely stripes on their back legs and they are quite big and chunky, so you can make a great cupcake based on them, I reckon.”
Winners will be announced on September 10 after Threatened Species Day.
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