Eumundi Voice - Issue 100, 22 August 2024

Out and About

Maggie Beer

Maggie Beer was interviewed by Caroline Hutchinson as part of the In Conversation series at Sunshine Coast Libraries, held at Venue 114 on 2 August.

Maggie puts her success down to the fact that what you see is what you get. Her hardest professional challenge was her recent Big Mission – leading the Maggie Beer Foundation to improve the nutrition and meals of those in residential aged care. Maggie was never trained as a chef but said the key to her success in the kitchen was about finding the balance between flavour, texture and taste. She is supposedly slowing down as she’s about to turn 80. Let’s see how that works out!

Curated Plate a first at Matso’s

Matso’s recent From Brewery to Plate lunch was a welcome addition to locations for this year’s Curated Plate.

The Plate is a well-established annual celebration of the Sunshine Coast’s local produce, producers and chefs, and unique natural assets from the coast to the hinterland.

Matso's served 5 outstanding courses over a couple of hours to a very enthusiastic crowd, each meal matched with a glass of one of their brewery drinks. The first course, in final preparation with sous-chef Kailash Lamichhane, of Matso's ginger beer-cured king fish with melon, prosciutto, and ginger and orange dressing, was served with their signature ginger beer. The following 4 courses were also prepared chiefly from locally sourced ingredients, and all were served with an introduction by manager Matt and brewer Lachie.

Asian Food Festival

The Curated Plate’s Asian Food Festival at Spicer’s Tamarind in Maleny on 3&4 August was a delight. A well organised day with delicious food and live music made for a great day out. The event did exactly what was intended and showcased the excellent produce of our talented farmers, chefs and brewers across the Sunshine Coast. The event is pencilled in again for 2025.

Wearable Art Festival

The 2024 Australian Wearable Art Festival featured 38 finalists from Australia and overseas and what a show it was! There were 8 finalists from the Sunshine Coast, including Weyba Downs local Teddy McRitchie.

The festival has its origins in Eumundi with the first Eumundi Wearable Art event in 2017 and subsequent Australian Wearable Art Festival in 2019. This year’s event was staged at Venue 114 to sold out audiences over 3 shows featuring a 27m catwalk.

The 2024 Supreme Award and Avant-Garde Award went to Isabelle Cameron for her crochet sea monster Stardust, embodying both beauty and terror. The People’s Choice Award and Floriana Award went to Viera Keogh’s Homage to Humanity, a protest against increasing restrictions in Slovakia. ‘Trashion’ (trash+fashion) winner was Antoaneta Tica from Romania with her recycled bottles creation Sprinkle, highlighting pollution caused by plastic. Vivien Eardley won the Sustainable Nature Award with her Tigresa creation representing strength and resilience and made from cat’s claw creeper vine. Hours of work went into each entry – a true labour of love for fashion and creativity. Visit: www.australianwearableart.com.au.