Outback recipes help educate

SOTA parents Bree Wakefield, Banoon Station, via Mildura, Vic, and Pixie Moses, Avenel Station, via Broken Hill, had joined about 70 families, assorted governesses, teachers and students to collate a fundraising cookbook.

The Boots Off, Aprons On cookbook has collected more than 150 assorted recipes from these sources.

“These are tried and tested recipes, passed down through generations,” Bree said.

“It’s a bit of a tour through outback kitchens.”

Bree said it was not just old recipes, with a whole chapter dedicated to the recent phenomenon of the Thermomix.

Each of the recipes in the book includes a short blurb, which alerts the reader of its significance to those who have shared it.

The cookbook also brings together a range of photographs submitted by the students and their families.

She said the last time a book of recipes was created was 10 years ago for the 50th anniversary.

“This is going to raise a significant amount of money for the school,” she said.

“It will be spent on something major to benefit and enhance the students’ education.”

Bree described the cookbook as a “labour of love”.

As a nurse, she said there was a real learning curve to put the book together but she was amazed at the response it has had.

The first print run of 500 books sold out within the first month.

A second print run – comprising 2000 copies – is also selling quickly.

“People love supporting SOTA,” Bree said.

“People are attracted to the uniqueness of SOTA and our lifestyles.”

SOTA’s coverage region extends in about a 500-kilometre radius from Broken Hill, with stations in SA, Qld and NSW.

Bree was herself a student with SOTA and has children going through the school.

The book proved popular at the Broken Hill AgFair, while the P&C has also launched a website on its behalf, and a shop in Mildura also stocks it.

“Word of mouth has been amazing,” Bree said.

“It’s spreading throughout Australia; we’ve even sent a book overseas.”