By Stuart Quinn

Copyright thewest

Meekatharra Outback Festival is stepping into a new era with a new name and a line-up of events, rebranded as The Spirit of Meekatharra, capturing the region’s vibrant, inclusive, and creative community.

Among the highlights later this month is a cooking and yarning workshop by Indigenous chef Zach Green, also known as The Storyteller Chef.

“Being on Yamatji country with the local mob is always something I hold close and look forward to. To be doing it in Meekatharra for the festival makes it even more special,” Green said.

Using food as a bridge between cultures, Green, a Gunditjmara and Palawa man based in the Pilbara, has built a reputation for combining open-fire cooking, native ingredients and storytelling into dining experiences which aim to spark cultural connection.

“These are the kinds of festivals I truly love being a part of, where we gather around fire, share food infused with native ingredients, and pass on stories that have travelled through generations,” he said.

“For me, it’s not just about cooking, it’s about honouring elders, celebrating culture and creating connections that linger long after the last bite is taken.”

The Storyteller Chef will host a live cooking demonstration featuring kangaroo schnitzel with quandong chips as part of a 70-guest Dining Under The Stars experience at Peace Gorge on Friday September 26. The evening will combine a six-course menu with live music from Stephen Pigram and an interactive art session led by 2021 NAIDOC Artist of the Year Bobbi Lockyer.

For Green, food is more than flavour. It is a way to share culture, honour his elders and bring communities together. He has used this approach at events including the Karijini Experience and says Meekatharra will be a fitting finale to his WA appearances before hosting a Sydney pop-up event in November.

The festival program continues across the long weekend, with the return of the Meeka Made Art Exhibition alongside markets, interactive workshops, sideshow alley, fireworks and performances by country music star Adam Brand and seven-piece Indigenous Australian band the Pigram Brothers.

As well as the entertainment, The Spirit Of Meekatharra — which runs from Wednesday, September 24 to Saturday, September 27 — is billed as a chance for locals and visitors to celebrate, create and share in the energy of an extraordinary outback town.

For more information and to book tickets, visit the Meekatharra shire website at meekashire.wa.gov.au