Sunshine Coast Hinterland Times

Julie Sheldon (left), Leader Slow Food Sunshine Coast Hinterland, sharing a celebratory drink. With Julie are (from left) Leonie Furber, Chair - Slow Food Australia, Vanda Evison, State Leader, Slow Food Queensland, Bob MacLennan, Leader, Slow Food Brisbane.

Churchill Fellowship winner Julie Shelton is all fired up to spread the Slow Food word and to get more good quality food produced for local distribution.
Julie has launched a new group serving the whole Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
“We are supporting food producers – providing advice, advocacy, lobbying and information services,” says Julie. “The core of our activities will be a gathering every Thursday at the Maleny Community Centre, hence the group name Slow Thursday”.
Julie says the Thursday group meetings will encourage relationships between producers and co-producers, retailers, chefs, restaurateurs and consumers. Food-related movies will be screened, and cooking demonstrations will showcase local food. There will be talks and forums with stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
Not to exclude youngsters, there will be Kids Go Slow with sensory education, talks from producers and chefs, and demonstrations on growing food.
“I hope to encourage other organisations and enterprises in town to get behind this idea”, enthuses Julie.
“I would like them to hold events or do something special in their shops to promote the ‘Slow’ philosophy. For example, offering a dish that uses local ingredients, and displaying who the producers are, or celebrating our local food producers and local artists. Contact the Slow Thursday group: sunshinecoast.queensland@slowfoodaustralia.com.au