When NSW was plunged into lockdown this year most businesses shut up shop to try and ride out the storm.
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But not the women at Koori Kulcha.
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Led by founder Aunty Marie Barbaric, Koori Kulcha actually ramped up its charitable operations to provide for those impacted by COVID restrictions.
An Aboriginal business, Koori Kulcha primarily seeks to support Indigenous communities in Wingecarribee and surrounds, funding their operations with catering, cultural education and other Indigenous experiences.
"We've been giving out about 300 meals a week since COVID started," she told the Southern Highland News.
"We've got two arms, we're a not-for-profit organisation but we have a business arm which keeps us sustainable.
"During lockdown instead of putting my staff off we put all our time and effort into making COVID meals and supporting families in the area, not just Aboriginal, anybody who was in need of support."
In addition to pandemic support, Koori Kulcha have been proactive in improving the lives of Indigenous communities and have worked with the State Government to help deliver outcomes in the Highlands.
"We do a lot for the community," she explained.
"We've been a representative to the State Government through the Local Decision Making and OCHRE process. We're the only voice for the Wingecarribee for that process and Koori Kulcha have been at the table negotiating for 11 years now.
"We've managed to get free dental, free optical, and chronic care services for the local Aboriginal community. Recently we won a homework centre which was put into Mittagong Primary School because they have quite a high rate of Indigenous children.
"We try to be quite active politically in that respect. A voice for the people."
At the heart of their mission is an intense sympathy for those in need, with the all-female workforce coming from all walks of life.
"We've all been in that position," she said.
"We know what it's like to have nothing or to be at risk of being homeless or have a lack of medical services. We've made those priority areas."
On the other side of the coin is a catering business that has been wildly successful in the corporate and public sectors.
We're at the top end of catering," she explained.
"We've catered Prime Minister's events, we do a lot of work for corporations like Deloitte and PwC all across Australia.
"We haven't seemed to get any local work, I'm not sure why, it tends to be big corporations or governments that hire us. We do catering, cross-cultural training, team building, workshops with cooking and artwork. We now do virtual talks as well."
Aunty Marie, who is a proud Dainggati woman from Kempsey, said while she was thankful they had survived the recent lockdown, the business needed the local community's support now more than ever.
"We've struggled like everyone else. We lost 83 per cent of business during this lockdown. That really hurt, it absolutely killed us but we kept smiling and kept supporting our community.
"One thing I really love about the Southern Highlands is how everyone will get together and support each other. It's such a blessing because we know how to pull together.
"We're all Highlanders."
If you or your workplace, school or club would like to book an experience with Koori Kulcha you can head to their website. They are always on the lookout for volunteers and any kind of assistance is most welcome.
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