Slow Food 8th Anniversary

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads)—Congratulations to Slow Food Hunter Valley on the recent celebration of their 8th anniversary. To celebrate the anniversary occasion a 4-tier Chioggia beetroot cake was made by their food rescue kitchen, it was a triumph. Congratulations to Amorelle Dempster and the hardworking committee for organising the celebration. The groups were also recently visited by Her Excellency the Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley AC KC on her four-day visit to the Hunter Valley. A meal was prepared from salvaged food and I, along with Her Excellency, assisted in the kitchen with the amazing volunteers. Slow Food Hunter Valley has initiated programs including Earth Markets twice a month in Maitland, and the Food Rescue Kitchen Project taking potentially waste food and preparing and distributing 250 healthy meals per week to vulnerable residents. The groups donate over 5000 hours to feed the local community each year. They raised over $5000 for a Bee Recovery and Pollination Support program following the varroa mite infestation. And in collaboration with Maitland Libraries, they have created a seed library and collection service for Maitland gardeners and growers. Congratulations to Slow Food Hunter Valley.