In the afternoon, the RARE MEDIUM Masterclass was presented by Garry Farrell at the TAFE Illawarra Bega campus.

Around 25 apprentices, chefs and cooks attended the class to learn from Mr Farrell, who was the captain of the Australian National Culinary Team for eight years and is the youngest person to be awarded the coveted Black Hat award in Australia.

While this was the first visit of Mr Farrell to Bega, he was accompanied by president of the Australian Culinary Federation Neil Abrahams, who has previously performed masterclasses at Bega.

After his class and on Monday night, Mr Farrell led five Bega TAFE students to create a dinner for members of the TAFE and industry.

Students Noah Martyn, Zoe Crosbie, Danielle Collins, Jasmine Philistin-Dick and Levi McEwan had the chance to work with Mr Farrell in the kitchen, after successfully applying for the opportunity.

Bega TAFE events students Sallie Hetherington, Brydie Rugendyke, Katrina Hergenhan and Mariah Nagel performed all the organising for the evening.

Head teacher of Tourism and Hospitality Deirdre Jory said the TAFE students benefited hugely from the two events.

“They got to network with industry people, they got to talk about problems within the industry and what would help retain them in the industry, which is one of our biggest problems,” she said.

Ms Jory was full of praise for Mr Farrell.

“He was absolutely, absolutely fantastic, inspiring,” she said.

“I just thought that he was very down to earth, which you don’t see a lot of.

“The kids were very nervous about working with him in the kitchen at first, for all the right reasons, but he put them so at ease.”