by John Newton

Slow Sydney held their Annual General Meeting in a friendly – and apposite – environment, the NG gallery in a 19th Century Gothic Revival building in the pint-sized inner city suburb of Chippendale.

Upstairs, where the meeting was held, is the gallery, run by Nicky Ginsberg. Downstairs, where we ate later is the very fine Mission restaurant run by Piera Potter, a big thank you to them both for their combined efforts.

As  I said, holding the 2009 AGM in a gothic Revival building was apposite: we witnessed a most satisfying revival of interest in Slow Food: I don’t know how many were there, but we had two rows around the table and many who couldn’t fit.

Of course Carlo Petrini’s visited had piqued interest in Slow, but there was another mood in the room: Sydney people want to take control of their food supply, and they’re in line with the new mood of political activism generated both at a local Convivium level, and in Bra.

A new committee was elected (see below), containing many talented and fresh faces, the marketing plan was outlined, and discussion centred on what should be our major objectives for the coming year.

Business finished it was downstairs for the convivial part of the evening, with Piera and her team providing fine food and wine.

If this AGM is anything to go by, Twenty Ten should be a landmark year for Slow Food Sydney.

COMMITTEE

Convivium Leader:  Syd Pemberton

Treasurer:    Peter Kenyon

Membership Services: Marco Cocurullo

Edible Schoolyard Programme: Syd Pemberton and Jo Gardiner

Newsletter:  Alexis Smith

Website:   Valeria Simcic

Public Relations: Lisa Cowan

Secretary:   Phee Gardner

Marketing:   Yvonne Grant

Food Issues lobbyist: John Newton

Events:    Syd Pemberton

Youth Co-coordinator:  Oday Kamal

Slow Food Guide:   Peter Kenyon/John Newton

The following members offered support on important Slow Food Issues -

Ark of Taste:   Cherry Ripe

Sydney Farmers Action: Michael Champion

Terra Madre Ambassadors for 2010: Alex Herbert, Michael Champion, Aunty Beryl

Volunteer Co-ordinator: Yvonne Grant