THE main hall at the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre is buzzing with a quietly contained chaos.<\/p>\n
Kitchenhands and staff rush about the centre, while patrons sit at tables placed about the large room in anticipation of a two-course meal that cost less than most restaurants.<\/p>\n
This is a regular occurrence for Our Kitchen Social Enterprise, who held their first community lunch of the year last week in acknowledgement of International Women\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
With a guest speaker, decorations to mark the occasion, and much of the kitchen staff absent, Neighbourhood Centre community development manager Donna Tucker said the disorder is nothing new.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in one of those industries where whatever\u2019s broken or on fire at the time, whoever\u2019s closest just attends to it and we all work it out,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we thought we might ease ourselves in to start with, but our chef doesn\u2019t really do things by halves. Our light luncheon has turned into a bit of a buffet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Initially formed as a catering business in 2017, the enterprise holds regular community lunches, with volunteer kitchenhands many of which are hired through Jobs Victoria Work and Learning Centre Ballarat.<\/p>\n
Under the tutelage of chef David Bending, the lunches provide training for the kitchen staff, giving them hands on industry experience.<\/p>\n
One trainee kitchenhand, Blake Fallen, has been a staff member since April, and said that despite the stresses commonly associated with kitchen work, Bending is nothing but supportive.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid\u2019s definitely a lot better than most chefs I\u2019ve heard of, because some just yell at you nonstop,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a lot more patient, and he always tries to make everything less stressful for when we do our community lunches.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole thing has helped me get out of the house and be social, and I love when people come up and they tell us how great our food is and how grateful they are.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just been a very rewarding experience overall, and most of the people that volunteer here end up getting jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the enterprise\u2019s return for 2022, Ms Tucker said the team is undergoing \u201ca rebuild phase,\u201d and that they are committed to delivering 24,000 learning hours to their trainees this year.<\/p>\n
The lunches normally serve about 50 people, and vegetarian and dietary options are made available regardless of the day\u2019s menu.<\/p>\n
Much of the food is provided by food rescue organisation SecondBite or grown from the community vegetable garden.<\/p>\n
Local resident Cecilia Edwards has been attending the lunches for four years, and said it provides the perfect space to socialise while supporting the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of us elderly customers are alone, so to be able to come down and see each other and give back to this place like it gives to us, it can\u2019t be better,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always such a variety, and the food is so yummy. I probably won\u2019t even eat dinner after this.\u201d<\/p>\n
The community luncheons are normally held from 12pm on the second, third and fourth Friday of the month at the Ballarat South Community Hub, 11 Tuppen Drive, Sebastopol.<\/p>\n
A meal typically cost $10 for two courses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE main hall at the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre is buzzing with a quietly contained chaos. Kitchenhands and staff rush about the centre, while patrons sit at tables placed about the large room in anticipation of a two-course meal that cost less than most restaurants. This is a regular occurrence for Our Kitchen Social Enterprise, who […]<\/p>\n