Lyndon Galea Founder, Eat Up
To be Australian is to be generous. Generous with time, generous with resources. At least, this is my belief from what I’ve witnessed during the past 7 years since founding Eat Up, a non-profit organisation feeding hungry kids. I have seen Australians put their hands up to help out time and time again; I am continually impressed by the sheer kindness of the diverse range of people who call this country home. Connected through friends, family and community, to me Australia often feels more like a small town rather than one of the largest countries on Earth, six degrees of separation seems more like three degrees across this widely dispersed but connected nation.
In Australia we are typically known for certain quirks such as; we love a larrikin, always root for the underdog and are laid back to the point of ‘no worries’ practically being our national catchphrase. But underlying all these features and quirks, generosity is deeply woven into the fabric of our society. It is generosity that has enabled me to build an organisation I didn’t even know was possible 7 years ago. At Eat Up, growth will always be bittersweet, as the more we’re able to help, the more we see the real size of the issue. However, the way Australians have given generously and flexibly to support Eat Up during 2020 and the years prior, only gives us hope for the future that our efforts to combat food insecurity and to ensure kids aren’t going to school hungry will succeed. Australians across a range of backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities have helped to leverage our collective strengths and make this world a better place. We are increasingly mindful of the good fortune and safety that we are afforded here, whilst still aware of the challenges that lie ahead. As well as caring deeply about sport and whether tomato sauce should be stored in the fridge or the cupboard (always the cupboard for me), I believe, to be Australian is to be generous of spirit.
Lyndon is the founder of Eat Up, a volunteer-run, not-for-profit that delivers school lunches to underprivileged local school children. Eat Up has delivered over 1 million sandwiches to hungry kids. See more at eatup.org.au. @eatupaustralia