Lagoon Restaurant chef Jason Hellyer mentors Rachel Young, who has Down syndrome writes WILLIAM VERITY.
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JASON HELLYER, 25, North Wollongong:
This is the first time I’ve been around anyone with Down syndrome.
I was a little bit nervous and got some information from her parents. It makes me happy on the inside that I’m giving her an opportunity and teaching her as much as I can.
Usually when I have work experience people in here, most of them don’t want to be chefs.
They are just doing it for a course in school. With Rachel, it was different.
It’s changed me immensely. It might take a bit more time, but it’s just something new for me. It’s great to see her doing service next to me and getting involved.
It makes me so happy to give someone like Rachel the opportunity to be in a real kitchen, and one of the busiest kitchens in the Illawarra.
It’s just as much as an experience for me as it is for Rachel.
I originally came in here as an apprentice in 2004 and asked for a kitchen hand job. I have moved myself up the ranks and learned from the chefs who have come and gone.
Rachel is close to like any other person. I can talk to her like I am talking to you. There’s not much of a difference with her. I never swear or say rude things and I try to keep positive, like if I was talking to someone younger.
There is more than what you look at with Rachel. She is fantastic to work with and to talk to.
You don’t judge a book by its cover and she’s completely different from what you would first see. I can have a good conversation with her in a positive manner.
It’s changed my view immensely. She’s just like any other person but a bit slower. She’s not rude, she never swears, she never says anything bad about anyone, she’s really kind-hearted.
The sky’s the limit for Rachel. If she can stay here and learn, I have no doubt she can work anywhere with supervision.
RACHEL YOUNG, 21, Wollongong:
I like coming here – it’s my job, I’m proud of it and I feel like I belong here. I like having a job because I like getting paid. I am going to save my money to buy a Ferrari – either red or yellow, I don’t mind.
I first came here for two weeks of work experience from my school, St Mary’s. I came back here because I missed it so much. I have friends here and I feel like I belong.
Jason is very handsome and I like him a lot. I like cooking with him. Sometimes, when he is very busy, he can get very sad. He’s taught me a lot of things. He got me a hard job, he got me a tub full of onions and he made me cry. Then, after the onions, he got me to cut the potatoes and he told me, ‘There’s more!’.
I don’t complain, I say nothing because I am a good worker.
I do pastries and me and Jason cooked tiramisu but, when I ate it, he put too many coffee beans into it and they stuck in my throat. I sometimes taste the food and tell him if it’s good.
I come here every Tuesday and the rest of the week I work at Greenacres. We pack different things in boxes like shampoo or brake pads.
Jason will get me a hot chocolate with skimmed milk. I tell him I want extra chocolate and he’s fine with that.
If this job ended, I would be very sad. I love it because I love working with Jason. I talk more than I used to and I am not so shy or nervous any more. I am happy.
The Lagoon Restaurant is my favourite in the world in Wollongong. I love the food here, it’s so good. Everybody should come and try the food here because it’s very good, especially on Tuesdays.