When Deb Mcdiarmid moved from Sydney in December to take up her role as Director of Marketing with the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort in Port Douglas she not only brought her luggage, but a fresh and new approach.

With Sheraton’s core values of ‘welcoming’, ‘connected’ and ‘community’ and a guiding principle of “together we are better”, her aim was to extend and amplify these values in her new role

After meetings with the Douglas Shire Historical Society, Deb discovered the history of the area and gained a deeper understanding and connection to the locals and the community.

When the Sheraton built in 1987, it was the catalyst for the new local industry of “tourism” in Port Douglas. Other stalwart trades, personalities and communities that were involved in the early Port Douglas were submerged under the foot traffic of visiting tourists.

Deb felt it important to create a deeper connection with these original founders and backbones of the local community. And, as in the Sheraton’s philosophy, it serves also to enrich their guest’s experience as they understand that the region isn’t just about the reef and rainforest.

The Harvest Feast at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas, held on Friday 29th April, was a splendid inaugural banquet launch. Thirty four locals, including sugar cane farmers, community members, epicurean suppliers and entities involved in the paddock to plate experience and the region’s history, came together at one banquet table. A dinner hosted by Sheraton to pay homage to the multi-generational farmers, cane cutters and cultures of the area.

A gastronomic feast of five courses was served with a nod to the Italian forefathers of many of the cane cutters here. Antipasto with casareece, port and fennel sausage, cavalo nero pasta with salsiccia di maiale e finocchio (pork sausage and fennel), pesce di scoguera, cotto al forno in aqua pazza (local fish cooked in ‘crazy water’ - a well seasoned stock using local sea water) accompanied by Insalata Raddichio con failini verdi e noel cavolflore con acciughe impanate (Radicchio, Green Beans & Walnut, baked cauliflower, anchovy paste), with the final course being crema di limone, chicchiere e lamponi freschi (lemon cream, crostoli and raspberries).

The food was absolutely resplendent! Fresh flavours just danced on one’s taste buds and the splendidness of the local fayre that this consisted of was first class yummy. The sweet was nectarous and sublime.

All courses were accompanied by a well chosen complementary Italian wine.

As a nod to the Italian influence in the local cultural heritage, Feast Restaurant at the Sheraton now displays an early pasta-making machine.

A large round of applause to Sheraton’s amazing Executive Chef, Belinda Tuckwell, who created such a heavenly palatable extravaganza.

Accompanying the feast were amazing stories of fortitude and survival from the cane cutters and farmers about their forebears. Peter Verri, whose family originally hailed from Turin before settling in Douglas Shire, remembered when the cane was harvested and taken by rail to ships at the Sugar Wharf. The large anchor chains still remain to this day.

Even dead bodies were put on the train to Port Douglas as there was no cemetery in Mossman. Peter remembered getting paid four quid a week to hand cut cane on the weekends. His Father was the first person to set up a wine and beer shop in Mossman.

Gerard Puglisi, a Whyanbeel farmer, told of how his forebears came over in the 1920’s and how they are now 4th generation cane farmers. He founded Australia’s first and only cocoa and sugarcane experience, Sweet Farm Tours.

Gerard’s farming into the future includes considering sustainability, innovation and diversification and he now grows Eucalyptus. The leaves he sells to the local Wildlife Habitat to feed the koalas.

Such a wonderful evening of delicious food and amazing stories as we immersed ourselves in the rich culture and history of the area. This may be the first, but it certainly won’t be the last of a very special Harvest Feast.

If you would like to know more about the rich history of the area, Pam Willis Burden’s books (Port’s People, The Cattle, Cane and Cedar, Remembering the Douglas Shire, Raindrops and Sugar Crops) are stocked at the Sheraton gift shop.