From Pearl Beach to the world stage

Robert Reid, Australia’s first Porridge Making Champion, has taken out the fiercely contested and coveted Specialty Dish title at the Golden Spurtle, World Porridge Championships in Carrbridge, Scotland.

Competing against 30 contestants from around the world, Robert impressed the judges with his inventive porridge cannoli, showcasing just how creative you can get with a humble bowl of oats.

The challenge was no easy feat. Contestants had just 30 minutes to cook both a pot of traditional porridge and their specialty (creative) dish. But when Robert’s hotplate malfunctioned, his already tight cooking window was reduced to just 23 minutes.

Thankfully, Robert had a small but mighty support crew cheering him on, with his parents, brother and his best mate’s family making the trip to Scotland. Proudly flying the Aussie flag, they were by his side throughout the nerve-racking competition, providing plenty of encouragement and support.

From Pearl Beach to the world stage, Robert has done Australia proud, bringing home an international title and proving that Australian porridge can hold its own against the best in the world.

Robert will now need to defend his Australian title at the 2027 Pearly Spurtle Australian Porridge Championships in July, where a new generation of porridge challengers will be eager to take him on.

Congratulations, Robert! A brilliant achievement and a moment of immense pride for Pearl Beach and Australia!

Check out all the latest news on Robert's win here.