WHOLEFOOD chef Jean Davy has chosen to volunteer her skills where a need is great.
The North Haven resident is an established food professional with an impressive list of achievements.
Television presenter – anaphylaxis food adviser, wholefood distributor, restaurateuse and health farm owner – for the past three months she has been a volunteer with Red Cross Australia also.
“I met June [le Pla] when she came to my property to collect an injured pelican, after I phoned FAWNA [For Australian Wildlife Needing Aid],” Jean said.
Sadly, the pelican died, but a friendship was born as the two women discovered a synergy between them – that of compassion for those in need.
Jean learnt of the involvement of Red Cross Australia in the Burraydjar Youth Group, run out of the Birpai Local Aboriginal Land Council.
When she later met Birpai elder Uncle Bill O’Brien, his passion inspired her and she leapt in with both feet.
“I teach teach everyone to cook – even the little tiny ones – and they are all a delight,” the 54-year-old smiles.
“In the kitchen they all support each other, which is really lovely.”
The Burraydjar Youth Group was established a year ago to support and promote the importance of education for indigenous Australians.
In her role as volunteer, Jean works toward this objective through food.
“If you care about food it cares about you,” she explains.
“We always cook with fresh ingredients and when the kids cook the food they can’t wait to eat it.”
It’s not just the art of cooking that the North Haven resident is teaching these Aboriginal children.
Health, economy, nutrition, respect and how to work together as a team all are an important focus.
“I think it’s the combination of food, health and people, all of which I’m interested in that makes me want to do this,” she said.
“It’s seeing the children light up with food that is so wonderful.
“There is no right or wrong with cookery - it’s not about making mistakes - it is about what you do with it.”
The children learn how to cook using all part of a vegetable and how to store leftover excess. All food waste is composted or sent to feed chickens owned by another of the volunteers.
“The earth produces our food and it is important to acknowledge that she does that for us and respect her for that,” the chef says.
The Burraydjar Youth Group children all vie to be in the kitchen and those who cook are rewarded with a special treat – they cook just for themselves.
Food cooked by the children is taken home to their families, if it is not all consumed.
And the Red Cross Australia volunteers and Birpai community elders and members who volunteer at the group love the kids’ dishes too.
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