All regulars at the community kitchen run by Dungog Shire Community Centre and mentored by the ladies of Christ Church, the mums won two firsts and two seconds in the cooking section.

Edna Mudariki, who said she had never cooked pikelets before going to the community kitchen, won first place.

Jenny Coggan won first place for her slice of any variety, and Caitlyn Pritchard received a second each for her slice and four muffins.

Young, and not so young, mothers have been making new friends while learning about healthy eating, food preparation and budgeting for their families.

Community centre manager Sarah U’Brien said the group meets every Tuesday morning at 9.30 in the Anglican Church Hall.

“Each week they cook a healthy yummy meal which they eat together with the mentors while they plan the following week’s menu,” Ms U’Brien said.

“The mums are welcome to bring their children and there is free child minding.

“The program has been successful because of the Anglican ladies.

“They are great mentors and I think they enjoy it as much as the mothers.”

Dietician Amanda Horn took the mums down to the supermarket where they learnt about reading food labels, buying fruit and vegetables in season and substituting different products already in the fridge or pantry.

Lyn Moseley said the mums are learning all the time and getting more confident in cooking many and varied dishes.

“It has been progressive learning for them and they have learnt so much.

“Prior to the [Dungog ] railway centenary they had never made biscuits, but we made 300 which all sold.

“And now they are entering cooking in the show, it’s fantastic.”

A mother to two children aged two and four, Jenny Coggan heard about other mothers coming to the kitchen.

“I made some enquiries and then decided to come along,” she said.

“It is really good and there is free child minding as I couldn’t do it without.

“I have learned more about healthier cooking and how to substitute different products in a recipe if they are cheaper or you have to buy a big packet and only need one or two.

“The mentors suggested we have a cooking day [in the kitchen] and enter them into the show.

“It was good fun, but it took a lot longer than a normal cooking day, but the ladies showed us how to plate it up so it looked good.

“I never dreamt I would ever enter something in the show, least of all win anything.

“I was thrilled, I couldn’t believe it.

“I love coming here, it’s a day out and you learn so much too.”