Wayne Watts was a first lieutenant with the Junortoun CFA before he passed away from a heart attack in 2015.

During the pandemic, Jorja has spent more time in the kitchen mastering her father's recipes.

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It has resulted in her compiling a cookbook of her father's recipes to raise money for the Junortoun CFA.

"Through lockdown I was spending more time in the kitchen and always texting mum for dad's recipes," Jorja said. "Eventually I got to all books and cupboards and was going to do a cookbook as a Christmas present.

"The quality of book I wanted was too expensive, so I decided to raise money for the CFA.

"My dad and entire family were involved in the Junortoun CFA. Dad was with them for 10-and-a-half years and they have named one of the tankers after him.

"They even refer to the truck as Wattsy, not 'tanker two'."

The family kitchen become Wayne's domain and Jorja remembers sitting close by while her dad cooked dinner.

"He was a plasterer and I don't know where his love for cooking came from," she said. "It was something he found outside his passion for work and the CFA. He loved being in the kitchen and creating good food. I definitely have a love of cooking because of him."

Jorja said it was still sinking in that her dad's love for cooking would live on and continue to support the organisation he loved.

"He was very much a homestyle cook but he loved a bit of chilli through things," Jorja said. "It was good Aussie food with some Chinese twists in some dishes.

"The book has 65 recipes and ranges from desserts to roast, curries and stir fries. There is a real blend, which is why the book is a collection of recipes."

Jorja said there were certain dishes that always reminded her of her dad.

"His lemon tart is definitely much loved and his roast is something else," she said. "He had it nailed. My brother and our friends would schedule sleepovers and hangouts so we would get to have that (on Sunday)."

Watts Cooking? costs $37.50 and is available from Edwards Providore or www.wattscooking.com.au. From each book sold, $10 will be donated to the Junortoun CFA.

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