Page 16 - Just Better Care Possible Magazine Issue 9

RYDE / PARRAMATTA
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS IN THE HOME OF THE GRANNY SMITH APPLE
Australians are a resourceful bunch. From the black box flight recorder and Google Maps to the Cochlear implant, we certainly know how to invent things that change the world.
But did you know that the key ingredient in your homemade apple crumble was also invented by an Aussie?
On a fateful day in 1868, Maria Ann Smith, affectionately known as Granny Smith, accidentally grew a “funny batch of green apples” on her family farm in Eastwood, New South Wales.
This historic crop was eventually named after its founder and the Granny Smith is now one of the most famous apple varieties in the world.
The City of Ryde, the region in which Eastwood sits, is renowned for its fantastic fruit production and actively celebrates its achievements within the industry.
Every October, Ryde holds
its Granny Smith Festival, which celebrates Maria Ann Smith’s life and legacy.
The festival, which began in 1985, sees almost 100,000 people flock to the streets to celebrate the food, the strong community ties and the history of the area.
With tai chi demonstrations, small and large community groups introducing their services, and diverse food stalls as far as the eye can see, the festival is not to be missed.
“Our community is a cultural melting pot and we are always transforming, with food at the heart of what we do,” Just Better Care Ryde Parramatta owner Lyn says.
“The Granny Smith Festival is an incredible celebration of our region’s past, present and future.”
In Sydney’s geographical
centre, Ryde is one of the most multiculturally diverse regions in Australia, with Parramatta at its heart.
New migrants tend to put down roots in Parramatta when they arrive in Sydney, feeling right at home among diverse groups of cultural and linguistic communities.
“Everyone is welcome here and we’re just so multicultural,” Lyn says. “If you walk down any street you
might hear five different languages, it’s amazing!”
Lyn takes pride in her hometown and especially its rich history of culture and food, which can be traced back many years.
“I go to the Parramatta Farmers Market nearly every Friday,” she says. “There is so much amazing fresh produce. We even have whole markets dedicated to spices now.”
Having seen Parramatta transform and flourish from humble beginnings, Lyn is proud of her community made famous around the world from a great Australian inventor and a humble apple tree.
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