User

Biography

I grew up on a dairy farm outside of Loch in Gippsland. As a young girl my time was spent reading the cookbooks that mum kept in the bottom kitchen draw. Always looking for a new recipe to try, a new food idea. Many weekends where spent making rainbow cakes with as many colours as possible – have you seen my Instagram feed, not much has changed.
At the aged of about 16, I remember stating that I wanted to leave the farm and travel the world. I had an idea that I would become a television technician and work on sporting events (which I did). This would be followed by retiring by about 30 and moving back to South Gippsland to grow vegetables and cook. From 16 fast forward 20 years and I returned, starting Jacican Food Studio in Mirboo North, South Gippsland where I grow vegetables and cook.
Before returning to South Gippsland I re-trained as a chef, completing my certificate of commercial cookery. This led me to working in catering, large and small hotels and small businesses, both in Melbourne and South Gippsland before starting Jacican. In 2014 I completed my Bachelor of Business and Commerce from Monash University, just to round out my education.
To follow my passion for sharing Gippsland stories, its produce, farmers, people and returning to my initial interest of producing media, I started a Graduate Diploma in Journalism at RMIT University in 2020.