KATRINA Dunnett de Jong grew up on a berry farm in Wooragee with three older siblings and began selling homemade cakes from the family’s farm gate shop when she was barely tall enough to see over the counter. She moved to Melbourne as a 17- year-old, travelled and lived in Paris and as well as on the NSW’s north coast.
Based in Melbourne, Katrina will soon move to Sydney but calls Yackandandah home where she spends more time in North East Victoria than anywhere else.
What do you do workwise?
I have a pop-up restaurant where we specialise in Indonesian cuisine. We host a variety of events in the region and will have a food stall at this year’s Golden Horseshoe Festival. We’re then hitting the road expanding our reach to New South Wales with events scheduled in the Southern Highlands and Northern Rivers regions.
Beechworth, particularly the Quercus kitchen and hall, is the place where it all began. We are grateful for the supportive community in this area that has been with us from day one.
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What brought you to your role/career?
I've always been involved in the food industry, starting with branding for major FMCG companies and transitioning into the not-for-profit sector. Over the past six years, I've worked with some amazing organisations, such as FareShare Australia, a national food relief charity, and recently, Open Food Network Australia, a local food systems social enterprise.
I'm extremely passionate about food justice and addressing insecurity and inequality, especially in regional areas where access, education, and availability are often limited.
What do you love about your work?
Food and dining experiences offer incredible opportunities for connection. I love bringing people together for a good time alongside my team in a unique, engaging, and memorable environment.
Representing my Oma and Opa (grandparents in Dutch) is a source of pride. I cook food from my Oma's Indonesian heritage, and the restaurant is named after my Opa - 'For Ouker' in Dutch. I adore the creative aspect of cooking, experimenting with new recipes and techniques, and then sharing with others.
What do you do in the community?
We host in the area to have a positive social and economic impact on the community by creating opportunities for people to come together, connect, and experience something different.
We recently held a volunteer-led fundraiser in Yackandandah for the Bob Brown Foundation. We raised over $4000 reflecting community care for the environment and nature.
Is there an important community issue that you think needs addressing?
The cost of living is affecting many people right now. We've all witnessed the economic impact it has had on small businesses in the region with many closures. I hope communities support local businesses if they have the opportunity and means to do so. Supporting local will help our communities and businesses survive with a positive impact on our local economy and environment.
What do you see as one of the most important current world issues?
There's an incredible list of concerns facing the world today from human rights, mental health and the climate crisis to rising living costs and technology's pervasive influence. I see most of these issues as interconnected and often existing symbiotically.
However, I see the climate crisis as a huge issue, as well as reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly following the referendum result.
Who would you like to bring to Indigo Shire, what would you show them, and why?
Any of my European friends who have never been to Australia. We would start with a morning hike along the Razorback on Mt Hotham, followed by a swim at the Beechworth Gorge. We'd go for some pastries from the Happy Baker in Yackandandah, followed by some berries from Beechworth Berries, a wine tasting at Eldorado Road Cellar Door, dinner at Tanswells, watch the sunset at Mount Pilot, and, if they're lucky, stay at Freeman on Ford.
