Cake-makers inspired by Hastings challenge

OBVIOUS CHOICE: Jenn McMillan, Utopia Cakes, Hastings, with a cake she made for Anzac Day, modelled on HMNZS Achilles.PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

Hastings specialty cake-maker and decorator Jenn McMillan has made some colourful and imaginative cakes in the past but with the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings set to be commemorated she felt it was time to make "something special".

Last year she was part of a group of about 30 cake-makers around the country who took part in a special Sir Peter Jackson "bake-up" - creating special cakes to acknowledge his movie-making career.

They were made and presented to Sir Peter when his final film in The Hobbit trilogy was released.

"So I got on to Facebook and put out an invite to those who were part of the Sir Peter Jackson collaboration and asked if they wanted to do something for the 100 years Anzac commemoration."

She got a string of "we'll do it" responses from cake-makers across the country as well as some in Australia.

"There were no rules about what they wanted to create except it had to be about what Anzac Day meant to them."

She only sparked the idea about a fortnight ago but, as of yesterday, about 20 cake-makers had confirmed they had created an Anzac Day special.

The cakes will go to RSAs and RSLs (in Australia) in the districts the cake-makers live.

For Mrs McMillan, coming up with a cake design was never an issue.

Her late grandfather Jack Fuller served aboard the Leander class light cruiser HMNZS Achilles during World War II, and his birthday was April 25 - Anzac Day.

Mr Fuller and his brother Roy, who also served, had both been members of the Ex-Royal Naval Men's Association in Napier and that was where the cake would be heading today - along with a couple of other cakes she had baked for the occasion.

It had been a labour of love, she said, adding that it had to be made outside of her commitments to her Utopia Cakes customers as well as looking after her children.

"I started at midnight a couple of nights ago ... I don't think I've slept," she said.

She worked from a photograph of the ship and the result is a remarkable nautical cake 90cm long from bow to stern, all crafted from fondant.

It will not be consumed immediately, however, and will go on display next week at Cake Stuff in Hastings.