Good morning.
Today’s History story is dedicated to our Bunyip bakers. 🌾🍞Some you may have heard of, some you may know now, and others hold wonderful memories for many people. That’s what this story is all about, and you can add your memories too.
For this story, we go back to our first baker, Henry. He arrived in Bunyip and began baking for the community.
Henry McSwane Rodger is Henry the Bunyip’s namesake.
The bakers continued over the years. There was the Ruff family baker’s , Baker Thomas, Baker Colin, and then came Baker Jack. He and his family looked after the bakery for the next twenty years.
For almost seventy years, these bakers worked through the night so that fresh bread, buns, cakes and pastries were ready for the people of Bunyip each morning.
After this time, the bakery industry in Victoria experienced a massive change due to a structural shift. Large supermarkets began selling mass-produced sliced bread and other baked goods, which affected the small local bakeries. Sadly, many closed, including the Bunyip Bakery.
But fortunately for Bunyip, in 1993 Baker Rob began the next chapter.
Baker Rob, Omega, Damien and Steph, Baker Gerry and Eileen, and many other staff made sure Bunyip once again had a wonderful bakery. This time it was at Number 19 Main Street. After the Bunyip Drapery closed, the shop was fitted out with ovens and benches.
We thank Rob for his dedication to the world of flour.
On we go through many more years of bakers, including Baker Patrick, and then Baker Alan. Alan, his family and staff worked hard for many years looking after the community.
Now we move on to today and our current baker, Dylan — “the beautiful,” as he likes to say — or perhaps he was referring to his beloved Coral. With his trusty team of Baker Troy, Mitch, Georgia, Spencer and Calliope, the bakery goods baked each day disappear quickly into the hands of happy, hungry customers.
Today there is a new member of the bakery. Apprentice Henry the Bunyip has joined the team. Customers can see Apprentice Henry, wearing his lovely red and white striped apron and baker’s hat, sitting proudly on the counter. Henry has a lot to learn, and Dylan and Coral will teach him. Just as well Henry already knows a thing or two about making sticky buns — maybe he can teach Dylan a little!
While most of Bunyip is tucked away in their warm beds, a baker sees many things. Perhaps a possum hurrying home with its baby on its back, an adventurous dog wandering the streets, or an early bird stopping in for a coffee on the way to work. The baker notices it all, but quietly prepares another day’s warm bread and pastries. By sunrise, the kettle is on for that first cup of tea, and the toast is cooking with bread made by a baker somewhere.
Thank you, bakers.🌾
Footnote: Happy Birthday, Coral! Have a wonderful day.🎂
#lovealwayshenry♥️#storybydaffy📝#picbyai (in the pic you can see Bunyip’s original ovens)