Visiting paddlers donate knives

A mother and daughter in Raro for Vaka Eiva have donated two professional knife kits to the Cook Islands.

Taking time off from the water, double gold winner Katie Emmert along with mother and pro chef Jo Emmert met with the officials from the hospitality training centre yesterday to donate the knife kits. During the midday presentation, Jo – who’s been cooking since the age of 15 – said she is amazed with the standard of hospitality she’s seen in Raro, and wanted to provide some additional equipment for the future workers of the industry. The donation was made possible with fundraising efforts done in conjunction with Rotary West Rockhampton.

This is not the first time the mother and daughter combo has donated equipment to the school. Last year, the Rockhampton, West Queensland natives donated three cooking kits during the 2012 Vaka Eiva event.

“Katie is studying hospitality in Australia as well,” said her mother, adding she wanted to give something back to the host country. Paddling with Sunshine Coast, Katie, has brought in two gold in the 2013 festival, taking out the 500m sprints and the under 14 V6 race.

“We are really grateful,” said director Owen Lewis of the Tertiary Training Institute. “We find it amazing that people are willing to give.”