Creativity and conservation were on the menu in Bellingen Shire as the community marked National Threatened Species Day with the region’s inaugural Threatened Species Bake Off.
Families, schools, community groups, environmental organisations and state government representatives gathered for the event, using threatened species-themed cakes to raise awareness of Australia’s vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered plants and animals.
The competition attracted 30 entries and about 70 attendees, with cakes depicting threatened species found locally and across Australia.
Creations included the Bellinger River snapping turtle, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, koala, Growling Grass Frog, Masked Owl, Spotted-tailed Quoll and Mount Kaputar Pink Slug.
The event formed part of a broader national initiative coordinated by the Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner and aimed to encourage conversations about biodiversity and conservation.
Bellingen Shire Council River and Biodiversity Officer Celeste Lymn led a panel discussion featuring seven local conservation professionals, who outlined projects underway across the shire.
Panellists included Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation CEO Dean Kelly, Bellingen Landcare Incorporated representative Justine Elder, DCCEEW threatened species officers Alicia Scanlon and Chris Ormond, Bellingen Islanders group representative Ross Macleay and Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance representative Gary Fry.
Lymn said the bake-off provided an accessible way for people to learn more about threatened species.
“The Threated Species Bake Off is an engaging and non-confrontational way for our community to become more familiar with threatened species, not just in Bellingen Shire, but around Australia as a whole.”
“When someone bakes a cake for the Bake-Off, they get to know what kind of habitat is important for that plant or animal and naturally start to make connections around how we can better support them in the environment.”
Event attendees judged the cakes and selected winners across several categories.
Jess Miller won first prize in the Open Community category for an intricately painted cake featuring a Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove and Spotted-tailed Quoll.
Naomi Drage placed second with a Greenshank-inspired cake, while Chelsea Nolan took third for her depiction of the Bellinger River snapping turtle.
In the Under 15s category, Aiden May claimed first prize with a Growling Grass Frog creation.
Elliot Nolan placed second with the event’s largest entry, a Large-Tooth Sawfish, while Hannah Pollard finished third with a Grey-headed Flying Fox cake.
The Never Never Catchment group won the Businesses, Schools, Groups and Agencies category with its Mount Kaputar Pink Slug creation.
Bellingen Shire Council Group Leader of Sustainable Environment and Waste Sam Tate said the turnout demonstrated the community’s interest in protecting the region’s biodiversity.
“Bellingen Shire is home to an extraordinary diversity of ecosystems and wildlife, including more than 130 threatened species,” said Tate.
“The bake-off showed that conservation education doesn’t always have to happen in the field. By combining creativity, community connection and learning, we brought together community members, local organisations and environmental groups to celebrate our threatened species and the collective effort required to protect them.”
Don’t miss any of the important stories from around the region. Subscribe to our email list.