Pride of Australia Medal 2015: Uralla great-grandmother baked her way to a nomination

HER sponge cake is soft and sweet, and a family favourite – and much like 82-year-old Pam Simmonds - famous in country NSW.

Pam Symmonds- 82 years, bakes homemade cakes that sell to raise money for charities in Uralla NSW. Pic: Marlon Dalton

HER sponge cake is soft and sweet, and a family favourite — and much like 82-year-old Pam Simmonds — is famous in country NSW.

Ms Simmonds’ enthusiasm for baking her famous sponge, apple pies, caramel tarts and date loaves for any good cause have earned the Uralla great-grandmother a Pride of Australia nomination for Community Spirit.

“I’m just an old grey-haired lady but I’ve lived here all my life and I am well respected by the community — sometimes when I cook for the cake stall they sell out before I can even put them out, straight from the boot of my car,” she laughed.

Great baker... Pam Simmonds raises money for charities in Uralla, NSW. Photo: Marlon Dalton

“I don’t like being recognised and I don’t expect to be recognised — what I do, I do because I want to help.”

A quadruple bypass and later a knee replacement in 2000 failed to slow her down.

Ms Simmonds, who has five children, 19 grandchildren and two great-grandsons, still cooks for four charities, and mans the local museum one day a week.

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“My legs are not very mobile these days and I need a walking stick, but cooking is the main thing I do to help them,” she said.

“Everyone can make a sponge — they say they can’t, but they can — and they all go mad for mine,” she said.

“I sell them for $8 and they have cream and strawberries.

“I do like cooking. I’m just about to start some cooking some apple pies for some friends.”

Over the past 10 years The Daily Telegraph has shared more than 19,500 stories and awarded more than 550 medals across the nation.

Nominate before July 19 at prideofaustralia.com.au