What a difference a year makes. This time last year we had the big floods in Queensland, plus the huge floods in Victoria, which flooded one-fifth of the state. And just about flooded our bakery at Echuca: it was very close. But what the flood did was send all the tourists back to Melbourne, so the town suffered.

This year, so far, no disasters that affected us. Plus lots of tourists. We have been very busy in Echuca, and also in our other bakeries. The weather has been great for pies and cakes so far: not too hot. The hot weather kills us a bit.

Twelve months before the floods, we had the fires. A terrible time for rural Victoria. People were frightened to visit the countryside.

Time is a great healer. You’ve just got to hang on, even after the others have let go. What a difference a year makes.