Date2021-2022Description2021 City Photographer, Helene Cochaud: It's just before 5am and all is quiet and calm in the streets of central Fairfield. Light leaks out from a single doorway into the dimly lit morning. The ghostly figures of the past appear to come to life from the silhouetted Epochs Sculptures. Evan and his brother-in-law Martin have already been up for hours and have another twelve hours of work ahead of them.
He has much to do but Evan kindly allows me into the bakery to chat and take photographs. Although
it's clear he's tired and busy his face lights up with a smile when he talks about his bakery and family. This smile grows bigger and his eyes twinkle as he proudly shares some exciting news. "Yesterday was an amazing day for me! I got my Australian citizenship."
"I started in Fairfield, I love it because our culture is here and our friends and cousins. I understand them, our language and culture."
Originally from Mosul, Iraq, Evan moved to Australia six year ago to start a new life with his wife and young children. He was a baker back in Iraq where his family owned two bakeries. Starting from scratch he opened his Fairfield Bakery just before the 2021 Sydney lockdown. Not entitled to any government support, the COVID restrictions were tough but didn't deter him to strive to make the business a success.
Bread plays an important role in Iraq: sharing bread brings people together during meals. Evan explains the different types of bread he makes and where they come from. He makes samoon, a triangle shaped bread predominately eaten in the north of Iraq, and khubz, a flat round bread like pita or naan. Khubzis the special one according to Evan, eaten everyday in the central and southern parts of the country.
PhotographerHelene CochaudGeolocation[1] Station St, FairfieldNotesThese photographs are part of the 2021 City Photographer project.
Details
Image ColourColourTypeDigitalCopyrightPartial restriction. Please contact Fairfield City Heritage Services for image use.AcknowledgementHelene Cochaud, 2021 Fairfield City Photographer. Image courtesy of Fairfield City Heritage Collection.
