Latest news with #Bundjalung
The Age
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Sydney fine-diner moves up in the World's 50 Best Restaurants longlist
In late May, Mindy Woods – owner-chef of Karkalla On Country near Byron Bay – received the World's 50 Best Restaurants Champions of Change Award. Woods, a Bundjalung woman, was the first Indigenous woman to appear on MasterChef Australia. She was named a Champion of Change for using her platform to blend cultures and empower the community, and cultivate a more inclusive food industry that supports minority voices. Meanwhile, Central Otago destination diner Amisfield became the first New Zealand restaurant to appear on the World's 50 Best list in its 23-year-history, scraping in at 99th. It is unlikely any other Australian venues will feature on the list, which last year crowned Barcelona's Disfrutar as the 'world's best restaurant'. (A four-hour tasting menu at Disfrutar costs around $500 before drinks and may feature a dish called 'Fear: The Prawn', where guests are asked to hunt through dry-ice vapour with bare hands to retrieve the shellfish.) The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 longlist
Sydney Morning Herald
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney fine-diner moves up in the World's 50 Best Restaurants longlist
In late May, Mindy Woods – owner-chef of Karkalla On Country near Byron Bay – received the World's 50 Best Restaurants Champions of Change Award. Woods, a Bundjalung woman, was the first Indigenous woman to appear on MasterChef Australia. She was named a Champion of Change for using her platform to blend cultures and empower the community, and cultivate a more inclusive food industry that supports minority voices. Meanwhile, Central Otago destination diner Amisfield became the first New Zealand restaurant to appear on the World's 50 Best list in its 23-year-history, scraping in at 99th. It is unlikely any other Australian venues will feature on the list, which last year crowned Barcelona's Disfrutar as the 'world's best restaurant'. (A four-hour tasting menu at Disfrutar costs around $500 before drinks and may feature a dish called 'Fear: The Prawn', where guests are asked to hunt through dry-ice vapour with bare hands to retrieve the shellfish.) The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 longlist
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Man starts petition after proposal to jack up campsite rates in one Aussie state
A proposal to increase camping fees in NSW national parks would make camping more expensive than renting a house. The NSW government has proposed introducing a six tier system that would make the rate fro some campgrounds as much as $97 a night or $679 a week, compared to a three bedroom home that can be rented for $600 a week. Filmmaker Michael Atkinson made the point in a social media video he shared from the Woody Head Camping Area in the Bundjalung National Park on the NSW North Coast. 'You can rent a three-bedroom house (down the road) with garage for $600, so it's almost $100 cheaper to rent a three-bedroom house with garage outside the park, as opposed to a small patch of grass here in the park,' Mr Atkinson said in the video 'I counted 89 campsites on this map, that is revenue raising of $55,000 a week just for this campground, excluding the money that they make from cabins.' In 2023-24, about 1.8 million people stayed overnight at 365 campgrounds located in national parks across NSW. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service developed a proposal 'to make camping fairer' for visitors and address issues when people did not show up, known as 'ghost bookings.' A tiered camping fee system was developed with pricing based on services, facilities and seasonal demand. A NPWS spokesman said more than 23,000 submissions were received during the consultation period. 'The NPWS invited feedback on a proposed model to introduce a more consistent and simplified statewide camping fee and booking system for the 365 campgrounds across NSW national parks,' a spokesman said. 'No decisions have been made on the proposal. 'NPWS will advise the public on the next steps once feedback has been considered.' Mr Atkinson told NewsWire that before Covid booking systems were used for high use campgrounds, and about 70 per cent of campgrounds in NSW national parks were free. He said a booking system was introduced to manage the infectious disease and it only cost $6, but because bookings were so cheap campsites would be booked out months in advance, then people would not show up. Mr Atkinson said the government's solution to prevent 'ghost bookings' was to jack up the prices, but the proposed hike would stop low income earners from being able to afford camping and discourage young people from heading out. 'For people like me, you feel ripped off that you're going to a public space in a park that we own, and paying what I think is a significant amount of money just to camp on our own land effectively,' he said. Mr Atkinson said a better solution would be to increase the number of campgrounds that were available at the sites which would increase grass space and remove undergrowth that clogged national parks. Mr Atkinson started an epetition to let the NSW government know how many people were against the proposal. The petition titled Keep camping affordable for all Australians in NSW National Parks has already received support from more than 7600 people. He also has support from the Nationals and people living outside of NSW who have been contacting the NSW environment minister directly. Opposition tourism spokesman Kevin Anderson said in a statement the decision would put some of NSW's most-treasured natural assets behind a paywall in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. 'When I asked the Minister for Tourism about this in Question Time last month, he refused to acknowledge the issue, despite the heavy impact it will have on the tourism sector by deterring people from wanting to camp in our National Parks,' he said. 'The Minns Labor government needs to go back to the drawing board and find better ways to save money than hitting hardworking families who are just looking to get out and enjoy nature.' Scott Barrett MLC said National Parks should be more accessible for everyone. 'This proposal will put camping out of reach for many families and that's why I believe it's important to support Outback Mike with this petition,' he said. 'Some of my favourite moments have been spent with my family in our state's iconic national parks and limiting those experiences for other families based on cost is extremely frustrating.'
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
World's 50 Best Restaurants awards: chef Mindy Wood becomes first Australian to win Champions of Change
For the first time, an Australian has won an international Champions of Change award, part of the World's 50 Best Restaurants program. Bundjalung restaurateur and former MasterChef Australia contestant Mindy Woods was awarded in recognition of her contribution to community through food. Woods was awarded for her efforts to 'preserve and share Indigenous culture through food,' said William Drew, director of content for the World's 50 Best Restaurants. Italy's Caroline Caporossi and Jessica Rosval, who run an initiative training migrant chefs in Modena, and Brazilian chef João Diamante, who serves undervalued cuts of meat at restaurant Diamante Gastrobar, won the award in 2024. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Woods, the sixth recipient of the award, will receive an undisclosed financial donation from the organisers to support her Byron Bay initiative Karkalla On Country. 'We are excited to support the continued development of her invaluable contributions,' said Drew. 'I believe food is a powerful way to connect people to culture, land, and history,' said Woods. 'My goal is to continue creating spaces where we can all come together, embrace native and locally grown ingredients that not only honour the environment but also preserve the sustainable practices that have been passed down through generations.' Named after the native plant also known as pigface, Karkalla On Country is inspired by the cook's first Byron Bay restaurant called Karkalla which closed in 2024. There, Woods served dishes including crisp saltbush, and akoya oysters with macadamia and lemon myrtle. Karkalla On Country, which offers a combined cultural and dining experience, opened in Myocum, a short drive from Byron, last year. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion Woods is also the author of cookbook Karkalla at Home: Native Foods and Everyday Recipes for Connecting to Country. On MasterChef Australia, Woods came in fourth place in season 4. The award is one of several individual awards announced ahead of the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 awards ceremony, which will be held in Italy on 19 June. Hong Kong restaurant Wing was commended for their front of house service, Thailand's Pichaya 'Pam' Soontornyanakij was named best female chef and Khufu's restaurant in Cairo was tipped as 'One to Watch'.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
ABC appoints Kelly Williams as Director, First Nations Strategy
Wednesday 21 May 2025 ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks has announced the appointment of Kelly Williams to the role of Director First Nations Strategy. Kelly, a Bundjalung woman from Northern NSW, is the first Indigenous woman to join the ABC Leadership Team. She has worked at the ABC for more than 36 years and is passionate about creating pathways to senior management and editorial roles for Indigenous and diverse employees. Previously, Head of Indigenous, Diversity & Inclusion, Kelly has co-ordinated the ABC's last three Reconciliation Action Plans and the 2023-2026 Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Plan and lead the strategic partnerships between the ABC and First Nations Media Australia and First Languages Australia. She was appointed Acting Director last October and her responsibilities include developing the plan to implement actions in response to Dr Terri Janke's Listen Loudly, Act Strongly report. Kelly Williams: 'There are many people who have contributed to the development of this important role of Director First Nations Strategy. 'I am passionate about continuing that contribution and am excited to be working with Hugh and the Leadership Team to deliver the 'Listen Loudly, Act Strongly' implementation plan. 'This will include a strong and ambitious Indigenous Employment Strategy for the ABC that delivers well defined and supported career pathways to senior management and editorial roles for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.' Hugh Marks: 'Kelly has made a huge contribution to the ABC over more than three decades and will be a valuable voice on its Leadership Team. 'She will play a key role continuing to build on the significant change underway at the ABC to improve our workplaces and fully represent the Australian community.' 'I look forward to working with Kelly in realising her ambition to deliver real and lasting outcomes from her work.' Media contact: Sally Jackson | ABC Communications
