The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) tonight congratulated OzHarvest founder, Ronni Kahn, for being honoured as New South Wales’ Local Hero in the lead-up to the 2010 Australian of the Year Awards.

DIAC is once again proud to sponsor Australia’s Local Hero Award and to celebrate the extraordinary work of ordinary Australians who make their local community a better place. Next year is the 50th anniversary of the Australian of the Year Awards.

Ms Kahn, from Bronte, received the award for her environmental and social leadership as the founder of OzHarvest – a charity which collects excess food from commercial operators and redistributes it to local charities.

“Ms Kahn is an outstanding citizen who inspires us with the passion she has for this country and its people,” a DIAC spokeswoman said.

“During her career in the hospitality industry, Ms Kahn witnessed the wastage of edible food and decided to investigate how it could be redistributed to the needy in the community.

“She was instrumental in changing legislation in four states to protect donors from any liability when supplying leftover food – a hurdle which needed to be overcome to allow the OzHarvest concept to operate.”

From humble beginnings in 2004, OzHarvest now collects excess food from some 600 donors and delivers more than 110 000 meals a month to 163 charities in Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong – with plans to go national next year.

“Australia’s Local Hero Award acknowledges dedicated citizens such as Ms Kahn who work tirelessly to make the lives of those around them that little bit better,” the spokeswoman said.

“Our Local Heroes are extraordinary individuals whose passion and energy strengthen our communities and encapsulate what it means to be Australian.”

The national Local Hero Award recipient will be announced on 25 January 2010 in Canberra.

Media Enquiries: DIAC – National Communications 02 6264 2244

Australian of the Year Awards & National Australia Day Council
Media Enquiries: Nicole Browne 02 9954 7677 or 0414 673 762

NSW Local Hero

Ronni Kahn
Bronte
Food rescuer

Ronni Kahn is the founder of OzHarvest, a service that collects and delivers surplus food to charities. She originally ran an events business and was horrified by the amount of leftover food that was thrown out. She began driving it to a hostel rather than let it go to waste. But she knew there was much more that could be done, and in 2004, OzHarvest was born. Five years later, OzHarvest has more than 600 food donors and delivers more than 110 000 meals each month to 163 charities in Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong. Ronni plans to go national next year. Due to her perseverance the law has been changed in NSW, ACT, Queensland, SA (and soon will be in WA) to ensure food donors are safe from liability. OzHarvest has had a profound effect on the environment by saving thousands of tonnes of food from landfill and on clients of charities who are able to eat good quality, nutritious food.