THERE'S a group of Melbournites who’ll never quite look at a dam the same, after attending last year’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival event at Bridgeward Grove.
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Olive farmer Julie Howard took her city guests dam-side for a spot of yabbying before cooking the bush crustaceans for lunch.
“For the 40 mostly Melbourne people it was their first yabbying experience and it was very, very successful,” Julie said.
“We’re into very authentic, simple concepts that trace the food back to the source.”
This year’s festival satellite event at the Howard’s Goornong property will take that ethos a step further, and in the right direction according to Julie.
The Native and Natural Flavour Fest is the first celebration of Indigenous food to appear on the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival program.
Celebrity indigenous chef Mark "Black" Olive will present an education in local bush foods, plus seven courses using the same flavours, fruits, meats and vegetables that sustained the Aboriginal people.
“We are in a pocket food bowl of Aboriginal existence,” Julie said.
“This is absolutely why this event needs to be here.”
Bridgeward Grove is nestled beside the Campaspe River, which defines the boundaries of three Indigenous groups: the Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Yorta Yorta.
Dja Dja Wurrung woman Deborah Webster will lead a Welcome to Country at the event, and Aunty Lynn Warren is another guest.
Julie has invited local Aboriginal artists to exhibit work in the property’s gallery space.
Local horticulturist and field naturalist Matthew Comer will share his knowledge on bush foods, plus every guest will take home an edible native plant.
Julie will share the story of the olive grove, her family farm, and how this beautiful piece of tiny Goornong has made it onto the radar of city foodies.
Julie’s interest in Indigenous culture goes way beyond her own back door. In the early 2000s she volunteered at and then taught full-time at a school in the Kimberly.
“Because of my background I’m very interested in Indigenous culture,” she said.
“This event for me personally will bring to reality the fact that our bush supported an ancient race of people for tens of thousands of years and we really haven’t stopped to look at that.
“I’m looking forward to it. What an education.”
For more information, call Julie on 5432 2291.
