Seafood cooked by local Kooris over a fire pit will again feature at this this year’s Narooma Oyster Festival on Saturday 4 May.
“We’re building on our success last year with a bigger and more organised fire pit with better facilities for preparing and serving food and involving even more of our mob,” said Cheryl Davison who is responsible for organising most of the Aboriginal programme.
“Groups through the day will cook favourite their favourite seafood recipes over the fire. It’s how we cook when we camp; it’s beautiful tucker and our way of getting back to our culture.”
Paul Brown and Veronica Smith will coordinate the fire pit and young people from Wallaga will work as kitchen hands gaining valuable work experience.
Yuin Elder and bush tucker educator Noel Butler was thrilled with last year’s success. “It was great to have so much participation by our mob and so incredible to have so many non-Aboriginal people wanting to taste our traditional foods and hear our stories,” he said.
“This year I’ll MC the cooking and food part and talk about the importance of using our own Australian food for a healthier life.”
Tasting plates will be sold and may include oysters, bimbalas, mullet, abalone and damper, depending on what’s being cooked at the time.
Katungul Aboriginal Corporation CEO Robert Skeen said they were proud to again be a major partner at the Festival this year.
“Seeing so many people around the fire pit last year spoke volumes for having a Koori presence at the Festival,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for our community to share our stories and highlight our deep connections with the land and sea.”
Festival goers will also be entertained by the Djaadjawan Dancers while the Narama Nangara (meaning ‘Narooma oysters’) Community Art Tent will showcase local artists.
The Oyster Festival celebrates the region’s quality produce, especially its oysters grown in one of the world’s most environmentally sustainable oyster growing regions.
For full details of Narooma Oyster Festival including the chef demonstrations, music line-up, the oyster shucking competition and Australia’s Biggest Oyster competition, please check the webpage www.naroomaoysterfestival.com and Facebook.
Above:Uncle Noel Butler said it was so incredible at last year’s Festival to have so many non-Aboriginal people wanting to taste our traditional foods and hear our stories.
Above: Discussing final arrangements on site for the Koori features of this year’s Narooma Oyster Festival are Don Atkinson, co-organiser of the Narama Nangara Community Art Tent, Cath Peachey of the Narooma Oyster Festival committee, Cheryl Davison and Veronica Smith.
Above: Last year’s Narooma Oyster Festival was the first time a traditional fire pit was featured and Festival goers lined up to taste what seafood local Koori people had cooked.
Above: Discussing on site final arrangements for the Koori features of this year’s Narooma Oyster Festival are organiser Cheryl Davison, left, Veronica Smith, Cath Peachey and Don Atkinson, co-organiser of the Narama Nangara Community Art Tent.
