I attended “An audience with Margaret Fulton & friends” last night at the State Library of NSW. Affectionately known as “Australia’s Living National Treasure” Margaret Fulton is truly an extraordinary woman. Aged 84, she displayed humour, clarity and inspiration during the panel discussion.
Born in Scotland the youngest of 6 children, Margaret’s family immigrated to Australia when she was a young child and she grew up in Glen Innes. Margaret stated that she was heavily influenced by country food.
Margaret described the days when her first cookbook was published in 1968, when meat and three vegetables was the standard dinner fare in most Australian homes. Margaret sought to change this mentality by internationalising Australian dinner tables through her cookbooks and magazine columns.
Margaret spoke of her first cookbook and how it encouraged women to entertain at a time when this was considered an unconventional pursuit. The Margaret Fulton Cookbook featured a section on entertaining and dinner parties, and Margaret stated that it hit a chord, as “women were wanting to break away from their boring lives.”
Margaret has had 27 cookbooks published, her most recent being Margaret Fulton’s Christmas. There is no doubt that Margaret successfully taught Australia to cook in new and exciting ways. We in Australia have a lot to thank Margaret Fulton for – otherwise we may all still be eating meat and three veg for dinner every night!
Hi Gail,
I was also at the Margaret Fulton gathering as well…you may remember me as the aspiring baker!
I found Margaret to be very engaging and inspiring. As a young child I remember the presence of Margaret’s books in mum’s kitchen. They’ve definitely left a good mark on my youngest kitchen memories.
I’m glad to have those memories and hope to have many more in the kitchen to come!
Best wishes,
Emily