Students put cooking skills to the test
Students from five Kimberley schools have put their culinary skills to the test at the second annual Kimberley Cook Off, held in Fitzroy Crossing.
After the inaugural contest between Halls Creek and Fitzroy Valley District High Schools, 2013 saw students from Wyndham, Derby and Broome also take part.
While Wyndham District High School took out the overall prize, Halls Creek Year 7 student Melanie O'Neil won best overall cook against a strong field of mainly older students.
"It was great. I liked the cooking with everyone in the same room … it has developed my confidence (to cook)," she said.
Melanie is also part of the Girls' Enterprise Program offered at HCDHS, with her and teammates putting up beef soft shell tacos with homemade flour tortillas, Mexican rice and homemade pico di gallo.
Accumulated points throughout the day's events were earned for an invention test, signature dish and dessert, as well as herb identification.
WDHS principal Mark Williams said the school was thrilled to take out the team award after sending five students and two teachers to the contest.
"The dish that won them the final award was a crab-infused fish and filo pastry with a lemon myrtle dressing," he said.
"It's fantastic this is our first year with a home economics teacher, Lynette Hill, and she's done a fantastic job bringing them all together."
Organisers hope to include more schools next year.
