Speeches
Thursday, 15 May 2025
Reception for Ronald McDonald House Charities 25th Anniversary
Rod and I warmly welcome you all to Government House this evening to celebrate 25 years of Ronald McDonald House Charities in South Australia.
As Governor it is my pleasure to engage with South Australians right across our state.
Rod and I are regular visitors to our regions, spending time with local communities and visiting local schools.
Many of the challenges people tell us about concern distance and the availability of services, particularly in terms of health care.
When children are seriously ill or injured, country families face the additional stress of needing to leave home for treatment, and all the logistics – and costs – that come with this.
By providing a ‘home away from home’, Ronald McDonald House keeps families together, ensuring they have access to comfort, stability, and a supportive community when they need it most.
When we visited Ronald McDonald House last year, what stood out for both of us was its welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.
Located off a busy North Adelaide street, the house was a sanctuary.
There was a large kitchen with a stocked pantry, breakfast put out each morning, communal dinners twice a week.
There were serviced bedrooms, two play areas, a peaceful garden.
And perhaps most importantly of all, there were the volunteers, keeping the house clean, helping to prepare meals, and welcoming families home at the end of the day with a warm smile, and hug if needed.
I thank the volunteers here this evening for their work in Ronald McDonald House and also on the Hospitality Carts at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Lyell McEwin Hospital.
Your efforts go a long way to helping families feel cared for and comforted during a difficult time.
I also thank the donors, fundraisers and corporate supporters with us for their generous support of Ronald McDonald House Charities in South Australia.
It’s thanks to you that the organisation has grown from humble beginnings to what it is today.
I was pleased to learn the Melbourne Street facility will undergo expansion this year to cater to 25 families each night, and that land has been purchased near the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital site, with plans for an 80-room house to be opened by 2032.
It’s great to see that the South Australian branch of Ronald McDonald House Charities now includes Central Australia, and expansion into Alice Springs is being explored.
I thank the Board and staff for their vision and dedication to supporting the largest number of families possible.
Congratulations to Ronald McDonald House for reaching a quarter century of operation in South Australia.
Every day you provide love and support to families during the most challenging time of their lives.
Rod and I look forward to watching your organisation grow and flourish into the future.