salt spring 17

“
I BELIEVE
THERE’D BE A
LOT LESS RAGE
IN ALL AREAS
IF PEOPLE
DISCOVERED
GOOD FOOD
AND NUTRITION
EARLIER –
THERE’D BE A
MUCH HAPPIER
POPULATION.
”
“And the place itself, the place called Noosa, stimulated that in
you, because of its beauty. It was pristine. It still fosters that. The
air’s fresh, the beach is great, so you want to eat and drink in that
same vein.
“Food, the service of it and the hospitality of people for me
became a life-long mission. To this day, I believe there’d be a lot
less rage in all areas if people discovered good food and nutrition
earlier – there’d be a much happier population.”
In the decades following her move north, Leonie and Stef, a
sommelier and front-of-house specialist, operated a string of
high-profile hospitality venues. They are too many to mention,
but include The Gallery Wine Bar in Hastings Street, Little
Palmers, Big Palmers, and Café Continental at Noosa Junction.
About 16 years ago, Leonie was instrumental in creating the
Noosa Long Weekend Festival (now known as NOOSA alive!).
Co-founded with Australian playwright David Williamson,
author Kristin Williamson and others, the festival is an annual
10-day celebration of music, theatre, food and fun at various
venues in the Noosa region.
“There was a small group of us who decided what was missing
in Noosa was a ‘happening’ that related to the arts and film and
theatre, that also involved food and wine,” says Leonie.
“We felt that Noosa had a lot to offer: beauty, white sands, safety,
food and wine, artistic people. What more could you dream of?
Noosa for me has always stimulated that artistic bent. We should
celebrate the things we have here. Everything that’s driven me
from early adulthood has really been because of this place. I say
it’s where the river meets the sea.”
Leonie is the first to admit that while there have been soaring
highs in her career, there have also been some “tough days” where
things haven’t always gone to plan. During one of these times, she
and Stef, who have worked together for 30 years, went overseas
for a while and did some consultancy work (as well as taking care
of movie stars and models) and conducted food and wine tours in
France and Italy. But Noosa called them back, as it always does.
“Noosa’s always been our love,” says Leonie.
Today, Leonie and Stef have a hospitality consultancy, but it’s
not surprising that Leonie says they also have some “unfinished
business” when it comes to running their own venue in Noosa again.
“I won’t give away the secret [about where it will be], but this
little place will be cool, darkish, have good wines, great foods, and
a sense of hospitality that means you’ll hit the front door and Stef
or I will say ‘welcome home’.
“If you don’t dream big you can’t do things that create change.”
90 salt