By Margaret Maccoll
For generations Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) has been helping women feed their families healthy, nutritious meals.
On Sunday QCWA Tewantin Noosa members Suzannah Mellon and Lynne Paterson teamed up with Brisbane-based dieticians Aleks Lukovic and Jemma McCutcheon to demonstrate to visitors at Noosa Farmer’s Market how to improve their health and wellbeing through good home-made food and fresh produce as part of their Country Kitchen Program.
Aleks said the program aimed to convey five key messages – to get more fruit and vegetables into your meals, cook at home, be aware of sugar in your drinks, sit less and move more, and check your portion sizes.
The team hit the markets on Sunday, buying all their ingredients from stall holders before cooking up a storm for visitors.
After 40 years working locally in hospitality chef Suzannah Mellon has directed her cooking skills toward helping QCWA with the program.
On Sunday she delighted market goers with her delicious treats including pear pancakes with berries and chickpea corn fritters.
Suzannah said she first joined CWA when her children were young and she needed some guidance.“I was knitting and wasn’t sure how to do it so I went to QCWA to ask for help,“ she said.
Now retired she has more time helping the Tewantin-Noosa group as they share knowledge and bring the community together.
“We do what we can in the community,“ she said.
Suzannah said the group met monthly to hear from a guest speaker and enjoy some healthy food to eat.
Thursday mornings the group hosts craft mornings where everyone is welcome.
While last Sunday was the first time the Country Kitchen program had visited Noosa Farmers Market the program began in 2015 and has travelled to more than 80 communities and reached about 15,000 Queenslanders.
Noosa Farmers Market manager Shane Stanley said when QCWA contacted the market he thought their program would be a good fit for the markets.
“They’re giving people further options and promoting fresh fruit and veggies and local producers,“ he said.
“You can get everything here you need. We try to support groups like that as much as possible.
“Anyone who has lived or visited country areas of our state will remember just how well country women can cook and so to be able to combine their talents with our local farmers who employ some of the best farming practices to grow fruit and vegetables was a real treat for those attending on Sunday.”
