Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews chose to watch the Melbourne Cup alongside volunteers at Shepparton FoodShare on Tuesday, albeit arriving halfway through the big race.
The volunteer organisation recently received the funding it’s been calling for to find a new home, with $1.2 million from the Victorian Government and $600,000 from the Federal Government.
Mr Andrews, who was at FoodShare with Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes and Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp, said he wanted to call in and say thank you.
“This is such an impressive thing – I just wanted to say thank you so much for caring and working so hard to look after people who are in the most difficult circumstances,” he said.
“I think there should be a real sense of pride across FoodShare Shepparton for all that you do and I cannot wait to be back here to maybe play a small part in officially opening the brand new premises.”
Shepparton FoodShare chair Jeremy Rensford was thrilled for organisation’s volunteers.
“You could see it in their faces ... there’s something special about being recognised for what you do and our volunteers, we always say to anyone who will listen, they’re everything to us,” he said.
“I don’t think you can put into words what that will mean for them.
“Some will vote for him, some won’t, but to get recognition from such a high-standing leader in our state is so special for them and I couldn’t be prouder of our volunteers.”
Shepparton FoodShare was issued a notice to vacate its current warehouse.
An empty lot on the corner of Donnan and Camp Sts, Mooroopna, has been donated by local business owners and philanthropists Jim and Ange Andreadis.