I’ve been the cook at Gumnut Gardens since the beginning of 2014. I plan seasonal menus that meet national nutritional guidelines. I prepare all the food myself – even the bread. When I first came to Australia I worked cleaning and cooking pastries for Portuguese restaurants in Petersham. Before that, I have worked in several other jobs while in Portugal. I have started my professional life in September 1999 and since then I have worked as a Stocks Controller and Manager, Office Clerk and Assistant at a human resources office of different companies, and before I came to Australia, I’ve been working as a Customer attendant at a grocery superstore.
In Australia, I completed a Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery and Certificate III in Nutrition. In Portugal, I completed the first year of a Bachelor of Accounting and Management.
A children’s education is built with many different experiences. Gumnut Gardens provides children with a “home away from home”, a place where children can learn, play and interact with others, where they can learn to “grow up”.
As an example, at Gumnut Gardens we often involve the children in some easy cooking experiences, which is fun and at the same time a way for them to always learn something.
As Confucius once quoted “If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the children.”
Every day I put all my dedication and effort in my work and always try to learn and improve myself so I can participate and help to develop Gumnut Garden’s education project. In my free time, I like to take care of my balcony garden and listen to music. I also like to breathe the sea air when I walk on the beach or read a good book. Most of all I love to spend lots of time with my family, they are my safe harbour.
I love children and I have even been catechist of a group of children and adolescents.