Norlane community cooking up a storm

GOOD feeds, banter and team spirit are back on the menu in north Geelong with the reopening of Norlane Community Kitchen.

The cooking activity, based at Norlane Community Centre, invites participants from all walks of life to chip in $5 to cover the cost of ingredients before getting instructions to cook a meal each week – sharing chatter and laughs as a group.

The kitchen has been a popular hobby for young people in the area aiming to learn new skills, or people who live alone to have some social interaction and add to their recipe repertoire.

It has been one of the countless volunteer-run activities that have worn the brunt of COVID-19 restrictions, enduring shutdowns and limitations during the past two years.

Volunteers shifted to online recipe videos during lockdowns to keep participants engaged in the kitchen, but was unable to replicate the invaluable face-to-face interaction.

But that all changed on Friday when the centre welcomed cooks back to the service in strong numbers after attendance had suffered when open last year.

Volunteer Tony Contessa said 15 locals attended the kitchen comeback, in its strongest turnout for several months.

“We were last open just before Christmas, and then COVID hit for the third of fourth time and we’ve only just reopened from that,” he said.

“It’s been on and off since COVID hit. We’re looking forward to the rest of the year.

“We’re quite busy, which is great. Towards the end of COVID there was only three or four of us who turned up.

“But this is much better, we love it. People are excited to be back.”

Chicken and salad wraps, with a dessert helping of poached pears with ice cream featured on last week’s menu.

While the food proved a hit, Mr Contessa said the main aim of the service was to provide a welcoming, fun environment for local residents to develop new skills and build relationships in their community.

“We have a lot of young people here today. For them, it’s about learning to cook and do different things, and gives them a chance to get out in the community,” he said.

“We have other people who live on their own, and for them it’s a good, healthy meal.

“We don’t turn anyone away. We’ve got people of all abilities and people from different groups who come in.

“Everyone’s welcome, it costs $5 a week, and with that they get a two- or three-course meal every week and if there’s any left over, they get to take it home with them.”