Remote communities blend old and new ensuring fresh food

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Food insecurity has been a longstanding issue in remote communities where fresh meat and produce can be hard to come by, and expensive. On Truwana, cape barren island off the north coast of Tasmania the community has been combining new initiatives with traditional practices to stay healthy.

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00:02Between trays of seedlings and climbing vines, Tessa Atto is cultivating a broader,

00:08fresher menu for her island community.

00:10We've just had some beautiful, delicious bok choy that's just gone to this shop and

00:15it's been loved by the community.

00:17The diversity of food available here has increased since the installation of this greenhouse.

00:23The produce grown goes straight to the island's only shop, where it's free for locals to take home.

00:29We've got a person who works a couple of hours per day creating all this beautiful produce

00:34and maintaining it, keeping it growing nice and healthy.

00:38We've also got some community garden beds that people can come in and just grow their own stuff.

00:43Truana, Cape Barren Island is home to about 80 people and is independently managed by the Aboriginal community.

00:49A barge with supplies comes to this dock just once a month.

00:53So for the people who live here, it can be a long wait for fresh food and fuel.

00:58It's pretty full on.

01:00A lot of the community come into the shop after the boat's been in.

01:05A recent Federal Government report on food insecurity in remote Aboriginal communities

01:10found remote stores needed to be more responsive to the needs of the community.

01:14It also identified traditional foods as one solution.

01:18Here, that means diving and fishing for seafood and catching mutton birds, an important part of life on the island.

01:26One, it's a main food source, but it's the number one culture that we've practiced, that we've never had taken

01:34off us.

01:34Aaron Maynard says traditional food sources are essential for his community.

01:39Just maintaining our cultural values on land and just being able to be us, really.

01:49An island embracing old and new practices to put food on the table.

01:54A hot soup source is essential for our country.

01:55It's quite sustainable.

01:56You know the ...

01:57Well, looks good.

01:57We're still ...

01:57You know, we have to close the street in the middle of the town.

01:59It's great.

01:59We're in here, though.

02:00We've been really looking for a place.

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