PWMU Cookbook Committee Secretary Pam Grant (third from left) with guests, including Moderator Rev David Fotheringham and Associate General Secretary Rev Sharon Hollis, at the anniversary high tea.
October 24 was a big day in the life of the PWMU Cookbook, when it celebrated its 120th anniversary with a high tea at North Ringwood Uniting Church.
Guests and friends from across the Uniting and Presbyterian churches in Victoria who attended enjoyed delicious food prepared using recipes from the cookbook, and a wonderful time of fellowship.
The Moderators of the Uniting and Presbyterian churches in Victoria, Rev David Fotheringham and Rev Ian Hutton, respectively brought greetings from their churches.
They also spoke of the way the cookbook committee had sought to support communities affected by natural disasters in recent years through providing copies of the cookbook to families.
Guest speakers offered different insights into the place of the PWMU Cookbook in Australian Society.
“The relationship between Hachette and the PWMU Cookbook is quite a bit younger than the cookbook itself, given the first edition came into being 120 years ago, although the association is still quite long,” said Sophie Hamley, non-fiction editor from the publishers, Hachette Australia.
After 21 reprints of that first edition, Lothian Books published the second edition in 1973. Lothian itself had quite a history, having been established in 1915.
Former publisher Matthew Kelly said that what started out as a Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union production has new life in the modern era, and also mentioned that the book has had several changes of format, including into paperback.
Community historian and best-selling author Liz Harfull spoke of the work she undertook to write her book ‘Tried Tested and True’, which captures untold stories and treasured recipes from recipe books published in Australia to raise money for worthy causes, including the PWMU Cookbook, which was a popular source of inspiration in her family’s kitchen.
Those who attended the 120th anniversary high tea were able to purchase the special revision of the 5th edition that had been released to mark this significant occasion in the life of the PWMU Cookbook.
Committee Secretary, Pam Grant, offered some highlights from the cookbook’s history:
- Since 1904 there have been five editions, each with many reprints. The latest edition was released in 2013, with a major revision done in 2021. There has been a special review of this edition released to celebrate the 120th anniversary.
- There aren’t full records as to the total number of cookbooks sold since 1904, but it could be in excess of 750,000.
- Royalties are distributed equally to both churches through the PWMU & UCAF – these groups determine which ministry/mission programs of the PCV or UCA receive funds.
- In response to natural disasters, mainly in Victoria, the committee has been able to provide copies of the cookbook to families following the Black Saturday and Black Summer bush fires, as well as the 2022 floods and fires this year.
