School of the Air cookbook celebrates 70 years with family recipes and bush stories

For families living on remote stations in New South Wales, where vast distances separate neighbors, sharing a meal is a vital way to stay connected. Bessie Thomas, who lives nearly 200 kilometers from the nearest supermarket, emphasizes that food bridges the isolation.

“

Food is a way we connect with our families, connect with staff on our properties, connect with our friends and the whole community.

"Food is a way we connect with our families, connect with staff on our properties, connect with our friends and the whole community," Thomas said. These connections are now celebrated in "Dust Off and Dish Up," a fundraising cookbook published by the School of the Air (SOTA) Parent's and Citizens Association (P&C) to mark the school's 70th anniversary.

“

It's completely different to the type of school that I attended.

The cookbook compiles recipes from remote families alongside stories and advice for bush life. Thomas, who co-edited the book, also has three children learning through Broken Hill SOTA. She notes the incredible advancements in technology, especially since COVID-19, which have significantly improved the SOTA experience, allowing for more face-to-face interaction online and fostering friendships before students meet in person.

“

The advancements in technology in the last few years and especially since COVID have just been incredible for the development of SOTA, and the kids now get so much face-to-face time on the computer that they can really form friendships with their peers and their teacher before they even get to Broken Hill and meet in person.

Proceeds from the cookbook sales will fund essential resources for the Broken Hill campus, including bus trips, school camps, and supplies. Thomas highlights the challenges faced by SOTA students, such as limited access to activities like weekend sports, which are common for other children. The cookbook also traces the evolution of remote education over seven decades, from radio and tape recorders to today's internet-based learning, featuring reflections from former students like Anny O'Connor, who recalled lessons arriving by mail and being taught via transceiver in the late 1960s.

“

A big part of our school that makes it a bit different to other schools is just the distance kids are to accessing things they need to access.