Art that you can eats

FROZEN FOOD: A familiar figure from the children’s movie Ice Age proved to be a popular display.

ON DISPLAY: CPL Lillian Middlebrook is seen here with some of the margarine models created for the NT Officers’ Ball. Photos: MAJ John McPherson

By MAJ John McPherson

A touch of the Ice Age and reminiscences of the Korean War lent a decidedly wintry theme to the annual NT Officers’ Ball at Northern Command’s Larrakeyah Barracks in tropical Darwin on July 15.

To enhance the evening, a competition was held between the seven units of 1st Brigade at Robertson Barracks, as well as 1st Aviation Regiment, to see which unit could create the best edible margarine models to decorate the main buffet tables. In addition, each of the competitors also supplied a model created from sugar cubes.

The winner of both sections was 1st Combat Signals Regiment with models of a hairy mammoth created from the modelling margarine and a winter chalet created from sugar cubes.
“The concept of the competition was to allow the cooks of the various units to broaden the talents they bring to bear in their everyday work and allow their creative juices to flow,” competition coordinator, Catering WO1 Dave Hutton, said.

Models ranged from the acorn-gathering character in the Ice Age movies to freezing soldiers outside a Korean bunker in the middle of winter.

The “head shed” of the Northern Territory military came together to catch up on old times and, generally, have a good time.

About 600 officers and their partners from Northern Command, HMAS Coonawarra, RAAF Base Darwin, RAAF Base Tindal and Robertson Barracks enjoyed the al fresco dining on the lawns in front of the Officers’ Mess overlooking Darwin Harbour. The Australian Army Band Darwin and a local disc jockey provided music with the ball carrying a winter theme.

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