Plates in the paddock, outstanding in it's own field

Coonamble Shire will have an exciting new event thanks to the initiative and creativity of locals.

Council has approved a request to be a sponsor of an inaugural Harvest Lunch – Plated in the Paddock luncheon to be held at Gilgooma, along the Pilliga Road, on Sunday 6 October, the day after Council’s Vision Splendid Country Music Festival.

The event is all about having a relaxed lunch in a paddock at harvest time and experiencing genuine rural life. 

Tickets are now on sale for the luncheon, planned as the first of an annual event, providing an affordable opportunity for people to celebrate agricultural productivity with real farmers and harvest hosts. They will mingle with guests to provide first-hand insights into what it takes to grow food and fibre while guests enjoy a local menu in a picturesque paddock setting, surrounded by a wheat crop that is almost ready to be harvested.

The programmed activities will include a brief overview from a local grower about the season, insights from NSW Farmers about the significance of the local grain industry and its contribution to Australian food and fibre.

Organisers are also implementing environmentally and circular economy practices to minimise environmental impact and waste. Bus transport from and back to Coonamble will be provided..As an agritourism event, the proposal also supports Council’s strategy to support the local and regional economy by developing and strengthening the tourism industry.

There will also be a fun and creative family activity. Children (and adults wishing to participate) will be encouraged to forage items from the natural surrounds that will be used to create a collective artwork to celebrate the occasion and the upcoming harvest season. 

Coonamble boasts prime agricultural land in north west NSW and regularly leads the grain growing regions of the State in the production of crops such as wheat and barley. The concept underpinning this event is to recognise agriculture as a  major economic contributor to the region. 

By mid-Spring, winter crops will have matured, turningfrom a lush green to a golden colour, indicating that they are ripe and ready to harvest, providing a picturesque setting for visitors. 

A wide-ranging audience will be targeted, including members of the grain-growing community, visiting friends and family, the caravan and camping sector and school holiday travellers. 

General Manager Paul Gallagher said, “Currently there is no social or cultural celebration of major milestones or seasons in the agricultural calendar, despite a significant local population working in the sector and the Shire’s economy being heavily reliant on this sector for its vitality.” 

“I am very pleased that Council is sponsoring this exciting and creative new initiative. It is different and celebrates one of the great strengths of our Shire and the backbone of our local economy.”

Further information can be found on the event’s website: www.gilgooma.com/harvest-lunch.

Image caption: Inspirational capture of this inaugural event.