The face behind Launceston’s nation-leading Community Kitchen has been nominated for Tasmania’s Australian of the Year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Charlie Rayner, owner of the Inveresk Tavern, is in the running for the 2018 title, for his part in the popular weekly program.
The program began in July last year, as a partnership between the tavern, and the Migrant Resource Centre.
On Sundays, various community and cultural groups are invited into the kitchen to cook up a feast of their country’s traditional cuisine.
Through the tavern, diners have been taken on a global culinary trip – from Sudan, to Afghanistan, Korea, the Philippines, and home again.
But there is more than just a good feed behind this project.
It has been heralded as a “cultural bridge”; a way for new Launceston residents to improve their English, and for the existing Launceston community to better understand those within it who have different cultural backgrounds and stories.
“[It shows] what circumstances people are arriving in in Launceston,” Migrant Resource Centre chief executive Ella Dixon said, at the launch of the program.
“Until you’re in the mix you forget why some of our clients are here.
“When you use food it’s almost an invitation to say ‘I want to get to know you’.”
The concept of the program is so simple, it makes one wonder why it’s not repeated in pubs throughout the country.
It could have started anywhere. But it didn’t.
It started in Launceston.
Such a concept is reflective of the strong community core that makes Launceston and Northern Tasmania such a uniquely wonderful place to live.
The core values of the community are laid out on a plate: acceptance, a welcoming attitude, and a keen interest to learn about diversity.
Oh, and an appreciation of good tucker.
No matter who wins the title, there is not one nominee among the Tasmanian finalists who isn’t 100 per cent rewarding of such recognition.
Each of them, across the categories – Tasmanian Australian, senior Australian, young Australian, and local hero – is a credit to our state, and their respective communities.
The Tasmanian award winners will be announced on November 17. They will go on to the national awards on Australia Day.