30 August 2016
Chef Mark Olive has introduced some of the world’s most famous people, including Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey, to Australian bush tucker.
As the star of his own SBS Television cooking show, and also known as The Black Olive, he has become a household name and has been an inspiration for many young Aboriginal people.
His celebrity was evident when Mark was guest chef at this week’s NSW Local Government Aboriginal Network Conference at Tweed Heads.
He spent as much time accepting requests for ‘selfies’ photos with fans as he did cooking a luncheon for the approximately 150 delegates at the annual conference.
Coaxed into making an impromptu speech at the luncheon, Mark said he was dedicated to encouraging other young indigenous people to pursue a career in the food industry.
“I really love my life and I’m often trying to encourage young people to consider catering as a career option,” he said.
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Caption: Chef Mark Olive with Gunnedah councillor Gwen Griffen at the Local Government Aboriginal Network Confernce at Tweed Heads.