Roebourne’s crafty kitchen has the right recipe

A home-grown program to help Roebourne residents explore their creative side has been boosted by a funding commitment from a local Aboriginal organisation.

Val and Cathy’s Crafty Kitchen was formed last year, offering residents some time out to take on craft activities while receiving a healthy feed.

Co-founder Cathy Brooker said the group had grown to about 25 people since starting last year.

“We started the crafty kitchen off last year because some ladies said they wanted somewhere to go to do craft and get together to have a yarn,” she said.

“We like this sort of work, we like the people in the community, and we knew this is what they wanted.”

Ms Brooker said they hoped to expand the group to remote communities in the future.

At the recent Unsung Hero Awards, Ngarliyarndu Bindirri Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Susan Shirtliff announced the corporation would fund the group’s craft and food supplies.

Alongside help from Act-Belong-Commit, St Vincent de Paul Society, the City of Karratha and Wirlu-murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, the support will give long-term security to what was originally a self-funded group.

Val Walker said while she didn’t have a crafty bone in her body, she enjoyed cooking for the group.

“I guess Cath and myself have been fortunate in that we have been accepted into the town, so it was easy to come in and work with the community,” she said.

“We have both sold a few things at home over the past year to get a bit of funding in so this support is going to make us able to go for another year.”

NBAC chairman David Walker said he enjoyed seeing groups have a positive impact on the community.

“You see these different things happening when you get together,” he said. “It gets the kids off the street and gives the ladies something to do. It is good to see the ladies getting together and talking with each other.”

Mr Walker said he would like one day to see a family centre opened in Roebourne so everyone could get together in one place.