TAFE teams up with Tastings in the Hastings

Cookery students and staff from TAFE NSW-North Coast Institute’s Port Macquarie Campus showed their support for the community by running a unique interactive hospitality tent at ‘Tastings in the Hastings’, a festival showcasing local hospitality and produce providers on Sunday 24 September at the Port Macquarie Racecourse.

Organised and co-ordinated by Port Macquarie Hastings Council for several years, the festival attracted thousands of patrons who were able to sample a wide range of offerings from cafes, restaurants and produce outlets throughout the Hastings area.

With the current focus on skills and trade careers for young people, the “Try a Trade” stand being run by TAFE was an excellent opportunity for youth and parents to taste what a TAFE course can offer.

Patrons could try their hand at flipping pancakes, making pasta, creating chocolate filigree or simply observe the cooking expertise of students and taste the results.

The stand was set up at 6 am on Sunday, using stainless steel benches, sinks and equipment transported from Port Macquarie campus and provided bacon and egg breakfasts for exhibitors.

Teachers David Baker and Dale Phelps supervised the students

Port Macquarie Campus will offer three different cookery courses in 2007;

Certificate III in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery), Certificate II and III in Hospitality (Operations) and the Diploma of Hospitality Management

Applications close on 27 October, 2006.

Cookery teachers David Baker (l) and Dale Phelps (r) hard at work on the day