Page 19 - Port Douglas Magazine 26

PENNY WILTSHIRE
THE FERMENTER
PAT GILBERT, JILL THOROUGHGOOD, DAPHNE TIMMS
KEFIR QUEEN
THE COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
What better example of using food as medicine than by aiding health with
QUEENSLAND COUNTRY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION (QCWA)
the most basic of cooking essentials: vegetables, water, salt and spices?
This is the mission driving The Kefir Queen, aka Penny Wiltshire, who The QCWA is synonymous with scones, jams and Country Show
creates her own line of nutrient dense, healing ferments. With interesting competitions. Although these are important markers for this Australia-
textures and flavours that are excellent for health, Penny is on a mission, wide group, it would be churlish to think these ladies are just about cups
one gut at a time. of tea - the group is a powerful force for community support. Far from
being ‘a Friday afternoon cake stall’, goods produced by the Port Douglas
“I’d been married for 10 years and we got into that habit where business
QCWA are used by local producers, cafes and restaurants, such as artisan
took over our lives. We had an event company, three children and I was
bakers Duke’s Doughnuts.
running a bed and breakfast – our life was just busy. It was good, but after
10 years, we realised it was just a business relationship. “As a group, we’re actually known as the Chicks With Attitude (CWA),”
says Jill Thoroughgood, Vice President of the Port Douglas branch. “We
“My neighbour told me about a fermenting workshop. I thought I’d give
are much more than ladies who bake and bitch. We’re fundraisers and
it a go, which then sparked an interest. I started making a few things at
community custodians.”
home – kefir, sauerkraut, and basically just having fun. I then decided I
was going to go raw vegan. It was around the time we were separating, “The Friday Afternoon Cake Sale started as once a month. Now, as it’s so
and I found that the raw vegan diet created such a clarity in my mind. I popular, we’re on once a week and we also sell salads and frozen meals.
felt like I had my own path and that I would be totally okay on my own. Most of the people who come here are from outside the club – office
It gave me strength, so rather than feeling lost with no purpose, I really workers, tourists. Everything is locally sourced or grown. For example, in
turned inwards and followed my own instincts. All I ever wanted was to summer we make mango jams, mango chutneys, relish and cakes. I’ve got
be healthy and happy, and this felt like the right thing to do.” rosellas at my place, so we use them to make jams; Jan’s got Lillypilly and
Davidson Plum”, say Pat Gilbert, Branch President.
“After fermenting for a little while at home, I had some friends who
had some digestion issues, so I started making them kombucha and “We do more than just food, of course. Fabric shopping bags, blankets
sauerkraut. They eventually wouldn’t take it without paying, and before for OzCare Old People’s Home, beanies and gloves to distribute to the
I knew it I was making some nice coin on the side just from friends. I homeless down south, breast care cushions for Pink In The Tropics, cloaks
thought, if I’m making that much from one cabbage, maybe I should buy for the Ambulance Bears, and we work closely with the RSL in providing
ten! catering for returned soldiers.”
My first market stall I had 15 jars of sauerkraut and 15 bottles of kefir and Champions for local produce, members do their bit for promoting tourism
it all sold out. The next week I made double which also sold out, and I in the region. “Visitors take the small jars home as gifts or for themselves,”
twigged that there might be a business opportunity here… says Daphne Timms, one of the weekly cooks. “The ladies here, as well as
being big promoters for our tropical produce, are just bloody good at sales!
“Now, I concentrate on developing new ferments, and teaching small
You wouldn’t be game to walk out of here with empty hands after our
workshops so people can create their own. My knowledge comes from a
ladies have chatted to you.”
place of experience and passion, and I like to share that.”
qcwa.org.au
kefirqueen.com.au

PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 19