Peel’s latest culinary experience, giving locals a contemporary twist on traditional Nyungar food, has toasted to a new season.
Bindjareb Park’s Six Seasons Dinner, founded by local Traditional Owner Karrie-Anne Kearing, celebrates the changing seasons of the Nyungar calendar.
On August 18, attendees sat down for a menu inspired by the Djilba season.
Running from August to September, the Djilba season is a transitional time of year on the Nyungar calendar.
The season welcomes the start of the colourful and explosive flowering across the South West.
To fully capitalise on produce currently available, dishes served at the event incorporated an array of in-season ingredients.
From emu eggs and kangaroo to bush lime and locally caught dew fish, authentic ingredients were served up during the unique dining experience.
Pastel coloured wildflowers entwined in bright fairy lights were used to decorate the Hampton Road venue.
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Throughout the experience, Ms Kearing provided guests with an insight into Aboriginal culture in the region through mixed-media presentations.
Feature films wrote by Ms Kearing, a didgeridoo session performed by her nephew and a demonstration of traditional tools were used to introduce the audience into her personal perspective of the region.
Before the meals commenced, Ms Kearing walked guests through the 22-hectare nature sanctuary to a sculpture by local artist Lance Chadd that illustrated the Nyungar calendar’s six seasons.
She explained what each season meant to Aboriginal people and what produce would have traditionally been eaten during that time.
A highlight of the interactive evening for guests was the opportunity to meet Arlo, a joey that calls Bindjareb Park home.
Arlo joined two emus that roamed around the dining precinct and welcomed guests at the beginning of the evening.
Ms Kearing also used the opportunity to weave in information about the area’s Aboriginal history and explain her opinion behind the unsuccessful campaign to change the Peel region’s name.
Saturday was the third time Binjareb Park has held a seasonal dinner, with the first held in 2017.
Organisers of Bindjareb Park’s Six Seasons Dinner aim to continue the new experience and will continue their push to showcase the region as a gourmet destination.
For more information on the dinner or to keep up to date with their latest news and event visit Bindjareb Park’s website.
Follow Caitlyn Rintoul on Twitter via @caitlynrintoul.
