A tribute...

At this time of year we commemorate the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli in 1915, and pay tribute to those servicemen and women who have taken part in military operations during WWI and in many parts of the world since.

But whilst some ten million men died in WWI, there’s a lesser known fact – sadly at least eight million horses lost their lives also.

Australia sent 136,000 horses overseas, yet out of all these only one horse made it home.

Sandy, pictured above, belonged to Major General Sir William Bridges, who was killed in battle at Gallipoli.

“A gentle bay standing 16 hands high, he was the Major’s favourite charger and it was his dying wish to have his beloved horse returned home to Australia to enjoy a long and happy retirement.

When the Major died, Sandy was put into the care of Captain Leslie Whitfield and was transported to Egypt then onto France in March 1916. It wasn’t until the following year that the Australian authorities were able to honour the Major’s dying wish and granted Sandy a safe passage to return home to Australia.”

“Conditions on the Western Front and Middle East were often physically trying for the horses. Sometimes food, water or suitable shelter was in short supply. They suffered particularly in winter on the front because of the dampness and mud while in the Middle East, horses carried heavy loads of over 100kgs including their rider, weapons, ammunition, food, and water.”

Sources:

http://www.harnesslink.com/News/Commemorating-ANZAC-war-horses

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/lest-forget-campaign-honours-eight-million-horses-killed-first-world-war-637304

https://www.globetrotting.com.au/sandy-australias-only-war-horse-to-return-home/ 

Pick any direction...

And we probably went that way today with multiple drivers on the road whilst the bakers continued working hard.

And that started with...butter! Amanda and Stuart.

At the next table Laurie is practising date writing
with Ilter.

And Angie is busy dating a few bags ready for use.

Tom and David are concentrating on getting the labels just right.
But what happens when you turn your back for a moment?

Surprise! David has become John!

Anne and Kelly are wasting no time.

Yesterday we matched the tops with the furniture but
Layla decided the blue chair was hers today and
wasn't giving it up even for a photo.
Well, just like this then!!! 

Cherie assisting Louise with gumnut threading.

Jesse, Dagmara and Garry hard at work in the dry mix area.

Lorraine carefully measures out the hot water with the bicarb.

Before adding it to Brice.

Michael is in the driver's seat, closing the gate.

And starting the mixing process.

These ladies have been busy!
Mellany and Linda can be proud of their efforts.

But wait, there's more!
Natalie with another tray coming out of the pantry.

Now what is going on here???

No Sue, your work is not done, far from it...

Show us how it's done please Virginia.

Now that's more like it.

Cheryl has just returned today
and started with some packing.

Anthony and Wayne on the other side.

Chris started at the packing table but we
needed some more help tying ribbons.

And when the going gets tough...
Even a broken wrist can't slow Robyn down.

Ben has been selling a lot of biscuits
and here he is with Ange for some more!
Thank you Ben, well done.

Are we planning something here? You bet!

After lunch...

Hannah led the charge at the butter table.

While Alisha smiled her way through some more labels.

David and Angie busy with some more dry mixes.

Sticky situation!
Tom carefully measuring out the syrup.

How many trays can she carry?

Priorities, Maree and the biscuits have right of way
while Tom and Kelly look on from a safe distance.

John, Cheryl and Tom keeping the ovens filled.

No mean feat when you remember
we've 300 biscuits baking at any time.

Smiles in the pantry, Chris, Raj and Wayne.

And Cherie tried to escape but
the phantom blogger found her.

Alanna and look at this, more colour co-ordination - 
top and tablecloth this time!

Oh oh...what has eagle eyed Bron spotted?

Ooops, wrong bag!!!
A rejects bag has found its way to the packing table.

These are right say Jeremy and Natalie.

So are ours say Lorraine and Mellany.

And what would we do without this lady?
Viva is everywhere we need her,
which is tying ribbons this afternoon.

Two more days of baking...the proof is in the tally!

So we can bake biscuits...

 But what else can we do? Well, let us show you 😊

Creativity - round biscuits? Chunks of butter? We can do better!!!

A new product has rolled out of the oven. Actually, these don't roll so much as cut a dashing figure. 

Introducing our new war-dog biscuits! What will the future hold? All kinds of animals played a roll over many years within our armed forces.

At just $2 each let us know if you'd like some.

And now...for a little creativity this afternoon. 

We've well and truly proven we can cut butter and pack biscuits so let's raise the bar a little...

After Bronte created her abstract sculpture we started
to think what else could she do?

First there was the shark!!!
Fearsome addition to any Anzac biscuits it makes.

And what about the butter-fly?!

Poor thing has melted into a pot by now...

Occasionally a biscuit doesn't make the grade,
these get packaged up separately and sold as "rejects".
But...just because no "reject"should feel rejected,
here's Joy's flower creation!

Now this really leaves it wide open as we still have three days of baking left, stay tuned!!!

The force of Anzac bakers...

Today started pretty much as expected - everyone arrived and got to work...but something happened during the day, and we can only assume the smell of biscuit baking is seeping into each and every corner and everyone's brain! 😍

Jason, our jack of all trades, we'd not be surprised to
see biscuits delivered on broomstick next! 

Matthew and Richard got busy at the butter table.

Dean and Alyson preparing the bags for packing today.

We started something here this morning -
colour co-ordinated workers and furniture!
Dallas measuring sheets of
baking paper for tray liners.

Louise and Debbie working together preparing bags too.

While Angie gets some more lengths of ribbon ready.

Jo and Louise preparing another mix for the kitchen.

While Sam and Linda worked together in the kitchen.

Michael, Kelly and David rolling furiously in the kitchen.

Rosalie was part of the pantry team this morning.

As were Stuart and Raj.

Bronwyn bringing some more trays over...

And here's the original biscuit relay - from bench to oven,
Bronte and Kelly.

What's this? All caught up! 
Jesse and Ross at the packing table.

Look at this! Bron with a whole lot of packed biscuits.

And they're ready to roll out the door.

Now look what happened after lunch...

Louise was working hard at the butter table.

Next to her Bronte got creative and
built a Mona worthy sculpture!!!

But that wasn't all, check out our
special afternoon feature to follow...

Not to be outdone by the combination of yellow shirt and
furniture this morning, here's Kelly and Virginia -
blue on blue chairs!!! What have we started?!

Another hard worker, Linda, practising date writing.

Stuart and Richard - synchronised gumnut threading.

Keeping Ross on his toes to keep up supplies.

Wayne digging deep into the flour container

And David stirring the pot (ok, poetic licence here).

Cherie and Sia keeping Brice running flat out.

Hints of yellow once again...
Dallas adding the syrup to the next butter mix.

Striking the perfect fashion statement pose...

Pam on oven duty.

Laurie and Adrita have eyes only on their task.

Dean and Louise smiling their way through the pantry.

Along with Alyson and Debbie.

Helen says I got your back Jo!

David and Angie busy packing.

And so is Matthew.

Now what's this? Three at a time?

Go Raj!

Having emerged from the kitchen for a breather,
Joy chats with Jesse whilst she
concentrates on threading the gumnuts.

Now...for the tally of course, that's coming. 

And so is our special feature on a gorgeous new sideline complementing our Anzac biscuits and some of the creative things people did this afternoon whilst cutting butter or packing biscuits...