In 2000 the Murrindindi Food Wine and Culture Group was formed, in that time the local food and wine industry has changed dramatically.
What was the impetus for originally starting the food and wine group?
There was no group for local producers to network about industry issues such as branding and working on how to promote the area’s produce. The internet was just really getting going and the group provided a resource for locals trying to get on board the World Wide Web and to be part of the first food and wine brochure.
A few years later the group’s name changed, what was that about?
It then changed to Upper Goulburn Food Wine and Culture Group to get more producers on board. While the shire is quite big many producers were bordering the Murrindindi Shire’s boundaries. They may have been in, say, the Mansfield or Strathbogie shires, did a lot of their business in Murrindindi and or stocked/ used our local produce, but did not have a similar group to work with.
It also tied in nicely with the Upper Goulburn Wine producers “Geographical indicator” as determined by Wine and Brandy Corporation. The Upper Goulburn River was also a synergy that was shared by producers and our magnificent region.
You are now the Murrindindi Food and Wine Inc., what’s changed?
We had spent a lot of time promoting the area to Melbourne at Food and Wine shows etc, however after the 2009 fires things changed. The Mansfield members were growing and putting a lot of effort into their “Longest Lunch” and started to feel they wanted to have their own food group.
We felt it was important to bring the group back home, promote the Marysville Longest Lunch, make sure it was not lost and that the “local” suppliers were able to showcase their products.
It is also in response to the Upper Goulburn Wine producers being broken into north and south regions, the south region being the border of Murrindindi and Mansfield shires near Merton Gap.
It was warmly welcomed at our AGM in 2013 and via our first round of strategic planning last year we felt it was the new direction for the group.
The new name has lost the “culture”; that too is a desire to become more focussed on the food and wine of our region, and as a response to the growth in cultural groups in the region, like the Triangle Arts Group and the Yea Arts Carnivale.
Why should someone join your group?
To connect with a network of like minded industries, for educational resources, advice, business promotion, industry development and inspiration. We have a great base to call on for people new to the area or new to the industry, plus we get together to eat great food, drink great wine and motivate each other to grow our respective businesses and the area.
You can join our group if you have an abn and are a producer of food and wine in our region; benefits include our new MURRINDINDI MADE logo, that producers can use on their packaging and that local foodies and chefs can seek out, and being part of having a say of about food and wine direction for our region over the next few years. Click here to join
Our group is run by a volunteer committee who meet monthly and seek funding to run projects suggested by our members, industry and local businesses.
Our AGMs are held each year after August. We keep our members up to date with a regular e-newsletter.
When we are running special projects and programs we run adverts in the local papers, on community radio and or send out direct invitations.
Our group works very closely with Murrindindi Winemakers, Murrindindi Inc and we also appreciate the support from Murrindindi Shire Council.