Maroondah’s Monica Mignone, Dee Williams and Leah Milburn-Clark competing in MasterChef Australia 2019
Australia’s biggest cooking show is back for another year, with a new bunch of hopefuls looking to get their big break. Three Maroondah women are among them, including one who has wanted to be on the show since she was 13.
Outer East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Outer East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Three Maroondah women are going to be cooking their hearts out in Australia’s biggest cooking TV show.
Maroondah Leader can reveal Croydon’s Dee Williams and Leah Milburn-Clark and Croydon South’s Monica Mignone are competing in this year’s season of Network 10’s MasterChef Australia.
They are among ten Victorian contestants fighting to be part of the top 24 in this year’s show, which premieres on Monday night.
DAVID JONES DOWNSIZING AT EASTLAND
LITTLE STORE HAS HEATHMONT’S BEST COFFEE
Monica has sacrificed her job as a primary school teacher and put her nutrition small business on hold to be part of MasterChef.
Her passion for cooking was ignited eight years ago when she cooked up a storm for long-time boyfriend Daniel.
“I had always heard that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, so naturally, I decided to try to impress him by cooking him dinner,” she said.
“While I was cooking, I felt relaxed. I wasn’t thinking about what I had to do the next day or what time it was — I got lost in the process of cooking.”
Leah has wanted to compete on the show since she was 13 and she started cooking mussels with her dad when she was five.
She loves visiting fresh food markets and her ultimate dream is to open a fine dining theatre.
Meanwhile, Dee moved to Australia from Sri Lanka in 2007, and has finally been able to apply for the show after getting her permanent residency.
She has seen and tasted different cuisines since she settled in Australia and been inspired to create them at home.
Her ultimate dream is to open a cooking school showcasing Sri Lankan cuisine.
Monica, Leah, Dee and the other hopefuls will have an hour to produce their speciality dish for judges Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris.
If all three judges like their dish, they’ll receive an apron and entry into the MasterChef competition.
MasterChef Australia premieres on Network 10 at 7.30pm on April 29.
More than 300 guests to attend VAFA Awards Night
Guests are ready for all the formal action at the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) Awards Night this week. Check back to see all the glamour, class and pictures.
CCTV chaos: Yarra Ranges security cameras broken, shut off
Security cameras across the Yarra Ranges have been left in disrepair or have been shut off after federal funding dried up, with crime-riddled shop owners asked to pay for the upkeep.