Donna Robertson loves helping those in need with food through her role as a food services manager at genU Business Enterprises. She speaks with Jena Carr about why she calls Geelong home.
What is your connection to Geelong?
I first came to Geelong in 1996 when I went to The Gordon for the schooling component of my chef apprenticeship. At the time, I was living up on the Murry River in Corowa, New South Wales.
I would come to Geelong seven weeks a year to complete my schooling. During this time, I made friends, and once I was a qualified chef in October 1999, I decided to move here and find work.
Over the past 23 years, I have worked in many Geelong hospitality businesses in various positions such as chef, catering and events supervisor, and assistant manager.
During this time, I have learnt many transferable skills that I now use every day in my current role as food services manager at genU.
What do you like about where you live?
Geelong is home for me, my husband and two sons, 13 and 9, who love it here. Although we don’t have much family support here, we have a fabulous support network around us.
The boys play football and cricket locally in Highton and enjoy the beaches we are so close to.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
As much as I love it here, we need to do better in the inclusiveness space.
We need to offer more support to those in need, which includes the disadvantaged, homeless, ageing and disabled populations.
Where is your favourite place to spend time?
In the kitchen with my family, as I love creating new dishes with my boys. They both love to cook and explore new foods.
I am also known for creating amazing grazing boards for when friends and family visit.
What is something people may not know about you?
I lived and worked in London for two years, from 2005 to 2006.
What do you like about your work?
I love that every day is different and that we make a positive difference in people’s lives.
My current position at genU involves overseeing eight businesses, including four canteens, two cafes, a commercial catering kitchen and a food processing kitchen with my team.
We currently offer supported employment to more than 60 NDIS clients and 226 for all genU.
My day can start between 5am and 9am, and I could be in the kitchen making sandwiches or peeling potatoes on the floor.
The conversations you have with our staff are engaging and encouraging, and it’s great to help them set goals and watch them strive so hard to reach them.
Some goals might be as simple as making a sandwich or as bold as travelling overseas. I truly love everything about genU and what we do.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It is really important to support local businesses. Local business means local jobs, which helps put money back into our community.
Our genU cafes are open to the public at 77-79 Douro Street, North Geelong, and 21-29 Reynolds Road in Highton.
We also have a community centre located at 285A McKillop Street in East Geelong, and people can reach out for catering at seasonscater@genu.org.au or processed at befoodprep@genu.org.au.
