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14 | iNarrabri Magazine
Feature
Interview by Jill Jollow
You’re being interviewed as you are finish-
ing two amazing cakes. What motivated you
to get into the cake decorating business?
I’d come back from a holiday and I was having a
get together with the girls. I wanted to do some
cupcakes with some little flowers on them, so I
started a class with Janice Smith- only wanting
to do a little bit. I didn’t think I would like doing
the flowers- roses and stuff, but Janice got us
started and I got hooked and loved it! It was
through one of the Community Colleges that
she was doing at the time.
What was your first birthday cake like?
My first birthday cake that I can remember was
a Dolly Varden cake. I can’t remember how old
I was, but it was down at the park and I had all
my friends there.
What about the first cake you made for
someone else?
Oh, gosh- I’ve made so many cakes I can’t
remember. Let’s see- it could have been one for
Aunty Doris who is now 97. Mum asked me to
do her a cake. It was only little, but that was the
start. I keep a little book with photos of when
I began and I can see how much better I’ve
become!
Where do you get the inspiration for your
cakes?
Mainly from knowing who they’re for. Because
they’re mostly for family and friends, I kind of
know their personality and what they’d like.
Google is my friend. I get different ideas off
Google or they might come to me and say
they’d like this or that. A bit of stalking on
Facebook helps too! I also try to put a bit of
my personality into them, too, so they aren’t an
exact replica of someone else’s design.
Would you also work on a design you’ve
done for another cake and then move it
forward for another cake?
Yes. I might take some design off one cake
and mix it with another. I’ll try and adapt it for
another person. Also, I change colours and add
stencils to suit. As I get more confident, I’ll take
a bit of a risk. I like to try new things and test
myself. A lot of stuff is done through classes
and then you learn for yourself and express
yourself more. I like a challenge!
Do you always use the same cake base or
do you mix it up a bit?
Because I only do it for family and friends, I
don’t give them a choice. It’s a mud cake and
nothing else!
Your favourite cake you’ve made so far?
Oh, my favourite cake I've decorated would be
my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary cake! I
was very honoured to have been able to make
this for them.
You’ve won many prizes at local shows. Tell
me about some of them.
This year in the Narrabri Show I won most
successful. A few firsts and seconds so that was
lovely. I also put an entry into the Wee Waa
Show. That was an ANZAC theme and it was
pretty special. The first major prize that I won
was in the Narrabri Show. I was in Hong Kong
and I got a text message from Robyn Murphy
to tell me that I was Grand Champion. That
was pretty exciting especially for Dad. It was a
Rabbitohs cake and he’s a massive fan! (He’d be
crying now, though! - Ed) I think it’s important
to enter local shows. It encourages people and
gives them ideas to see what can be done. No
matter what level of decorator you are, there is
a category for you so put your entries in any-
way... We all had to start somewhere and you
may surprise yourself, I know I did! I’d like to see
more school kids entering their creations… Also,
it helps country shows from dying out.
When you’re not making cakes and playing
with icing, you like to travel. What sort of
places do you like to visit and where have
you been lately?
I haven’t done anything this year- I’m saving up
for Canada, Alaska and America next year. I’ve
been to Cambodia and Vietnam, which was
lovely, but very hot. I’ve done Bali a couple of
times, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Fiji for a
wedding...
Did you make the cake for that?
No. (laughs) I was on standby!
What’s been your best holiday so far?
I don’t know that I actually have a best holiday-
going to Bali for my first overseas trip a few
years ago was pretty special. We went with
my Dad’s cousin and her husband who passed
away last month. We went back there and I’ve
been back a couple of times. We always stay at
the same place it’s the Puri Santrian at Sanur.
It’s out of the hustle and bustle. Oh! And I’ve
also done the Europe thing! I’d forgotten that!
We did a Trafalgar tour- Europe, London, and 4
days in Paris beforehand. I’d like to go back to
France and do more of the countryside there-
and Ireland. Oh, scrap the Bali bit! I could go
and live in Ireland… it’s a beautiful place. I think
too, because the Fogarty name is Irish. I loved
Dublin and the countryside was just beautiful!
Biggest mistake when packing?
Overpacking! You just don’t need to take that
many clothes- but I still do it! I haven’t learned
from that mistake…
If I was going on my first overseas holiday,
what are 3 things you recommend I take
(apart from my passport!)
Definitely your camera or your iphone. You
should have a universal adaptor because dif-
ferent countries have different electricity outlets
and, of course, comfy shoes are a must!
cake or break
As an icing queen, Narrabri's Jo Fogarty takes
the cake... decorating to the next level. Her
creative ideas are far from half-baked... Jo will
stalk her cake recipients if inspiration requires
it! And when Jo is not caking, she's breaking...
having experienced a big slice of Asia and
Europe during her travels, with plans to add
North America to the mix!
photo: chris jollow