Charcoal Lane marks NAIDOC Week and its second birthday

Mission Australia’s Charcoal Lane, Melbourne's unique Australian and native cuisine restaurant, is marking NAIDOC Week by celebrating its two year anniversary of helping young Indigenous people get a start in hospitality.

Since opening in July 2009, Charcoal Lane has served almost 30,000 diners and hosted over 100 events, including the successful Taste of Reconciliation Bridge Lunch in March as part of the Melbourne International Food and Wine Festival. Charcoal Lane has quickly become recognised as one of Melbourne’s best dining experiences and scored 14/20 in The Age’s prestigious Good Food Guide 2011.

The fine dining restaurant provides hospitality training and personal development for Aboriginal and disadvantaged young people in partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and the William Angliss Institute of TAFE.

Yet a more telling sign of success, according to Head Chef Richard Wills, is that students have graduated from the award-winning training program and moving into full-time employment.

“Having left home myself at the age of 14 I know how hard it can be to get a foothold in a good kitchen. This is a fantastic opportunity for these young people to build some really useful skills and get a head start in a great industry” Wills says.

One of these students is Marley Kennedy (pictured bottom left), who is graduating with a Certificate III in Hospitality.

“Without the support of Charcoal Lane I wouldn’t have the same confidence that I do now. I’ve been able to meet some really great people who have inspired me to have careers just like them,” Marley said.

Marley has been nominated for Koori Student of the Year in the Victorian Training Awards and is now hoping for an opportunity to work in a resort in Uluru where she can combine cooking food and travel – two things she loves.


Further reading:

• Taste of Reconciliation dinner
• 'Fantastic food and spirit of a fair go come together' at Charcoal Lane

Taste of Reconciliation dinner

Mission Australia kicked off Reconciliation Week last Wednesday, with our second annual Taste of Reconciliation dinner, held at the Sofitel Melbourne.

The night provided a chance for Melbourne's business community to celebrate Aboriginal culture, discuss ways to provide real opportunities for Aboriginal Australians and sample the native flavours of Charcoal Lane – our social enterprise restaurant in Fitzroy.

The event, held on the eve of Reconciliation Week was a huge success, attracting over 250 attendees including Elders and members of Victoria's Aboriginal community and leaders from government, corporate and not-for-profit sectors.

Throughout the evening guests heard from Hon Minister Jeanette Powell, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Stephen Roberts, Chief Country Officer and CEO Institutional Clients Group, Citi Australia and New Zealand, who provided keynote speeches.

In addition, Rueben Berg from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria coordinated a 'Thought Leaders' panel, which included a speech from Toby Hall, CEO of Mission Australia.

Guests were also entertained during the event by the music of James Williams, CEO of 3KnD Radio – Melbourne’s first Indigenous radio station.

Mission Australia would like to thank the Victoria Government (Aboriginal Affairs Victoria), Reconciliation Australia, Sofitel Melbourne, Accor, Citi and Red Letter Management.

Mission Australia encourages all its supporters, staff and volunteers to participate in this important week by taking part in activities in your community or simply reflecting on what this week is all about.

Visit Mission Australia's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island resources page for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the latest indigenous news, current affairs and policy updates.

Further reading:

• Previous MA news - Charcoal Lane
• Previous MA news - Reconciliation

Reconciliation Week

Today is National Sorry Day, which heralds the start of Reconciliation Week. This year’s theme is recognition.

Reconciliation Australia wants us to think about what it means to feel recognised, and how valuable that is for our self-esteem and our ability to recognise the best in others.

Recognition is important to all of us, of course. It is crucial for Indigenous Australians, whose existence and rights as traditional owners have been overlooked in history – and who continue to struggle for justice and equality today.

As the first Australian charity to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan, this is a topic close to our heart as an organisation and this vital national conversation will help us create a fairer Australia for all.

The theme of recognition is also timely. The Federal Government recently established a panel to consider amending the Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within it, and we may all have the chance to vote in a referendum on this issue in the near future.

Mission Australia kicked off Reconciliation Week last night with our second annual Taste of Reconciliation dinner, held at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. The night provided a chance for Melbourne's business community to celebrate Aboriginal culture, discuss ways to provide real opportunities for Aboriginal Australians and sample the native flavours of Charcoal Lane - our social enterprise restaurant in Fitzroy.

Mission Australia encourages all its supporters, staff and volunteers to participate in this important week by taking part in activities in your community or simply reflecting on what this week is all about.

Further reading:

• Previous MA news - Charcoal Lane
• Previous MA news - Reconciliation
  

Aboriginal jobs and development on the menu at VIC's premier reconciliation event

More than 250 of Victoria's business and Aboriginal leaders will meet to consider ways to tackle Aboriginal disadvantage and enhance reconciliation at the Taste of Reconciliation event on May 25th.

The event, which will examine business solutions to alleviate the inequality experienced by Aboriginals, will feature Victorian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell and Chief Country Officer and CEO Clients Institutional Group, Citi Australia and New Zealand, Stephen Roberts.

Mr Roberts, who is Chair of the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council, a group which provides purchasing links between corporate Australia, government agencies and indigenous-owned businesses, will advise how businesses can get involved in reconciliation.

Mission Australia Victorian State Director Paul Bird said Taste of Reconciliation, the state's premier celebratory reconciliation event, primarily provides corporate and indigenous Victoria an opportunity to come together to talk about practical ways to overcome Aboriginal disadvantage

"Victoria's businesses can play a hugely significant role in furthering reconciliation by promoting job growth, skills development and boosting individual self-confidence," said Mr Bird.

"Purchasing, where possible, products and services from Aboriginal suppliers, providing opportunities for Aboriginal trainees and apprentices and hiring Aboriginal employees are all ways in which corporate Australia can make a real difference," he said.

According to Mr Bird, while the Victorian Government has made progress through its funding of Reconciliation Victoria, the Indigenous Honour Roll initiative and supporting leadership and mentoring programs for Aboriginal youth, more can be done by government, business and community service organisations to renew their commitment to reconciliation.

"That's what Taste of Reconciliation is about - assisting in that renewal by providing an event where business leaders and the Aboriginal community can meet to discuss ways forward," said Mr Bird.

And leading by example, Mission Australia, through its own Reconciliation Action Plan, exceeded its goal for increasing the number of employees who identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander with 120 staff members, almost five per cent of their total workforce, coming from these backgrounds.

Taste of Reconciliation - Wednesday, 25 May 2011

• Time: 6.30pm to 10pm
• Place: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, 25 Collins Street, Melbourne
• For more information, visit www.tasteofreconciliation.org

Click here to browse past Taste of Reconciliation news

'Fantastic food and spirit of a fair go come together' at Charcoal Lane

There's been a lot of talk about Mission Australia's Charcoal Lane restaurant recently in the Melbourne press, with the Fitzroy social enterprise making the pages of The Age and Melbourne City newspaper.

This month the restaurant was the setting for the 'Lunch with…' column, with Peter Freier, the Archbishop of Melbourne, enjoying its native-flavoured dishes.

The Age's Danny Zwartz wrote that "The choice of Charcoal Lane is typical of his attention to detail and unerring political eye. It is a pleasant restaurant serving good food but he is also supporting disadvantaged young people - not least through the publicity he will bring - as well as deflecting possible criticism about the archbishop being seen doing something as frivolous as lunch."

He also noted that the restaurant, which trains young Aboriginal people and other local youth in hospitality, was a natural choice for the Archbishop, who had worked with Indigenous communities on Thursday Island an in Kowanyama and Yarrabar.

Dishes featured included saltbush lamb, pan-seared salmon, Sydney rock oysters with cider dressing and finger limes, yam fritters with bush tomato chutney, and flourless mandarin meringue cake and cheese were among the native-flavoured dishes that were highlighted.

Last month the restaurant also received a glowing review in the Melbourne City Newspaper.

Kimberly Yu wrote that "Fantastic food and the spirit of a fair go come together at Fitzroy's Charcoal Lane.

"The restaurant's innovative use of native meat and bush spices combines seamlessly with more familiar offerings, producing mouth-watering dishes like native peppered kangaroo fillet with a shallot and bush tomato tart, topped with a rosella flower jus," she added.

Head Chef Craig Hicks has been on a mission to bring "fresh tastes to the menu, incorporating his experience in some of the best kitchens in Asia, Europe and Australia into the new menu.

"I'm passionate about incorporating Australian Indigenous ingredients such as lilli pillies and quandongs with Asian flavours, which I don't think anyone else has achieved," he said, adding that kangaroo was the biggest drawcard.

Craig said he was looking forward to showing students the array of possibilities for a career in hospitality. Under his guidance, the trainees now make bread twice a day and also learning to make cheeses.

The restaurant - a partnership between Mission Australia, the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and William Angliss Institute - provides 30 traineeships and 12 apprenticeships a year.

Charcoal Lane staff and trainees are preparing to host another Taste of Reconciliation event on the 25 May. The event is the second annual corporate dinner and will feature keynote speakers such as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Jeanette Powell, and Chief Operating Officer and CEO Institutional Clients Group, Citi Australia and New Zealand, Stephen Roberts. Visit www.tasteofreconciliation.org for more information.

Charcoal Lane is at 136 Gertrude St, Fitzroy. Open Tuesday to Sunday from noon to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm. Call (03) 9418 3400, email eat@charcoallane.com.au, or visit www.charcoallane.com.au

Further reading:

• Lunch with…Philip Freier at Charcoal Lane
• Previous Charcoal Lane news

Sun shines on Charcoal Lane event

Sunshine and a stunning location provided Charcoal Lane students with the perfect conditions for showing off their talents at Sunday’s Taste of Reconciliation Bridge Lunch.

Guests at Melbourne’s Sandridge Bridge and Southbank enjoyed a four-course meal prepared and served by staff from Mission Australia’s Charcoal Lane social enterprise restaurant.

Some of the native-inspired dishes included rice paper rolls, house-cured kangaroo prosciutto with shrimps and ruby red chilli, and mountain pepper salmon pastrami with avocado puree.

Mains ranged from king fish with palm sugar, soy mirin glaze, finger lime and salt bush salad with a kumara puree to slow-cooked lamb rump, wild thyme and bush tomato chutney, native mint young potatoes.

The desserts were also infused with Indigenous flavours. Diners had the choice of ending lunch with a raspberry and rosella flower cannelloni; baked lemon Aspen tart and vanilla panna cotta with passionberry jelly.

This 2011 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival event was held on the Yarra's iconic Sandridge Bridge - a symbol of bridging the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Among the guests was Yorta Yorta Elder Pam Pederson, who enjoyed the opportunity to sample Charcoal Lane and make friends: "Thank you so much for inviting me to the luncheon and what a beautiful day,” she told Mission Australia’s organisers after lunch. “I just so enjoyed meeting new people and talking to them."

The Charcoal Lane trainees who served and prepared food also enjoyed the day, according to the social enterprise’s Youth Support Worker Shera Angela: "The students had a great time and did really well. We are very proud of their efforts and perseverance on such a warm day."

Pictured, from left: Paul Bird, Mission Australia’s State Director Victoria, with Rod Jackson, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and Susan Riley, City of Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor.

Taste of Reconciliation Bridge Lunch

The team from Charcoal Lane are preparing to go al fresco in a big way this Sunday at the Taste of Reconciliation Bridge Lunch.

This 2011 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival event is a great opportunity to sample four courses of modern Indigenous cuisine in a unique setting – the Yarra’s Sandridge Bridge.

The first course will be served at 1pm at the Red Stairs in Queensbridge Square, Southbank. The remaining three courses will be served across Sandridge Bridge (the Old Railway Bridge), which spans from Queensbridge Square to Flinders Walk.

Add music and entertainment and you have all the ingredients for a perfect autumn afternoon in Melbourne.

Bookings can be made on Saturday, but be quick as places are limited. Find out more at www.tasteofreconciliation.org

Media Release: 300 Melbournians to get a taste of reconciliation on Sandridge Bridge

In a first for Melbourne, Sandridge Bridge will be closed to host 300 guests for the inaugural Taste of Reconciliation: Bridge Lunch on Sunday 6 March 2011 as part of the Melbourne International Food and Wine Festival.

Taste of Reconciliation: Bridge Lunch is a sumptuous four-course lunch designed and served by Charcoal Lane that celebrates the11th anniversary of the Bridge Walks for Reconciliation.

Sandridge Bridge and the surrounding area is significant to Aboriginal history in Melbourne and has been a meeting place of peoples and cultures for centuries including the Indigenous Wurundjeri and Bunurong peoples.

Guests from 1pm to 4pm will be treated to a four-course meal of contemporary Australian cuisine infused with native flavours, while local Indigenous leaders share their stories.

Charcoal Lane’s Head Chef Craig Hicks said the Taste of Reconciliation: Bridge Lunch is set to be an unforgettable dining experience.

“The historic significance of Sandridge Bridge will set the scene for a unique celebration of Indigenous culture and food,” Mr Hicks said.

“We will start with canapés in Queensbridge Square before moving to Sandridge Bridge for the remaining courses, which will be served with matched wines.”

The event will be held as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and is supported by Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and The City of Melbourne.

Deputy Lord Mayor, Susan Riley said: “The City of Melbourne is pleased to partner with Mission Australia for this wonderful event.”

Tickets for the four-course lunch are $120, with all proceeds going towards Mission Australia’s Charcoal Lane for programs to provide hospitality training and personal development for young Aboriginals and other disadvantaged youth.

More information about the event can be found at: http://www.tasteofreconciliation.org/

Booking enquiries can be made through Charcoal Lane, contact: eat@charcoallane.com.au or (03) 9418 3400 between 9am and 5pm weekdays.

Event details:
What:  Taste of Reconciliation: Bridge Lunch
When:  1pm to 4pm on Sunday 6 March 2011
Where:  First course to be served at Red Stairs in Queensbridge Square, Southbank, before moving to Sandridge Bridge.
Why:  To celebrate reconciliation in a unique dining experience, as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.

Interview and photo opportunities:
Craig Hicks – Head Chef at Charcoal Lane
Paul Bird – Mission Australia’s State Director for Victoria
Charcoal Lane trainees

Media contacts:
Emily Lehmann, Fenton Communications on (03) 9600 0006 / 0421 852 501 or emilyl@fenton.com.au
Rachael Nightingale, Fenton Communications on (03) 9600 0006 / 0449881980 or rachael@fenton.com.au