Minute With The Mayor Mayor Ramon Jayo

Mayor Ramon Jayo with Ingham local Maria Giliberto. Photo supplied

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One of the things I value most about our community is the way people come together, whether it's around the dinner table, at community events or through the traditions that are passed from one generation to the next.

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Earlier this year, I put a call out to the community to help showcase a taste of Hinchinbrook as part of the Local Government Association of Queensland's A Shared Table cookbook project. The response reminded me just how rich our region is in culture, history and family traditions, and I thank everyone who took the time to share their recipes and stories.

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A special thank you goes to long-term Ingham local Maria Giliberto, whose family recipe, Svelto Sano con Pasta – Tonno e Pomodoro, was selected to represent Hinchinbrook.

When Maria shared the recipe, she wasn't simply sharing a pasta dish. She was sharing a treasured piece of local history. The recipe originally belonged to her late mother, Grace Licciardello, whose cooking talents were recognised when the dish won the Senior Section of the Great Italian Bake-Off at the 2000 Australian Italian Festival.

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Like many great family recipes, it proves that simple ingredients can create something special. Combining tomato, basil, olives, capers and tuna, the dish has brought family and friends together around the table for generations.

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What I love most about Maria's contribution is that it captures exactly what A Shared Table is all about. Behind every recipe is a story, and behind every story are the people, traditions and memories that help shape our community.  

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By sharing her family's recipe, Maria has helped preserve an important piece of Hinchinbrook's history while showcasing the strong Italian heritage that continues to be part of our region today.

Last week, it was fantastic to attend the 130th LGAQ Annual Conference in Cairns alongside mayors, councillors and local government leaders from across Queensland. The conference provided an important opportunity to share ideas, discuss the challenges facing our communities and learn from one another.  

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One of the highlights for me was taking part in a panel discussion with the Mayor of Lismore.  

Having the opportunity to speak openly about our flood experiences and recovery journeys reinforced the value of local government working together.  

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While every community's circumstances are different, sharing lessons learned helps us better prepare, respond and recover when disasters strike.

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What I enjoyed most about this project was seeing the stories behind the recipes. They remind us that our community is built on the people who came before us, the traditions they passed on and the memories we continue to share.  

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Thank you to everyone who contributed, and especially to Maria for sharing a piece of her family's story with all of Queensland.

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See Maria’s contribution below which is now shared across the State:  

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Svelto Sano con Pasta – Tonno e Pomodoro

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Ingredients

• Extra virgin olive oil

• 410g can tomato purée

• 185g can tuna, or fresh local fish

• 1–2 tbsp capers

• Approximately 24 Kalamata olives, pitted

• 1 onion, finely chopped

• Fresh basil leaves

• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• Pinch of sugar

• Spaghetti, to serve

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Method

1. Heat a little olive oil in a large frying pan.

2. If using fresh fish, add it to the pan and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until just cooked through. Remove and set aside.

3. Add a little more olive oil if required, then sauté the onion, garlic, basil, capers and olives for a few minutes, or until softened and fragrant.

4. If using canned tuna, add it at this stage and gently stir through.

5. Add the tomato purée and a pinch of sugar. Season with salt and pepper and simmer gently while the spaghetti cooks.

6. If using fresh fish, return it to the sauce and gently stir through until heated.

7. Serve over cooked spaghetti and garnish with fresh basil

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