Hunters Hill Food and Wine Festival: 20 years of food, wine and good times

The 20th annual Hunters Hill Food and Wine Festival is on this weekend, pairing a day of gourmet produce with raising money for charity.

Garnet Meekings, Gloria Khoury and Robert Erskine enjoy some wine and cheese at Boronia Park. Picture: Monique Harmer

• 10 lunches under $10
• China Doll coming to the west

In 1999, Hunters Hill held its first Food and Wine Festival, which combined a day of gourmet food and wine with raising money for charity.

Two decades on, the annual event has continued each year thanks to the hard work and dedication of its volunteers.

From president Robert Erskine, who has volunteered for 19 years, to new member Gill Batt, the committee annually spends 1000 hours putting the festival together.

The Hunters Hill Food & Wine Festival committee spend months putting the popular annual event together. Picture: Monique Harmer

Committee member and decade long volunteer Gloria Khoury said the festival’s success came from the fact it had always been “a community event in every sense of the word”.

“It’s organised by volunteers; helped by council, valued by the wonderful stallholders and of course, none of it is possible without the generosity of the sponsors, who enable its existence,” she said.

“Most importantly, the festival draws between seven to ten thousand visitors who enjoy a wonderful community atmosphere, as well as food and wine with family and friends.”

Settle in at Boronia Park with some wine, cheese and produce at the annual festival.

This year’s event, which will be held at Boronia Park on Sunday, will see patrons enjoy gin, craft beer and of course, plenty of wines, along with global cuisine from 16 restaurants.

Visitors can also enjoy live music and browse a range of boutique stalls.

“It is truly a fun-filled, friendly and exciting day spent under the glorious sun at our gorgeous Boronia Park,” Ms Khoury said.

Another gorgeous array of cheeses and crackers, which you can potentially pick up at the festival.

As well as being a great day out, the Hunters Hill Food and Wine Festival also raises money for charities and community organisations.

One of the most rewarding parts for the committee is to see people “coming together enjoying themselves all awhile raising money for worthy causes”.

“It is a privilege and a very proud moment when we hand over cheques to our deserving charities and hearing about what difference our work had made to them,” Khoury said.

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“Over the years we have donated over $240,000 to a variety of community groups and charities such as Giants Steps, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse — Ride to Conquer Cancer, SES, sporting and scout clubs, local preschools and men’s sheds to name just a few.”

This year, the festival will raise funds for Sydney Community Services, Hunters Hill Ryde Men’s Shed, Hunters Hill State Emergency Service and St John’s Ambulance Service, Gladesville Branch.