
Emma was born in Australia and grew up in Melbourne with her three brothers. Her father’s ancestors were from Ireland, with a large family of Fays (including a couple and their six sons) first arriving in Port Melbourne on a ship from Liverpool in 1864. Her mother’s ancestors were also Irish.
Her parents (and grandparents) were born in Sydney but moved to Melbourne just prior to Emma’s birth. Emma’s father was a mathematician (obtaining his doctorate from Oxford University) and her mother was a teacher. Emma recalls her Dad often tried to help her with algebra, but she’d tell him, “it’s too hard and he wouldn’t understand.”
The family spent a lot of time on the NSW central coast, with many holidays spent in Gosford and Avoca. Emma loved the rough and tumble of life with brothers (never owning a Barbie) and was grateful there was never a threat they would steal her clothes, like sisters might. Between them, she and her brothers now have 11 of their own children, 9 of them girls.
Her parents didn’t talk a great deal about their family history growing up, but the family spent a lot of time with their aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of the family. Emma works hard to maintain these family connections and friendships.
Emma describes her mum as the most sensational cook, specialising in classic French-inspired dishes but also every day Australian meals like lamb chops. Emma says she cooks the same kind of food for her own family, but with a fraction of the butter and salt, which means it doesn’t taste nearly as good…
View more of Fast Ed’s photo series by clicking here.
Related Posts
-
Cultural cuisines you may never have tried (and should!)
-
Dominique Rizzo: What I learnt about my cultural heritage
-
Multiculturalism a key ingredient of Melbourne’s ‘happy cafe’
-
Newmont
-
Sukaina – Playfair Visa and Migration Services
-
Pride in Diversity for Major Hotel Group – Accor Hotels
-
Chung Jae Lee: My Korean heritage
-
Who makes the best desserts?
-
Junnan – Yoghurt Digital
-
4 reasons to introduce A Taste of Harmony to your workplace
-
Melissa Leong – Learning more about my cultural heritage
-
How many cuisines have you eaten in your life?
-
Fast Ed’s A Taste of Harmony Photo Series
-
How does your heritage affect what you eat?
-
Why your workplace should celebrate A Taste of Harmony
-
What’s your favourite food?
-
Australia Post – 10 year participant and major supporter
-
A workplace champion for harmony – Department of Human Services
-
What makes Australian food culture so diverse?
-
How entrepreneurship enables economic independence for migrant women
-
A Taste of Harmony Registration Competition 2026
-
How a garden in a Brighton backyard is connecting cultures
-
Krisztina – Reach Out
-
Flourish Australia leads by example, and wins a visit by Celebrity Chef, Fast Ed!
-
Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs, QLD
-
What is Australian cuisine?
-
Kristin – Playfair Visa and Migration Services
-
Ayca – Yoghurt Digital
-
Dave – Reach Out
-
Arq Group
-
Metro South Health
-
William Ross
-
Joe – Yoghurt Digital
-
Sally – Blackbird PR
-
Mckenzie – Yoghurt Digital
-
A Taste of Harmony at Harding Martin
-
Tammy – Playfair Visa and Migration Services
-
A Taste of Harmony brings ‘Besties’ together – Best and Less
-
Neha – Playfair Visa and Migration Services
-
City of Whittlesea
-
Centre for Multicultural Youth
-
Matthew – Yoghurt Digital
-
Angel – Reach Out
-
Why cultural diversity is an important workplace conversation
-
ASF Audit’s first A Taste of Harmony celebration
-
Tessa – Reach Out
-
Samantha – Playfair Visa and Migration Services
-
What’s in your pantry?
-
What did you eat today?
-
Maxine – Reach Out
-
Carly Day: Learning more about my cultural background
-
Petra – Playfair Visa and Migration Services
-
Mitchell – Reach Out
-
Australian Taxation Office
-
Gilad – Yoghurt Digital
-
Cristina – Playfair Visa and Migration Services
-
What does food mean to you?
-
Phoebe – Playfair Visa and Migration Services
-
Caring about cultural diversity – AutoCare Services



