Nowra campus tourism and hospitality head teacher Di Laver is in her 40th year with TAFE. Many of her former students decided to acknowledge her groundbreaking work before she retires later this year.
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Mrs Laver is known for her initiatives that bring the business and hospitality industry together. They have attracted leading Sydney chefs to help the cause for the last 11 years.
One of her notable initiatives is the celebrity chef dinner conceived of years ago - many of the prominent chefs return for the event every year.
The dinner provides priceless opportunities for students to work with these celebrity chefs leading to apprenticeship opportunities in some of the top restaurants in the country.
Many also travel the world refining their skills and then come back to open their own eateries.
As a result the standard of cuisine on the South Coast has steadily improved.
Many leading chefs believe it's as good as anywhere else in the country.
They are also impressed with the ready supply of the highest quality local produce.
The celebrity dinners Mrs Laver organises always sell out in the local Shoalhaven community without effort.
Everyone knows what standard of food and service they are going to get from the dinner.
The next and last major event before Mrs Laver retires will be the 12th annual Celebrity Chef Scholarship Degustation dinner on August 19 featuring Colin Fassnidge who was the 2013 GQ Chef of the Year.
It will be held at Destiny's, a licensed training restaurant in Bomaderry with a reputation for turning out stars.
The most recent example of what's to come was when the Nowra campus decided to celebrate Mrs Laver's final year with a dinner featuring many talented chefs who got their start at Destiny's Restaurant's commercial kitchen.
"It is great to showcase the talents and successes of some of our graduates," Mrs Laver said.
Young and talented chefs Daniel Fulginiti and Sam Smith of Nowra's The Deli on Kinghorne, Doug Innes-Will of Spicers Peak Lodge in Maryvale Queensland, Damien Martin of Tallwood in Mollymook, and Paul Wilson of The Waterhouse Jervis Bay in Huskisson, thanked her for giving them an opportunity equal to that given those starting out in major cities.
Despite the location Mrs Laver and her passionate team in Bomaderry have not only fuelled the desire of these students and motivated them by giving chances to succeed but helped apprentices from the Shoalhaven become sought after by leading Sydney restaurants.
The celebrity chefs who have visited Nowra for the annual showcase degustation dinner have all commented on the positive attitude and work ethic of young chefs from the region.
They have also praised the professionalism of local restaurant owners and produce suppliers.
