Pat was born at home in Bunbury where she grew up. She went to school at the Convent of Mercy, which has since been converted into the Bunbury Arts Centre. Pat worked as a ledger machinist in the South West Printing Office until her marriage to Gerald. The couple moved to the property now know as “Waitemata” at Dwarda. They have four grown-up children, twin daughters and two sons, plus a steadily increasing clutch of grandchildren. Pat’s main interest in the Arts Council is doing silverwork.
Pumpkin Vichyssoise
Ingredients
750g pumpkin
2 leeks or 2 large onions
250g potatoes peeled and chopped
3 chicken stock cubes
1 litre water
1 cup cream
Salt and pepper
Method
Peel pumpkin, cut into small pieces and put into large saucepan. Add sliced leeks or peeled and chopped onions, Potatoes, crumbled stock cubes and water.
Bring to the boil, reduce heat, simmer uncovered for 25 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
Purée vegetables in a blender and return to saucepan, add salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, stirring, reduce heat and simmer a further five minutes. Add cream but do not reboil.
Serves six.