Community
2 June, 2023
A taste of the bush
BEING a part of the work team at Worn Gundidj Nursery has enabled John to turn his life around.
Having gone through “a rough patch” in his youth, John credits his employment at the nursery as the reason behind his new, healthier and more active lifestyle.
“I had a few pretty bad years and went through drug and alcohol rehab but I’m proud to say
I’ve been clean now for three years, I have my drivers’ licence and even have my own car,” John said.
“I’m very thankful for this job and for the people I work with every day; they’re a great bunch who always make me laugh and have helped me through a lot.
“I really enjoy working here and I love being able to share my knowledge of bush tucker with our customers. Being outdoors is really good for the soul; being out in nature is good for us all.”
John’s favourite plant is the Prostanthera – a ‘minty’ native that, according to John, has a rather ‘funny smell’ but is extremely tasty when mixed with other herbs and used on kangaroo steaks and other dishes.
“I harvest this, dry out the leaves and use it with some of my favourite recipes,” he said.
“Like many other herbs, it has multiple uses and I encourage everyone to give it a try.”
John and the nursery team at Worn Gundidj encourage visitors to spice up their cuisine with native Indigenous flavours. Worn Gundidj not only has a vibrant nursery on site in Rooneys Road, it also supplies quality, bulk bush food products.
“We like to see people trying out our Australian alternatives to traditional herbs, spices and fruit flavours to give their dishes a unique twist,” John said.
The First Peoples-led bush foods business and online store focuses on delivering authentic native food and products from those in the know.
With everything from fruits and vegetables through to herbs, spices, grains, seeds and desserts, the range on offer is both high quality and affordable.
“We take great pride in our work and what we offer our customers and we’re all happy to share our knowledge of bush tucker,” John said.
To learn more about the range, simply call in and talk to the team at 1-3 Rooneys Road, Warrnambool, or shop online at www.worngundidj.org.au
