Goolwa Led the Way

On March 12,2007, the historic river port of Goolwa, South Australia, was declared the first Cittaslow - or "slow town" - outside Europe.

A delegation from the international Cittaslow organisation based in Italy spent four days savouring the unique characteristics, produce and atmosphere of the pretty riverside town at the mouth of the Murray River.

The combined efforts of the members of the Cittaslow Goolwa Working Party, comprising residents, businesses, councillors and council staff, resulted in a request for membership being submitted in 2006. As the first Australian town to research the requirements for Cittaslow status, Goolwa pioneered the application process. Goolwa successfully inspired the Blue Mountains town of Katoomba to undertake the challenge of becoming Australia's second Cittaslow.

Goolwa's application included an extensive self-assessment report and an invitation to the Cittaslow organisation to visit Australia for Goolwa's biennial South Australian Wooden Boat and Music Festival.
The President, Roberto Angelucci (Mayor of Francavilla al Mare), Vice President, Stefano Mocio (Mayor of Orvieto), and Cittaslow Director Pier Giorgio Olivetti accepted the invitation, and brought with them Mrs Iva Barbabella, an Umbrian cook and specialist in medieval recipes. Mrs Barbabella shared her cooking skills with a group of local chefs and assistants when she prepared an eight-course "thank you" meal for the Mayor of Alexandrina, Mr Kym McHugh, and his guests. The meal combined traditional Italian cooking with local produce and was served in the very convivial atmosphere of a local historical building. Slow Food and Cittaslow at its best!

The visit included tasting the food delights of Goolwa's Aquacaf and Café Lime, the Italian cuisine of Salvatore Pepe and Amanda Ward from Adelaide's Cibo restaurant, plus an Australian barbecue.
Local produce included a wide selection of seafood and river fish - Coorong Mullet and mulloway - and the award-winning Alexandrina cheeses. Local culinary tradition was evidenced in the "Preserves with a Story" competition (preserves with an interesting story about the recipe or the fruit or a family tradition), suggested by Slow Ark of Taste chair Dr Barbara Santich as a food feature of the Wooden Boat and Music Festival. Barbara Santich (herself "the apricot jam queen, thanks to Miss Futter's 1934 recipe") also judged the competition.

During formal negotiations with the Cittaslow delegation, Goolwa was charged with the responsibility of establishing an Australian Cittaslow network as well as ensuring that the Australian Slow Food network was formalised.

Enquiries should be directed to Lyn Clark,33 Cadell Street,Goolwa,SA 5214; telephone:(08) 8555 5801 or email lyn@riverdolls.com.au. For further information, visit: www.saba.org.au/cittaslow.html
On reading our story earlier this year on the City of the Blue Mountains becoming a Cittaslow, the FMCA's South Australian members felt obliged to point out that the first Australian town to win the status was Goolwa.

This report on the Cittaslow process comes from Lyn Clark, Convenor, Cittaslow Goolwa.