Toowoomba siblings recognised for field advancements

One of the siblings, Loretto, has been on a special mission over the past seven years, innovating and creating foods for people with dysphagia.

Ms Reiken makes food for those with dysphagia, moulding processed material to make it look like a regular meal (as seen).

IT HAS been an award-winning year for Toowoomba siblings Michael and Loretto Reiken, with both gaining national recognition in their chosen career fields.

Working for Bolton Clarke, Loretto won the national award for aged care chef manager of the year at the OSCAR Hospitality awards held in Melbourne in September.

She has been on a special mission over the past seven years, innovating and creating foods for people with dysphagia which allows them to eat safely and with dignity. She moulds the processed food to make it resemble a regular meal. 

Loretto Reiken with her OSCAR hospitality award.

"Winning the award, I felt it was a real victory for those with dysphagia and it was good to have the hard work recognised,' Ms Reiken said.

"It was a great platform to raise awareness, and if I can inspire the next generation of chefs to consider aged care then that is a win."

Her dysphagia meals were also awarded at the 2018 Asia Pacific Awards in Singapore in May this year. She has now relocated to Sydney to work as an executive chef at The Village Scalabrini.

Ms Reiken said her focus on food for those with dysphagia began when her grandmother had been stricken by the illness. 

"After she got sick I saw what was happening (with the food) and I thought we could do better," she said.

"Until you're in the shoes of another person you don't realise the situation.

"I like to challenge myself and I am very excited for what next year holds working at The Village Scalabrini."

Her brother Michael, owner and operator of local business Excel Power, won multiple awards for his off-grid solar system installed at Langton Street.

Michael Reiken with his Master Electrician excellence award.

He took home first place for the South Qld master electrician energy efficiency project of the year in July, and then in October the steampunk designed system received the independently-judged Clean Energy Council Design and Installation award.  

These awards are Australia's premier solar awards, recognising excellence in design and installation of Australian solar projects.

Originally published as Toowoomba siblings recognised for field advancements