Media Release - Goomburrup Djinda Ngardak Gala Dinner 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
18 November 2024
Bunbury Honours Aboriginal Youth Culinary Efforts at Goomburrup Djinda Ngardak Gala Dinner – A Unique Dining Experience Celebrating Culture, Cuisine and Community
Date: Friday, 29 November 2024
Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Venue: Waters Edge Café & Restaurant, 42 Cobblestone Drive, Goomburrup WA 6230
Tickets: Bookings
Meaning "Bunbury comes alive under the stars" in Noongar language, the Goomburrup Djinda Ngardak Gala Dinner marks the finale of WA non-profit Prepare Produce Provide's five-day culinary camp, where 25 Aboriginal youth train alongside some of Australia’s leading chefs, Elders, educators and industry professionals, developing skills linked to meaningful employment pathways.
The Gala Dinner is a public ticketed event taking place on Friday, 29 November at Waters Edge, Bunbury and will bring together community leaders, industry professionals and the public for a memorable dining experience that empowers youth and highlights the flavours and stories of First Nations cultures.
Working with local bush foods and fresh Southwest produce, students gain real-world experience in a commercial kitchen setting, working with professional chefs to design and deliver a multi-course menu of First Nations-inspired dishes.
Students will be mentored and work alongside MasterChef finalist, restauranteur and author, Mindy Woods, proud Bundjalung woman of the Widjabul Wia-bul clan and Head Chef, Paul "Yoda" Iskov, author and founder of Fervor alongside other top WA chefs.
The evening will be hosted by Shauna Willis, a well-known local with a distinguished 35-year career in regional broadcast television. The entertainment features music by multi award-winning composers Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse and a showcase of Aboriginal culture with art, produce and engaging activations by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal creators.
Also featuring will be PPP's social enterprise product, Kepa Kwab, a refreshing non-alcoholic soda made with native botanical ingredients, which was designed by a team of professionals and youth to grow and fund Djinda Ngardak.
The Gala Dinner is the culmination of a five-day intensive camp, Djinda Ngardak, which has been running for several years and is now returning to the South West, where it was first created. It is run in partnership with South Regional TAFE, together with cultural elders and leaders and local producers.
Djinda Ngardak is an accredited training program delivered annually across WA, combining food training, cultural connection and social activities. It equips youth with lifelong skills, builds resilience, fosters friendships and inspires positive future options in education, training and employment.
Taking place from 25 – 29 November in Bunbury, Djinda Ngardak will connect youth from across the regions of Western Australia, including the South West, Pilbara, Goldfields-Esperance, Peel, Perth and the Wheatbelt.
The Goomburrup Djinda Ngardak Gala Dinner is a not-before-seen opportunity to be immersed in culture and entertainment with world class dishes paying homage to the Aboriginal bush food of the South West.
Promising cultural connection, culinary excellence and community support, the evening will honour the culinary skills of WA's Aboriginal youth and embody a journey of learning, connection and celebration.
Tickets are $150 per person featuring several courses of native inspired dishes prepared and cooked by Aboriginal students and top chefs.
Proudly supported by Linley Valley Pork and Alinta Energy.
The Aboriginal Jobs and Skills Centre at South Regional TAFE is supporting connection between local high schools and the community to foster a sense of shared purpose and program sustainability.
Tickets are open to the public and details can be found here:
https://www.prepareproduceprovide.org/goomburrup-djinda-ngardak-gala-dinner-2024
Alongside the student program, PPP is hosting Conscious Country – a series of 3 public Masterclasses in partnership with Epicure Training Restaurant running as satellite events in support of Djinda Ngardak. Topics include cooking with native ingredients, sustainable ingredient sourcing and bush foods – with tastings and a glass of wine included in each.
Masterclass hosts include Mindy Woods, Paul “Yoda” Iskov, Melissa Palinkas, Dale Tilbrook, Tanya Healy and Brittney Hills-Pearse.
Tickets for the Masterclasses can be found here:
https://www.prepareproduceprovide.org/conscious-country
Comments attributed to PPP Founder, Catherine MacDougall:
“Delivering this training in food with an authentic cultural component will provide these students confidence, stimulation and vital sense of wellbeing. The aim is to encourage these young people to consider careers in the hospitality industry and to give them opportunities to make this happen through training, industry workshops and real-world experience.”
Comments attributed to Chef Mindy Woods:
“As a proud Bundjalung woman, I am honoured to be invited to share the flavours of the East Coast with the West Coast through this thoughtfully curated menu. Collaborating with West Coast Chefs Yoda, Melissa Palinkas and Tanya Healy to showcase the unique ingredients from our respective regions will be a true delight for our guests.”
Supporting images to this release include former Djinda Ngardak Students, Chefs Yoda and Mindy Woods, and Dale Tilbrook with Youth Ambassadors Molly West, Rishaye Shaw with Yoda
For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Mystrie Monck
0432 898 323
mystrie.monck@prepareproduceprovide.org
Catherine MacDougall, Founder
0409 970 070
About Prepare Produce Provide:
Prepare Produce Provide (PPP) is a non-profit organisation established in 2013 dedicated to inspiring vulnerable youth to realise their potential through innovative food education. PPP’s signature program, Djinda Ngardak, was created in 2017 in collaboration with Aboriginal Elders, families, educators and a network of chefs as an innovative response to engage, retain and provide Aboriginal students with post-school pathways.
Links:
Djinda Ngardak 2024: www.prepareproduceprovide.org/djinda-ngardak-culinary-youth-program-2024
Kepa Kwab: www.prepareproduceprovide.org/kepa-kwab-non-alcoholic-beverage
PPP Website: www.prepareproduceprovide.org
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