Cultures of origin mix at NAIDOC Pot Luck Lunch
02-08-2016
Pavlova, Scotch Eggs and cheese cake with strawberries were among the delicious foods on offer as St Stephen’s Hospital staff and volunteers celebrated NAIDOC 2016 recently.
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UnitingCare Health Indigenous Liaison Officer Setari Knight said NAIDOC celebrations were held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities but by Australians from all walks of life,” she said. This year’s theme is Songlines: The living narrative of our nation.
St Stephen’s General Manager Amanda Cruwys said that in recognition of cultural diversity and reconciliation, hospital staff and volunteers brought foods from their cultural backgrounds to share at a Pot Luck Lunch.
Chaplain Sandra Keay decorated her Pavlova with Kiwi fruit in recognition of the Australian and New Zealand connection and to reconcile the long-running debate on the meringue dessert’s origin.
“While the dessert is believed to have been created in honour of the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, the nationality of its creator has long been the source of debate been Australia and New Zealand,” Pastor Keay said.
Meanwhile, Theatre Nurse Janella Anderson brought Scotch Eggs and Volunteer Rose Bone, from England, made individually wrapped lemon cheese cakes topped with sliced strawberries.
“Mum used to make lemon cheese cakes with strawberries in England but when we came to Australia the strawberries were so expensive so they were a real treat when we did get to have them,” Rose said.
Janella said Scotch Eggs were also a treat she enjoyed during her childhood. To make, hard boiled eggs are rolled in sausage meat and herbed breadcrumbs then deep fried.
“We had them for school lunches and took them on picnics, not that we had many picnics because it rained so often; they’re very resilient in the rain!”
Other foods at the Pot Luck Lunch included Fried Rice, Spring Rolls and Australian barbecue chips.
Ms Cruwys said UnitingCare Queensland recognises that we need to contribute to building better relationships and eliminating the glaring gap in life expectancy, education, incarceration rate, family wellbeing and health between Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples and the rest of the Australian community.
“Our vision is to recognise and strengthen our relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through positive and inclusive workforce innovation practices."
St Stephen’s is a not-for-profit organisation owned by the Uniting Church and is a member of UnitingCare Health, which includes The Wesley Hospital and St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital in Brisbane and The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital in Buderim.
ENDS
Photos:
- St Stephen’s Hospital Chaplain Sandra Keay (left) and Indigenous Liaison Officer Setari Knight look forward to indulging in Pavlova.
- Volunteer Rose Bone shows lemon cheese cakes with strawberries like the ones she enjoyed while growing up in England.
- Theatre Nurse Janella Anderson shares her Scotch Eggs with Clinical Nurse Manager Leonor Canapi from the Philippines.