How the CWA are sharing skills with young people

There’s something deeply comforting about a home cooked meal. But for this volunteer, it’s an important skill with many benefits socially, financially, and nutritionally.

The connections between climate change, beating the cost of living crunch, and making a simple home cooked meal may seem obscure at face value.

But for this Victorian community volunteer and retired nurse, there’s much to be gained from the act of home cooking and passing along those skills to the next generation.

Beechworth Country Women’s Association member Liz Suhr has helped spearhead a cooking program, aimed at educating teenagers on the cusp of leaving home, with a focus on nutritious and speedy meals that can be made with limited kitchen equipment, while keeping to a budget.

“There’s value in older people, we’ve got these skills that we can share,” Ms Suhr said.

“To me, the CWA does fundraisers, and that’s how this program started, but it’s about working out how we can support the younger members of our community in a positive way, as opposed to just being seen as scones and jam.

“I see the CWA as a way of sharing skills with younger people, perhaps skills they haven’t had a chance to witness.

CWA Beechworth member Elizabeth Suhr believes much can be gained by teaching the next generation of the importance of healthy home cooking. Picture: Zoe Phillips

The Beechworth Young Cooks pilot cooking program will support five participants, teaching them important skills such as knife and heat source safety, how to avoid food waste, menu planning, the seasonality of fruits and vegetables, and how to best do your food shopping.

The pilot program has been an opportunity for the CWA to connect with other communities groups in the region, Ms Suhr said, with the local Mens Shed making wooden chopping boards for graduates of the program to take with them when they eventually move out of home.

If successful, Ms Suhr said the CWA would look at way to extend the program next year.

“We talk about where to shop, and if they’re moving to Melbourne how to use the Vic Market, farmers markets, or those various companies that are selling fruit that’s not perfect … helping them to think outside the box,” Ms Suhr said.

She said teaching younger people something as simple as how to develop a relationship with your local butcher is a way for people to become aware of where their food is coming from, while also shopping in a savvy way.

CWA Beechworth members Elizabeth Suhr and Kathryn Chivers. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“It’s something to be valued,” Ms Suhr said.

“I feel kids these days are very aware of climate. And in a way, by helping them realise the impact of food waste, it helps them have a sense of control too.

“I feel grateful I’ve had a chance to give back to the community. That’s a part of how we support each other isn’t it? Just by being kinda, so these kids can feel like they’re valued.”

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