Youth Ambassadors
Prepare Produce Provide would like to celebrate a couple of the Djinda Ngardak Program youth recipients and our Ambassadors. All of these young people have represented PPP at various occasions over the years and, in some instances, our country. We can’t take any credit for their talent but we can be exceptionally proud of their leadership qualities and look forward to watching their future endeavours.
Youth Ambassador - Molly West
Molly West is a 17-year-old Nyikina woman living on Ballardong Boodja in Northam and was born on Whadjuk Country. She is a descendant of the Stolen Generation. Her ancestors were stolen from the Kimberley and brought down to Whadjuk country. She now speaks out about the continual effects of this trauma.
Molly spoke at the November 2022 Prepare Produce Provide Djinda Ngardak gala dinner and was one of the three Youth Symposium Speakers at the Youth Symposium held during the Would Indigenous Summit at Crown Perth, March 2023.
Molly has always had a love for art and over the past few years, she has explored a variety of mediums and techniques, and started her own business, Bilya Djinda. Being able to connect to her culture, as well as tell stories and pass on knowledge through art, has proved to be so rewarding and she is constantly seeking new opportunities to learn.
Youth Ambassador – Rishaye Shaw
Rishaye is a young Aboriginal a Nyikina Gooniyandi woman from Fitzroy Crossing. “I lived in a small town where everyone knew everyone. The nearest Coles/Woolworths is 400kms away.” Rishaye's family are the custodians of the land.
At a very young age she was introduced to the world of tourism. Sharing ancestor’s stories of her Country to those who visited and wanted to learn more about Aboriginal culture. Rishaye graduated from Northam SHS and has been a Youth Ambassador to the Djinda Ngardak program mentoring Aboriginal youth from all parts of Western Australia. Rishaye has represented her people, PPP, State and country on numerous occasions including the 2020 Culinary Olympics in Germany. She is currently studying Law at Curtin University.
Youth Ambassador – Rory Charles
Rory Charles is a Wunambal Gaambera, Nyikina, Balangarra man who was born in Kununurra and grew up in Derby and Kalambaru. Via the MADALA program Rory successfully graduated from Trinity College in 2022. As well as carving out a stunning career as an artist, collaborating with world renowned photographer Russell James and local First Nation artists Kevin Wilson and Jade Dolman Rory, is a WA State Basketball representative and plays WA Colts Football.
Rory has been a long-time ambassador of PPP and has generously contributed to PPP, the most recent being designing new labels for Djinda Ngardak produce. He has joined us on most PPP programs including the 2022 gala dinner in Albany. Rory said “I want to learn to cook a bit better before I leave school and learn new ideas about products and food that I can take back home and help my community with."
Rory is passionate about helping Aboriginal students from remote areas to have opportunities like he has had. His generous art donations and fundraising have helped raise over $35,000 towards educational scholarships, sporting scholarships and medical research this year. He has also assisted in getting much needed football boots and playgroup equipment out into remote areas in the Kimberly.
Youth Ambassador - Brittney Hills-Pearse
I come from the Southwest growing up on Noongar Boodjar Country. I belong to the Ballardong Mob through my grandmother's and grandfather's side. I am a mum of two.
I have had a passion for food since the age of 16. I entered the Hospitality trade then, not ever realising I would ever be where I am today. Learning about Indigenous heritage and the foods my great grandparents used. Being an inspiration to all the young indigenous kids to never give up on the things you want in life. No matter what your situation in life is. This program (Djinda Ngardak) has given me the opportunity to work with amazing chefs, feel supported and open up what is possible in life - travelling, cooking and working with elders and kids across WA. Working with the National team is scary - but very rewarding. I travel to Perth once a month, and work to balance my commitments of work and family. Working with the TAFE team is long and challenging but I know that this is important to explore my passion. I am looking forward to traveling with them to Germany in 2024.
Youth Ambassador - Benjamin Williams
Born and raised in Alice Springs, Northern Territory and currently living in Alice Springs.
It was through my training with Karen Sheldon’s Future Stars Program in Alice Springs, that I meet Rayleen Brown from Kungas can Cook. Rayleen was a huge influence on me and encouraged me to enter a career in the kitchen as a chef. As my Mentor, she has shown me how to use bush foods in the day to day cooking we do at the Café. I have also been supported to participate in fantastic industry events and this has opened up many opportunities within the industry.
In 2020, I participated in the Alice Springs Partjimma Light Festival Gala Dinner, situated in the Sand dune Country of the Alice Springs Desert Park. Karen Sheldon Future Stars participants and graduates partnered with local caterer Lisa Perry from Reality Bites Catering and Chef Mark Olive from The Black Olive. We created a three course Bushfoods Menu designed by Mark Olive and Rayleen Brown and delivered this to over 250 guests for the opening of the Light Festival event. It was a great Event.
After this Event, Rayleen introduced me to Lisa at her Catering Headquarters in Alice Springs. In November 2020 I started working with Lisa Perry at Reality Bites Catering and later moved to the café run by Reality Bites Catering at the RFDS Base Café 0870 in May 2021. This work has enabled me to get great confidence and experience in the kitchen and participating in various events catered by Reality Bites Catering has given me an insight into different events and food as well.
Last year in November, I participated in the Djinda Ngardak Program in Albany WA learning about the local foods and culture and meeting other participants in the Youth Pathways Program from the NT and WA. We all met up again in Perth in March earlier this year, partnering with the Crown Casino, we put what we had learnt as a group into practice and created and executed our dishes for over 400 delegates at the World Indigenous Tourism Summit. We helped create a menu for the World Indigenous Tourism Summit Conference Dinner and was part of the kitchen team serving the meals to the delegates. I was invited to speak at the conference to talk about my dish and the bushfoods we used.
I aspire to be a top chef in town with my own restaurant/café and hope to be a role model to young indigenous men and women to be in the kitchen.
