Published in the August 2023 edition of the Monthly Munch.
Here are a few words from Margaret Gallagher at Middle Ridge Branch in Darling Downs Division about her journey as a Country Kitchens facilitator.
I joined Country Kitchens as a facilitator in 2018. Country Kitchens has so much to offer and has encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and learn new skills, such as report writing, public speaking, and community engagement.
I am very interested in healthy eating and cooking, especially adapting recipes to individual’s needs. I have a daughter with severe anaphylaxis and have coeliac sufferers in our family. This means I have
become very skilled at reading labels and adapting recipes to suit the whole family. Changing recipes
and adapting them to be healthier has been part of my life for the past 33 years. I have found there are so many recipes where sugar can be replaced with whole fruits and vegetables.
I have facilitated many Country Kitchens activities in our community. I have supported various hands on
nutrition workshops with a local refugee group, and I also work with younger children, aged 6-10 years old.
This initially started out as a craft group (The Associates) where they would do a basic craft and learn how to sew from scratch. I decided to add a healthy eating component that encouraged the children to eat simple nutritious food. They love participating in this component, and are starting to eat things they have never eaten before. They look forward to this part of the session, whether it is lunch or a snack. I also support running Country Kitchens at various showcases throughout the year.
In my spare time I enjoy gardening and spending time with my grandchildren.
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
