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Food issues in spotlight at forum
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Posted: 22/06/2009
BUSINESSES, agencies, food producers, community organisations, local government staff and health professionals will come together for the Albury-Wodonga Regional Food Share Forum at the Wodonga Civic Centre tomorrow from 9am to 4.30pm.
Cr Rodney Wangman said food security was an important issue in the community.
“Around 8.3 per cent of persons living in Wodonga have ran out of food in the past 12 months, meaning they could not afford to buy more, compared to 7.3 per cent in the Hume region and the Victorian average of 6 per cent,” he said.
“The forum will showcase international, state and local projects where governments, businesses, agencies and community organisations have made a difference. It will give ideas that we may be able to implement at a local level and help those in need.”
The VicRelief Foodbank conducted a survey in July-October, 2008, which looked at client types accessing food relief services.
Eleven different client ‘types' were identified as needing assistance including those in various forms of financial hardship, the homeless, youth, disabled, refugees, pensioners and those seeking drought relief. Thirteen key municipalities in regional Victoria have been identified as high-stress communities including Wodonga and Wangaratta.
In regional areas of Victoria, the number of people seeking support because of the effects of drought is increasing.
Cr Wangman said some issues that will be discussed include rising fuel costs, rising food costs and the global financial crisis.
“There is no doubt that some people are feeling the pinch of the global financial crisis and are struggling to pay off their mortgages and put food on the table,” he said.
“The forum is about discussing ways that we can minimise these issues and hear from speakers in that field.”
Cr Wangman said some of the key messages that will come from the day will include buying locally grown produce.
“A typical food basket purchased in Victoria travels twice the earth's circumference (40,072 km) before it gets to you,” he said.
“Buying locally grown food helps to reduce nutrient loss, avoids unnecessary transport congestion and reduces the environmental impact.”
The forum is supported by the Albury-Wodonga Regional Food Security Network, VicHealth, Wodonga Council and Gateway Community Health.
