Something in the water...

A few square kilometres of country covering the South Australian/Victorian border at the southern tip of Australia is proving to have more than its fair share of prizewinning cooks. The tiny farming district of Mil Lel, known for its lush pastures and high-producing dairy farms, is also home to Emma Kemp and Margaret Douglas. Born and bred on a dairy farm at Mil Lel and now living in the Adelaide Hills, Emma has won the 2008 aggregate trophy as the most successful exhibitor in open cookery classes overall at the Royal Adelaide Show, also winning most successful exhibitor awards in pastries and desserts. On the same day Margaret won the State Genoa Cake Competition, judged in conjunction with the launch of The Blue Ribbon Cookbook, written by Liz Harfull, who, you guessed it, is also originally from Mil Lel. And the State Rich Fruit Cake Championship was won by Shirley Harvey, who comes from Strathdownie, the neighbouring farming district on the Victorian side of the border. Another cook from Mil Lel, Beryl Hill, her daughter Judith Wood, and grandson, Geoffrey Wood are also feature in the book as champion cooks for the Mount Gambier Show where Beryl was the first woman president. Must be something in the plentiful underground water sources for which both districts are known... Pictured at the show are (from left) Geoffrey, Margaret, Shirley, Liz, Beryl and her husband, Murray.