Staff at PLC Sydney were so impressed with Bronte Runciman’s cake making business, they installed an oven in the Boarding House this year to ensure the Year 11 Boarder can continue baking. Bronte, from a fat lamb and cropping property near Wellington, NSW, has been baking since she was in Year 7, and has built up a business (Baking Bronte) making up to three cakes a weekend.
“The staff in the Boarding House are all really supportive,” Bronte says. And although Bronte, a perfectionist, isn’t inclined to let her boarding friends do much more than help her wash up, she says, “They’re all very happy to taste test”.
Along with cupcakes and colourful macaroons, Bronte’s speciality is making large vanilla and chocolate occasion cakes, with chocolate ganache and painstakingly decorated according to various themes. “I started cooking when I was in Year 7, but I wasn’t taking it too seriously until about halfway through Year 7,” she says. She began Boarding at PLC Sydney in Year 8, and displayed her cake-making skill at a school business day. She was then given the opportunity to access the school caterer’s ovens, but is now able to make cakes much more easily on weekends with the mini commercial oven in the Boarding House.
During holidays, and COVID-forced stays at home during term time, Bronte sells cakes mainly in the Dubbo and Wellington areas, and then when Boarding can access the Sydney market.
Bronte’s Mum, Nadine, has been blown away by the opportunities available at the school. “Bronte's doing an elective called Enterprise, so earlier this year she was able to have a stall. She actually baked 200 cupcakes and 100 macarons and iced cookies in the Boarding House and then sold them at a stall at the school. That's just definitely something that she'd never be able to do at home”, said Nadine.
Ms Turner says that Bronte’s cakes are beautiful. “I think all our students get inspired by watching girls achieve their dreams. For some girls, they watch for a while and then they'll try things. It's just a matter of seeing there are options out there for them to take up.”
"My business is called ‘Baking Bronte’. I built my dessert business up from the ground three years ago, by beginning to sell my desserts to local friends and family in my town. I now sell my cakes, macaroons, cupcakes, cookies and cheesecakes to people from all around the area in the Central West. For past two years I have participated in Enterprise Day at PLC Sydney. I loved getting involved in that as it gave me the opportunity to put my name out there further and have real-time experience of running a stall, instead of just doing custom orders.“
My business is called ‘Baking Bronte’. I built my dessert business up from the ground three years ago, by beginning to sell my desserts to local friends and family in my town. I now sell my cakes, macaroons, cupcakes, cookies and cheesecakes to people from all around the area in the Central West.
Bronte Runciman, Owner 'Baking Bronte'
“The opportunity for paid employment on College grounds allows the students to work in a safe environment, learning skills that will set them up for employment once they leave school. Being able to add these skills to their resume allows them to gain part-time work while attending university or assists in developing their career post-secondary school.”
Bronte enjoys living with the other 40 or so Boarders at PLC Sydney. “The thing I mostly enjoy about Boarding is the relationship I have formed with the girls – there’s quite a few girls from out this way,” Bronte says.
The opportunity for paid employment on College grounds allows the students to work in a safe environment, learning skills that will set them up for employment once they leave school. Being able to add these skills to their resume allows them to gain part-time work while attending university or assists in developing their career post-secondary school.
Pauline Turner, Director of Boarding
Bronte is aiming to become a vet, and knows that the cake-making business will be a great way to continue earning money when she heads off to university. In the meantime, Bronte continues to love to bake.
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