Sydney optometrist Peter Freeman has just collected his 50th ribbon at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
A keen baker of cakes, Mr Freeman has been entering the Sydney Royal Easter Show Arts and Craft competition for cake baking since 2004.
My patients are fully aware I will not be examining eyes, but instead will be home baking cakes
The Arts and Craft competition is divided into two classes: seven for non-perishable and 28 for perishable cakes. Mr Freeman said competition is tense. Every year in the lead up to the Show he takes two weeks out of his optometry practice in Padstow, Sydney, to prepare. “My patients are fully aware I will not be examining eyes, but instead will be home baking cakes,” he explained.
In 2015, Mr Freeman won his first two blue ribbons (for his light fruit cake and American fruit cake) as well as the Heather Gibson Perpetual trophy for most successful entrant – he is the only male to have his name engraved on the trophy.
“I only ever wanted to enter so I could present my entries with my name. The thought of winning ribbons was the last thought on my mind, let alone the trophy,” he said.
Inspired by the win, Mr Freeman attended several patisserie classes at Le Cordon Bleu at Ryde TAFE in Sydney.
“The classes took my baking skills, as well as my attention to detail, to a higher level,” he said.
The hours spent in class paid off. In 2016, Mr Freeman achieved four more ribbons, and every year since (except 2020 when COVID cancelled the Show) he has been recognised with awards for his cake baking entries.
To date Mr Freeman said he has accumulated 50 ribbons: 13 first places, 15 second places, six third places, and 16 for highly commended.
Cake baking “is a therapy for me, it is a way to escape a day of providing eye care for my patients”, Mr Freeman said. He said the skills he has learnt have also enhanced his clinical practice.
“I have learnt that to achieve at this level requires practice and attention to detail. These skills I have learnt also apply to my eye examinations. I realise that I might be old school, however, I will never rush an eye examination.
