Town of Gawler, South Australia, has announced a local agribusiness will manage a social enterprise cafe within the Gawler Civic Centre.
Mayor, Karen Redman, said, “Red Centre Enterprises will operate an Australian Bush Foods Social Enterprise Cafe that uses the best of local South Australian produce, provides high quality meals and have a positive cultural impact within the local community.”
Red Centre Enterprises works to give aboriginal communities access to commercial markets for produce, and to generate employment.
Owners, Nadia Matko and Paul Keily (Paul’s tribal name is Yuandamarra), have been growing and harvesting Australian native foods for selected mainstream markets for more than 20 years, and are now sustainably commercialising their operations through Red Centre Enterprises.
Mayor Redman said, “The Cafe, as a Social Enterprise, will provide the opportunity for local employment as well as real education, training and employment pathways for the broader community.
“In support of Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan, Nadia and Yuandamarra (Paul) will encourage Aboriginal people to train and work in the cafe.
“It will support the Kaurna community by sourcing many native foods locally.”
The Cafe facilities located within the Gawler Civic Centre will play an important role in the cultural and corporate services that will be on offer in the building. The cafe will provide both casual dining and catering for functions and events.
Red Centre Enterprises’ decision to operate the Social Enterprise Cafe has been welcomed by the Kaurna community with respected Kaurna Elder, Uncle Jeffrey Newchurch on hand to witness the signing of the Management Agreement.
Mayor Redman said the partnership would provide a genuine, new cultural tourism experience and add to the region’s growing reputation as a vibrant cultural heritage destination.
