General News
18 February, 2026
Dishing up food for thought
NOW already halfway through February, the year is in full swing and so is life at the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre.
The new season has recently seen the return of ‘Fortnightly Foodies’, which as the name suggests is a biweekly exploration into the world of food.
As you would imagine, this is one of the neighbourhood centre’s most popular offerings where the guests go along and enjoy each other’s company, while also learning a new recipe to try at home.
“We are in a lucky position to have a fantastic volunteer Catherine Rosenbrauer to lead the program, often with the help of Sue and Gaby,” said community development worker Christine Gilewicz.
“Catherine tries to present recipes, that are not only tasty, but also affordable and healthy. She often amends a recipe to make it a healthier version and our guests have enjoyed picking up some tips from her.”
Once the dish is prepared, the group enjoy giving it the official taste test and the staff are never disappointed if there are leftovers.
“We ask that people book for these sessions so we can ensure we have sufficient ingredients. As with many of our offerings, your donation is optional,” Ms Gilewicz said.
During the weeks in-between Fortnightly Foodies, the centre offers a craft session for those keen to exercise their skills.
As always, the neighbourhood centre, which is part of the Port Douglas Community Service Network, will have a selection of external events, either as fundraisers or to help assist the local community.
The annual International Women’s Day lunch will once again be held at Salsa Bar & Grill on Friday 6 March, celebrating women’s strength, courage and diversity. The day will commence from 11.30am with a glass of bubbly on arrival. Tickets are available from the NicNak Shed, next to the neighbourhood centre, 6/10 Mowbray St, Port Douglas.
Just prior to this, a community event titled ‘From Hot Flushes to Happiness’ is being held on Saturday 28 February from 11.30am at the Santi Restaurant, Niramaya Resort, Port Douglas.
The gathering is a wellness information event that will be aimed at managing menopause.
“Join us for an empowering and down-to-earth session designed to support women through every stage of menopause” Ms Gilewicz said.
The event will involve guest speakers from a variety of health and wellness modalities, offering practical insights and supportive guidance. Cost is $20 per person which includes lunch and once again, tickets are available from the NicNak Shed.
The neighbourhood centre is keen to reintroduce their program for technophobes, which proved to be extremely popular and useful to locals last year who may occasionally get the Androids mixed up with their iOS.
The centre is currently looking for a volunteer with a reasonable knowledge of smartphones, tablets and laptops to help them continue to offer their fortnightly ‘Click and Connect’ sessions.
“You don’t need to be Bill Gates, but having a fondness for Google would be helpful,” Ms Gilewicz said.
“We will provide backup support, so if you or someone you know would like more information or might be interested in assisting us, please give us a call on 4099 5518,” she said.
I’m off to check out some great recipes on my smartphone, now that I know how to do it, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.
Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au
