A YEAR ago, if you had asked Joanne Stevenson to follow a recipe she would have been too anxious to make anything.
“If someone had handed me a recipe and told me to make something with all the ingredients, I would have just sat there frozen, wondering ‘How can I do that and how much of this do I need?” she said.
Now, Ms Stevenson makes desserts almost every week as she and four others try to keep up with orders for their business, Honey Bee Treats.
“Last week I made an apple dessert almost entirely on my own following a recipe,” Ms Stevenson said.
“I’m getting a lot more confidence in baking now.”
It has been almost a year since Jo O’Bree from disability services and support organisation Echuca Discoveries suggested that Ms Stevenson, along with Brendan “BJ” Penno and Jonathan Wright, start a business with professional chef Blake Williams.
“It just started as a way for them to be financially independent, and now it’s almost been a year and they’re total pros in the kitchen,” Mr Williams said.
Mr Penno, who has autism, said after some time, completing tasks became easier.
“When I first started baking for the business, I had so much anxiety about finishing tasks,” he said.
“But now, I can walk into the kitchen and I know exactly what I have to do.”
Ms Stevenson, who has an intellectual disability and struggles with dyslexia, anxiety, depression and split personality disorder, said Honey Bee Treats had given her an opportunity to be hands-on.
“I’m not a visual person so I need to be doing things to learn,” she said.
“We’re learning so many different things.”
“We know how to handle money and packaging, and handle responsibilities.”
“We’ve all got to play our own roles.
“I help BJ and Jonno roll out the dough and then I ice the yoyos, put the lids on them and bag them up.”
She said working in the business had gradually improved her skills both inside and outside the kitchen.
“Lots of everyday tasks were harder to do, and doing this really helped all of us become more independent,” Ms Stevenson said.
“We’re not just learning how to bake, we’re learning other life skills: new skills like maths and decision making.”
The group has been selling cookies and cupcakes under the name Honey Bee Treats at Bridge Keepers Cottage at Tooleybuc, and their desserts have only grown in popularity within the community.
The sweet treats are now being sold at the Tooleybuc pub, Tooleybuc Club and every Tooleybuc Market.
“Now we are trying to keep up with the orders, and it gets really busy because more and more people want our desserts,” Ms Stevenson said.
“Our yoyo biscuits are very popular and people keep asking for our honey joys all the time.
“More organisations like Intereach are reaching out to us as well to sell our cookies there.”
