LEXI LANDSMAN

RONNI Kahn will now be known across the country as Australia’s local hero.

Awarded the prestigious honour of Australia’s Local Hero by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd this week, the Sydney resident was recognised for her efforts to end hunger as founding director of OzHarvest, which collects surplus produce from cafes and caterers to help feed those who would otherwise go hungry.

From a dream in 2004, OzHarvest now has more than 600 donors and delivers more than 110,000 meals each month to 163 charities in Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong.

On the way to achieving her dream, she helped amend legislation, which permitted food from licensed caterers to be redistributed to those in need.

Speaking to The AJN, the 57-year-old from Bronte said she felt “incredibly honoured and proud” to receive the award.

“It will make a huge difference to OzHarvest and to the purposes that I believe in,” Kahn said. “I know it will be a wonderful vehicle to make new changes and an even bigger impact.”

The South African-born former event organiser established the charity after seeing how much food was being wasted by the hospitality industry.

“I get pretty emotional [reflecting on its beginnings]. OzHarvest was an idea and I knew that I wouldn’t stop until we got it up and running,” she said.

“Even though I had a very clear vision for what I wanted it to be, when you look and see that that vision is [now] a reality, it is very overwhelming.”

With Kahn’s guidance, the charity has had a profound impact on the environment, saving thousands of tonnes of food from landfill, while helping the hungry access quality, nutritious food and she was dubbed the “food rescuer”.

“It’s pretty exciting, I feel very proud. The reason I started OzHarvest was because I knew that I had been put on this earth for something more and I’m just a very lucky person to have found the avenue and vehicle to do that.”

Kahn said that since arriving in Australia from Israel in 1988, she has felt compelled to contribute to the country.

“I came here with very little 22 years ago; with nothing … And yes, we’ve worked hard and yes, I’ve put an enormous effort into it. But the opportunities that have arisen for me came from this country, so there is absolutely no doubt that I’m committed to giving back to Australia.”

In Canberra on the eve of Australia Day, Prime Minister Rudd presented Kahn — as well as those named Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Senior Australian of the Year — with a handmade glass award.

Rudd said: “For the past 50 years, the Australian of the Year Awards program has honoured those among us who inspire us, and do us proud as a nation.

“This year I am again awed by the achievements and contributions of the award recipients, who demonstrate that greatness comes in many forms and all Australians have the potential for greatness within us.”

More than 2500 nominations were received from the public for the 2010 awards.