You have supported OzHarvest through your restaurant Dead Ringer and you’re also one of our awesome volunteers. Tell us why you have chosen to support OzHarvest and what it means to you?We’ve been supporters of OzHarvest for close to 3 years at Dead Ringer, we apply a voluntary $1 donation to all bills to our diners, which we in turn donate to OzHarvest. When we opened the restaurant we wanted to ensure that all our produce was ethically sourced and that we minimised food waste to the best of our abilities. I see OzHarvest as an organisation that works on two fronts, not only are they saving valuable food from landfill, they’re also providing meals to the food insecure. Last year I decided to “put my money where my mouth is” so to speak and don a yellow volunteer t-shirt myself.

Can you describe one of your personal highlights in being part of the OzHarvest family?

There’s been so many! From the overwhelming positivity received from the public when working on the stall at Bondi Markets to seeing my snow pea seeds grow in the OzHarvest community garden. As you’d imagine, the CEO Cookoff™ was a real highlight too, getting to see first hand the people that OzHarvest help and just being able to be part of such amazing community engagement.

Why do you think it’s important to give back personally and professionally?

2019 has been something of a sabbatical for me from my daily work commitments. I’ve dialled back my contact at venues to concentrate on some new ventures. Volunteering has been a real lesson in humility and has introduced me to people I wouldn’t usually come into contact with in my daily life. Being part of the yellow army has been profound and given me a renewed interest in promoting sustainable and progressive food policies at our venues. I’d encourage everyone to get inducted and join the team, it’s been nothing but positive for me.