The Disney classic song ‘It’s a Small World After All’ must be ringing in John Treloar’s (ON 1970) ears.  When John decided to share with Old Boys a recent experience he had, he never imagined that his words would be shared so widely that it would come back to the College.  The College contacted John to share his experience, he was most surprised and has graciously given permission for it to be shared with the wider Newington family.  I am sure that you will agree with those that have read this, that you will be eagerly awaiting next year’s instalment. Enjoy! 

It is the first day of the Royal Easter Show and cooks from around the state have delivered their sponges, lamingtons, scones, banana cake and jam rolls for judging.  From Grong Grong to Moogem, women and men have gathered for the judging of their cakes and slices.  Anticipation is high with many recipes tested and refined.  

The judging area is full of the cooked offerings and seated in front are the many competitors with their supportive family and friends anticipating glory or sage advice from the assembled judges.

Jam rolls are up for judging.  I look across at the 10 or so entries and reckon that the many kilos of rolls consumed by my family over the last months are going to lead me to Sydney Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) glory.

My jam roll is looking good.  It has a nice shape, golden colour and uncut edges.  I have a good chance, it looks like one of the best entries.

I love baking.  I have a great stove, a La Cornue Grand Maman with a majestic 84 litre vaulted oven.  I use my mother’s 1950s Sunbeam Mixmaster and her old baking trays.  My love for baking was encouraged by my dear grandmother Kathleen Law.  Grandma was one of the old school cooks who taught me to add a bit here and there to make the end result ‘look right’ and have the ‘right proportions’.

I entered a fruit cake a couple of years ago in the Sydney Royal Easter Show and was successful in having the cake displayed in the glass cabinets along with the other prize winning fruit cakes.  This year I extended my repertoire and entered the jam roll along with my rich fruit cake and a plate of four scones.

I had success in that my fruit cake made it into the display case again, no ribbon, but working on that.  The scones were not successful, but I know I can whip up a batch – just trying to get the right mix – lemonade and or cream.  This year the judge recommended powdered milk!

So, what happened in the judging of the jam roll you ask?

Let’s start with the rules:  The RAS has these rules specified in the schedule.  Best not to ignore the rules or the result is instant disqualification.  For example, Plain Scones: four per plate.  Don’t enter three or five, only four.  If the rules say an undecorated cake, don’t decorate it.  Last year a square cake was eliminated: it should have been round.

Here is the extract from the schedule for jam roll –

CLASS 418 – Jam roll. Edges must not be trimmed. No sugar dusting required. Approx. 33cm x 23cm swiss roll tin.

I had the right sized tin, I didn’t cut the edges. 

The judge starts talking and her first words are along the lines of, “I see a good looking roll in front of me, but sadly I also see the glistening of sugar dusting, sugar dusting is not required and so it is instantly disqualified.”  The cake is passed back to one of the helpers.  Stunned, I took out my phone and google synonyms of ‘not required’. 

To be specific, not required does not exclude the object or action.  It means it is discretionary, elective, non-compulsory, not enforced and up to the individual. (http://www.thesaurus.com/) It is very clear in the wording that a sugar dusted jam roll is acceptable.  The judge might not like it, but the rules do not say; ’no sugar dusting allowed’.

Judging continued.

I see crooked and sunken jam rolls.  Some with too much jam, others over cooked or undercooked.  The glorious and perfect (my words…) one is not there and the award of best, second and third go to other remaining rolls.

I stayed to watch the judging of the sponge cakes, lemon cakes and all other types of cakes where the judges often commented when an entry should have met the requirements of the rules.  There was an issue with the number of colours required for the marble cakes, but I’ll leave that for the marble cake contenders to discuss at another time.

So, what about next year?  I will enter again and might also enter other categories.  It still is great fun competing.  I will also enter the Camden Show to get some more practice and competition experience!

So I was ‘rolled’.  The judge hopefully gets a quick lesson on interpretation of pretty clear language and in 2018 the language is tidied up for a fairer competition.