Champion brother’s spirit helped Robyn to her first Royal Easter Show blue ribbon

Robyn East’s thrill at her first Royal Easter Show blue ribbon was offset by the absence of her greatest baking rival of 25 years, her late brother Greg. ‘I knew he was there with me.’

There’s an empty seat in the Easter Show cake pavilion this year.

An empty seat that belongs to lifelong baker Robyn East’s biggest rival. Someone who beat her every single year.

But that empty seat doesn’t fill her with excitement — quite the opposite.

That empty seat belonged to her brother, Gregory East. Her biggest rival. Her best friend.

For the past 25 years, Robyn and Greg battled each other at the Royal Easter Show cake competition, mixing, beating and sifting in a bid to outdo the other.

Sometimes Robyn would place. Not Greg. Greg always seemed to snag those precious blue ribbons.

“It was funny, he had never even baked a cake until I asked him for help one day. He said, ‘How hard can it be?’ and then it started,” Robyn said.

Robyn East after winning the plain scones category. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Former champion and Robyn’s beloved brother Greg East.

“Every year, we would compete.

“His first competition he got three grand champion awards and seven first places.”

Robyn shakes her head: “The last time he competed, last year, he was a double amputee. He was determined to enter the show. He came home with four ribbons.

“I didn’t know if I would compete this year … it’s not the same without him.”

Cowgirl Lucy Cramp, 5, with four-week-old calf Verity at their first Royal Easter Show. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

She misses his teasing ­elbows, “but I knew he was there with me,” she said.

With tears in her eyes and help from her friends, Robyn dutifully mixed together a batch of scones. She worked slowly, sifting the self-raising flour, a picture of her brother hanging in the kitchen above her.

“I knew he was there. His photo is up in the kitchen. When I bake, his spirit is there with me,” said Robyn.

“In my handbag is a rose from his garden. I had it on the empty chair next to me. When I knew the time was right, I put it back in my handbag and moved up, and my cousin sat next to me.

“I was determined to know I could do it without him. I even joked I might get a chance of getting first.”

And she could. Robyn whipped up the best scones of her life. She was crowned the winner in the scone category, her first blue ribbon.

Penny Dalzell with her border collie Zypperty, who won best in obedience. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The show can be a first for many reasons. For little cowgirl Lucy Cramp, it was the five-year-old’s debut, just like it was for four-week-old calf Verity.

There was also Annabell Ashton, 13, who claimed the best junior rat exhibitor for 2024 for her adored pet Tinkerbell. The beaming teen said she couldn’t wait to tell her friends.

“I have never entered before but come every year. I always thought ‘OMG I would love to enter one day’,” she said.

As for Tinkerbell, Annabel hopes she doesn’t turn into a diva.

“I don’t think it will change her … I wonder if she knows she is a champion,” she said.

Others, like Penny Dalzell and her dog Zypperty, are something of an old hat at winning, although it never stops being ­exciting.

Penny’s border collie claimed the top obedience prize, marking her sixth award at The Royal Easter Show, making her the unofficial “goodest girl” of all time.

“She’s the best girl at the moment, and she’s my best girl. I just adore her, she’s just wonderful for me. You know it’s a companion taking her for walks, playing with her,” she said.

Winning might be nice, but it doesn’t change much. The best reward is the friendship Penny has with her dog.

“You’re not there for the prizes, you’re there for the team work to be quite honest,” she said.

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]