Celebrity Profiles
van Gerwen, Heidi
TAFE SA Regency International Centre for Hospitality, Tourism and Food Studies (RIC) has proudly hosted and been involved in the LifeStyle FOOD Channel Australian Regional Culinary Competition since 1997. The Cookery and Hospitality lecturers and the support team are looking forward to again coordinating this unique event which also provides us with the opportunity to meet and mingle with many of our national and international peers. At the RIC, we are all thrilled and excited to be part of this new concept for the 2010 Competition.
The 2010 LifeStyle FOOD Channel Australian Regional Culinary Competition promises to be very vibrant and it will pose many positive challenges to the competing teams. Participating chefs and cooks will be able to demonstrate much more than their culinary skills. In addition, there will also be an emphasis on creativity, teamwork, time management, product selection, menu writing, wine matching and management of food wastage.
As the Chief of Judges I am delighted to be part of this experience as the 2010 Competition will again provide the opportunity for regional areas to showcase their products, and with the inclusion of mystery items to the product mix, it will give the opportunity for competing teams to demonstrate their expertise in creating the ultimate dishes!
von Bertouch, Natalie
Natalie von Bertouch is the current Adelaide Thunderbirds’ captain and vice-captain of the Australian national netball team, the Diamonds. This places her amongst the world’s netball elite.
Growing up in Adelaide, Natalie followed older sister Laura in rising up the netballing ranks with the SA State League club Contax, to eventually make her debut for the Adelaide Thunderbirds in what was the Commonwealth Bank Trophy Competition.
In 2004, Natalie made her debut for the Australian National Team, and quickly became a regular member of the team as a centre court player. Natalie has played 45 tests for her country in total and represented Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and in 2007 at the World Championships, a tournament in which Australia won. She has received numerous player of the match awards at an international level including the Player of the Series Award in the 2007 Holden Test Series between Australia and New Zealand. Her success saw her appointed vice captain of the Diamonds side in 2008.
Natalie was appointed captain of the Adelaide Thunderbirds as they took part in a new era for netball, the introduction of the ANZ Trans-Tasman Championships, which saw 5 Australian and 5 New Zealand teams participate. Under her captaincy, the team was placed 3rd and 2nd in the championship for 2008 and 2009 respectively. She was also presented the 2009 Australian ANZ Championship Player of the Year Award.
Natalie’s speed, agility and overall fitness combined with her determination and leadership has seen her become one of the most dynamic mid-court players in the game, with many believing she is currently the world’s best centre.
Off the court, Natalie also works as a nutritionist and has recently completed a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics at Flinders University, which means she has professional interest in food too. She also has brand representative roles with ANZ, Asics and San Remo.
