On 6 August, members of the Heritage Preservation Foundation Board and team attended this year’s Kenneth Myer Lecture at the Arts Centre, featuring Ronni Kahn AO, Founder of OzHarvest.
Ronni’s presentation was both inspiring and thought-provoking, highlighting the power of practical action in addressing food insecurity and reducing food waste. Along with many others in the audience, we took the Order of the Teaspoon pledge, a commitment to do what we can, however small, to create positive change.
One idea that particularly resonated with us was OzHarvest’s “fridge tape” initiative, a simple but effective way to help households track food and reduce waste. It was a reminder that meaningful change doesn’t always come from large-scale solutions. More often, it starts with small actions that, over time, become part of everyday habits.
Reflecting on the evening, we couldn’t help but see parallels with the work of the Heritage Preservation Foundation. At its core, Ronni’s message was about stewardship: taking responsibility today to create a better future for those who come after us.
While our mission is different, the principle is very much the same. Through our fundraising efforts, we are working to preserve heritage documents, records and stories that might otherwise be lost. Like reducing food waste, heritage preservation can feel like a challenge bigger than any one individual. But real progress happens when people come together around a shared purpose and each contribute in their own way.
The lecture was a timely reminder that lasting impact is built collectively. Whether it’s rescuing food, caring for the environment, or preserving our shared history, every contribution matters. We’re grateful to OzHarvest and Ronni Kahn AO for an evening that challenged, inspired and reinforced the importance of protecting what matters for future generations.
