CHRISTCHURCH-based Gwen Kerr, well known in the region for her involvement and support of cooking, the food industry and the Chefs’ Association has passed on.

She began as a home economics teacher in the early 1950’s but became well known as a recipe developer, showroom chef on new kitchen equipment of the day and then a researcher in the development and design of new cookers including the early microwave era.

Gwen wrote the book The Creative Kitchen that was accompanied by an early television series and was a regular food writer for the Christchurch Star as well as contributing to many publications, especially those aimed at old audience.

She had a vast and varied network that spanned over 60 years in the New Zealand food industry and was an industry leader in her time.