12/06/2026
I'll be back at Gathaa Market tomorrow sharing bush food tips and whipping up some proper yummies, showing how easy it is to bring native flavours into everyday meals. Good food, good yarns, all the deadly people and thankfully a wicked indoor venue so we're outta the rain. Its being held at the Caloundra library.
It's especially exciting as Caloundra is where my Kabi Kabi bush food journey really began. I loved it because it took me back to being a little girl playing in the hills out the back of Alice Springs, being in nature nibbling on yummy bushfoods (no honey ants here though 🥲).. Back when I was living at Kings Beach, I stumbled across one of my favourite chefs gathering sea greens down at Shelly Beach. I recognised him from his foraging videos and went over for a yarn. He ended up taking me around and introducing me to all sorts of fresh herbs and flavours growing along the coastline. It has been such a wonderful journey since then.
I really respected when he stepped back from the business once it became clear that too many people were taking too much. It didn't take long for the impacts to become noticeable, and it was a reminder that these plants need to be cared for if they're going to be around for future generations.
Thats why I'm passionate about sharing these flavours while also educating and encouraging people to grow what is appropriate at home and where to support sustainably sourced bush tukka. I believe we should be buying bush foods from the communities and regions where they naturally grow, in the seasons they are actually available. That's how we help to ensure the economic benefits flow back to the people and places that these foods belong to. For that is the proper way.
Bush food chat kicks off at 11, I look forward to introducing yous to the flavours of Caloundra. I reckon it's one of the tastiest little pockets on the Sunny Coast.
Nom nom nom
🌿 Exploring Bushfoods with Tanika Orr 🌿
Join Arrernte chef Tanika Orr from Nooks & Cooks as she takes you on a journey through Australia's incredible native foods at the GATHAA First Nations🪃 One Mob Reconciliation Market 👣
Discover the flavours, stories and nutritional benefits of bushfoods while watching Tanika prepare delicious dishes using native ingredients. Along the way you'll have the opportunity to sample a range of bushfood products and learn how these ancient foods can be incorporated into everyday cooking.
Bushfoods are not only packed with flavour, they are rich in nutrients and have sustained First Nations peoples for thousands of years.
📍 Caloundra Library+
🗓 Saturday 13 June 2026
🕚 11:00am
🎟 Free Demonstration
Part of the GATHAA One Mob Reconciliation Market, celebrating National Reconciliation Week through culture, food, music and community.
👣 Free Entry
📍 Caloundra Library+ | 90 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra
This initiative is proudly supported by the Queensland Government through the Celebrating Reconciliation Grants Program.
