State: VIC

Age: 33

Occupation: Cooking & Garden Educator

For Tim, the key to an epic gourmet toasted sandwich is good quality sourdough bread and melty cheese. Inspired by the grilled cheese sandwiches he enjoyed in New York City where he got engaged to his wife Abbey, it’s this memory inspiring his food dream - to operate a food truck serving gourmet toasties at local farmers markets.

Born in Darwin, Tim moved to Adelaide the following year before relocating to Nhill in western Victoria at the age of 10. It’s where he remained throughout his childhood, graduating from year 12 in 2003.

One of five kids, Tim started working as an integration aide at a Ballarat primary school in 2008, helping children with special needs. It’s a role he loves, and now runs after school programs for under privileged kids several nights a week, alongside a community garden and café at the school.

Nicknamed T-Bone by his fellow contestants, and enjoying a striking resemblance to Prince Harry, Tim admits his passion for food grew when he moved out of home, relishing cooking for friends and family.

A fan of big flavours and good, honest food, he says he’s not a fan of anything too flashy or fancy and cites a great paella as his go-to dish.

Inspired by Jamie Oliver, Stephanie Alexander, Maggie Beer and the late Anthony Bourdain, Tim says he loves nothing more on a weekend than walking his malteze shih tzu, Harry, though farmers markets.

A collector of vinyl records with the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac at the top of the list, Tim hopes his savoury strengths and tidy, methodical approach in the kitchen will take him all the way to hold aloft the coveted trophy at the season’s grand finale.