This month we would like to highlight Colleen from Glenmorgan Branch in Maranoa Division. Here are a few words from Colleen about why she decided to become a Country Kitchens facilitator:
I have been a part of the Country Kitchens program for 2 years now and decided to become a facilitator after I had seen some Country Kitchen displays and became interested in learning about the program. Who isn’t interested in knowing more about healthy eating and living a good life? When I discovered I could do the training online, I was enthusiastic because travelling long distances to training can be problematic when you live rural and work full-time. As a teacher I love to share my knowledge with others, both children and adults, and I see Country Kitchens as a way to promote healthy eating and living in a positive way across the generations.
I have a strong link to the Glenmorgan district being a teaching principal at the local school and have been involved in a range of Country Kitchens activities within the school and wider community. Each month I promote something specific with my own QCWA Glenmorgan Branch. Sometimes we trial a recipe, try some new exercises, learn some new facts about sugar or discuss well-being and how we can support one another as busy women. I have shared the sewing of QCWA products of the year with my Branch and at a community level. These fruits and vegetable models have also been used to introduce students to particular foods. The sugar display was an eye opener at school and within our branch. One of my most successful activities this year were two Hands on Nutrition Workshops – an adult version that we made vegan-friendly and a kids version making fruit kebabs with the students. I also regularly run the Back to Basics: Five Key Messages as part of our health units at school.
Although I don’t have much spare time, I love to hand embroider and find it relaxing to do. I don’t always like to follow a pattern and tend to ‘create on the fly’. I also love to read fantasy novels and am a serial watcher of Vicar of Dibley and Call the Midwives.
I would love to see the Country Kitchen program in every school, so our next generation are educated into the ways of good health and living well. To this end I would like to see more parents and teachers participating in the program. I believe every one of us has a responsibility to help others and Country Kitchens is a way of learning and sharing knowledge that will lead to improvements for all Queenslanders.
Why wouldn’t you want to be involved? If you or someone you know is keen to work with the QCWA Country Kitchens program, we are always looking to increase our volunteer workforce. To learn all about what we do, please get in touch with the team on 0417 539 663, or head to our website: qcwacountrykitchens.com.au
