Glenn Thompson from Zest Restaurant in Port Stephens has won the Mid North Coast Tourism 2009 Signature Dish Competition for the second consecutive year with his “Balantine of Farmed Macleay Rabbit wrapped in Prosciutto with Pickled Eschallots, Black Olive Paint and Sauce Aigre Doux matched with a Cassegrain Edition Noir 2008 Pinot Noir.”
He displayed his winning style to special guest judge, Serge Dansereau from the Bathers’ Pavilion at Sydney’s Balmoral Beach, and fellow judges John Cassegrain from Cassegrain Wines and North Coast Institute of TAFE Port Macquarie based senior cooking teachers, Matthew Armstrong and David Baker.
“The winning dish was as good as any of the best restaurants in Sydney,” said Dansereau.
“Glenn’s skills, his use of fresh local product, the presentation and taste were all top quality.”
Dansereau also noted the camaraderie and professional support among mid north coast producers, chefs and the tourism industry.
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RECORD levels of Aboriginal participation in TAFE this year have confirmed the tremendous value of the Deadly Days Festival to the Mid-North Coast, Independent MP for Lyne Robert Oakeshott said today.
As the two-day festival kicked off in Port Macquarie today, Mr Oakeshott revealed last year’s inaugural event had coincided with a 55% spike in enrolments for Aboriginal students at North Coast TAFE.
“Everyone who took part in last year’s festival came away knowing that something special had been achieved, and now we know exactly what sort of impact this initiative is having on indigenous education in our region,” Mr Oakeshott said.
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North Coast TAFE’s popular Deadly Days Festivals return with two days of action learning activities and engaging entertainment for the Aboriginal community at the Port Macquarie TAFE Campus on Thursday 3 September and Friday 4 September, 2009.
Jessica Mauboy, MTV, ARIA #1 and APRA Award winner will be joined on stage by Aboriginal comedian Sean Choolburra, who will host the entertainment on Friday from 9:00 am. Centrelink Ambassador Kyle Vander Kuyp, the former Australian athlete, will also attend.
Funded by the Australian Government as part of the Community Festivals for Education Engagement initiative, and organised by North Coast TAFE’s Aboriginal Learning Partnerships (NCALP) Team, the Festival encourages increased participation by young Aboriginal people in education, training and employment.
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North Coast TAFE dominated the TAFE NSW Aboriginal ‘Gili’ Awards in Sydney last night, with seven of the 12 categories won by North Coast TAFE nominations, including the prestigious Institute Award and the Bruce Kendall Recognition of Service to Aboriginal Education Award.
The purpose of the Awards is to celebrate and recognise the achievements of Aboriginal TAFE NSW students and staff that have contributed to their communities through training and education.
Gili (pronounced Kili) is an Eora (Sydney) word meaning: “to shine”.
The winner of the Bruce Kendall Recognition of Service to Aboriginal Education Award, Roy Hatfield, is Head Teacher of Electrotechnology at Grafton Campus. Roy commenced at Petersham College in 1988 as a teacher of the electrical trades and actually started the same day as the late Bruce Kendall.
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North Coast TAFE featured heavily in the 2009 North Coast Training Awards presented in Coffs Harbour recently, with 26 nominees, thirteen finalists and five winners.
Port Macquarie-based Country energy employee Scott Taylor was awarded with the 2009 North Coast Vocational Student of the Year Award for his achievements in studying his Advanced Diploma of Electrical Engineering at Port Macquarie TAFE Campus in 2008.
Taree’s William Hatton, who studied his Certificate IV in Project Management at Taree TAFE Campus, was the 2009 North Coast Trainee of the Year.
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Independent MP for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott, and Independent State MP for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling today welcomed the opening of the $9.1 million jointly funded upgrade to the North Coast Institute of TAFE and University of Newcastle facilities in Port Macquarie.
“The opening of today’s facilities are a result of a three‐way partnership between the NSW and Federal Governments and the University of Newcastle who have been able to see the benefits in coming together and investing in the education facilities of our community,” said Mr Oakeshott.
“Today we took a tour of the upgrades where we saw facilities ranging from maritime simulation equipment, to a beauty therapy studio, children’s services and outdoor play area to library extensions – it was very impressive and I know the refurbishments are welcomed by all current students and teachers,” said Mr Oakeshott.
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