Isabel’s chasing no low-hanging fruit(cake)

By Owen Sinclair

Apr 7, 2025

Isabel with her prize-winning cake. Photo by Contributed

Isabel French has taken out first prize for her boiled fruitcake at a regional meet in Shepparton.

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After competing in the competition over the past four years, the time was ripe for Isabel, 13, to take out the top gong in the junior boiled fruitcake category at the Goulburn Valley Regional Show Association Regional Final on Saturday, March 29.

Cobram was well represented in the competition, with Isabel joined by Margaret Watson, Lola Goodwin (second, junior boiled fruit cake category) and Heather Crosthwaite (second, carrot cake category).

The Cobram teen explained the secret to an award-winning boiled fruitcake was simple: all it takes is a bit of luck, time and effort.

Isabel was a bundle of excitement and nerves “since I don’t really know how the cake’s going to go”.

“We use the same oven, but we have to try figure out the temp to use,” she said.

In September, Isabel will be off to Melbourne to throw her hat in the ring at the Melbourne Royal Show to be crowned first in the state for her boiled fruitcake.