It’s Not Just a Cookbook

Under the leadership of Jennifer Hartnett, the Rotary Club of Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Cookbook Project honours the legacy of the late Irene Reid and the selfless work she undertook within the community as a chef, hospitality manager and caterer.

Launched on November 29, 2022, It’s Not Just a Cookbook is produced mostly from Irene’s diaries, with the author and her team spending many hours, selecting and in some cases deciphering Irene’s more abbreviated hand-written recipes, before test cooking, timing and tasting them. The result is an eclectic mix of mostly short, easy recipes, beautifully photographed by local food photographer David Wallace.

Irene’s recipes were developed over many years of catering, first in Medlow Bath at the couple’s general store, then the Chalet Guesthouse and Restaurant, before moving on to the much larger Victoria and Albert Guesthouse at Mt Victoria.

Early in the nineties the couple moved on from the guesthouse and for the next 20 or so years managed or worked at various venues across the Upper Mountains.

The Reids have been involved with Rotary throughout their careers; Bob was a member first at Blackheath and then Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise, while Irene was involved in many Rotary catering activities.

All money raised from the sale of It’s Not Just a Cookbook goes to the Rotary Club of Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise’s Homelessness Project, with more than $20,000 raised from the launch night alone.