Even though Tony’s executive role at Perth Airport keeps him very busy, he has never been one to shy away from a challenge and has always been a fitness enthusiast and keen hiker.

Keen to do his bit and raise funds for Foodbank he knew he needed to do something big to get enough attention to raise funds that will make a difference. Aware that Perth does not have large mountain ranges, but does boast incredible walking trails throughout the hills which are perfect for training…a plan soon came together. He was going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Training for a challenge like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is no small feat. It involves a lot of walking to build up the necessary endurance. Running long distances isn’t as beneficial because the activity on the mountain is different. Tony’s training routine includes an hour in the gym every morning at 5am and 2 hours on Saturdays, either on the treadmill or the stair climber. With two months to go, he’ll be increasing his stair climbing sessions too.

Having previously completed the Kokoda Track and the Inca Trail, he has some idea of what to expect. However, he is acutely aware that Mt Kilimanjaro presents a unique challenge with its altitude. Altitude sickness doesn’t discriminate, affecting both couch potatoes and supreme athletes alike. The only true preparation for this is acclimatization on the mountain and taking Diamox (a medication used to treat acute mountain sickness).

The mental challenge on summit night is also significant, with a 16-hour trekking day ahead in -15 degrees and only 50% oxygen during the final ascent. Being mentally prepared is the biggest part of the challenge.

Tony says that supporting a charity like Foodbank WA and training for Kilimanjaro are both challenging yet rewarding endeavours. They both require dedication, preparation, and a strong belief in the cause. Whether it’s ensuring that no child goes to school hungry or preparing for a physically demanding climb, the journey is filled with challenges that ultimately lead to significant rewards.

Tony is going to have to dig deep to summit the mountain, and asks that if you can, to also dig deep to support those in need.

Every dollar raised delivers 2 meals.

• $21 helps feed a child for a fortnight
• $45 helps feed a person for a month
• $90 helps feed a family for a fortnight

The link to Tony’s fundraising page can be found here - all donations of $2 or over are tax deductible.

“By supporting Foodbank WA, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need, and by taking on personal challenges like Kilimanjaro, we can push our limits and achieve great things.”

You can donate much needed food items to the Hawaiian Giving Box at all Hawaiian shopping centres and you will also find us at Claremont Quarter wrapping gifts to raise crucial funds. 

Claremont Quarter will also be donating funds from Santa photos and their Champagne lounge to us – so there really is something for everyone.

Another way to make a real difference is by joining our volunteer team. If you have the time, we’d love to have become part of a community of compassionate individuals making a real difference this Christmas. 

Join us today and help make this Christmas magical for families in need. 

Our 2025 Hunger Report revealed that 350,000 households experienced food stress in the last twelve months, so while our figure of selling 3,000 hampers may seem like a lot, it sadly falls short of the number of people who may be going without food on Christmas Day.

For just $50 you can help us provide a Christmas food hamper to a Western Australian family in need. Each hamper contains enough ingredients to provide a festive meal for a family of four. Each Christmas hamper is packed by volunteers and distributed by the Foodbank WA network to families in need just in time for Christmas so they can enjoy Christmas Day and not go hungry.

You can support Give a Feed by donating personally, Gift a Feed on behalf of someone special as a gift, become a Gold Plate Member or get involved as an Honourable Partner. You can even help by simply sharing this with your social network.

Give a Feed was founded in 2011 by Wayne Smith and Aaron Pitt to help WA families in need enjoy Christmas.  By partnering with Foodbank WA and Rotary WA, Give A Feed has helped more than 30,000 WA families in need and raised over 1,0000,000.

Let’s spread the festive cheer as far and wide as we can.

Across the two-day event, thousands tuned in, donated, and took part in activities and entertainment – with volunteers, businesses and local heroes all contributing to the cause. the weekend showcased inspiring stories of resilience and hope, reminding everyone of the power of collective kindness in making a real difference to children’s lives.

The amazing total of just over $90,000,000 raised is proof that as a state, when we come together we can make a huge difference that really matters.

We were so pleased to be a part of the Telethon Family Festival once again this year. The excitement of kids and families was evident with wide smiles and giggles throughout the day.

It was such a fun day at the Foodbank marquee, we had a digital photobooth operating all day where our awesome Superhero food characters added extra fun to the photos as stickers kids could choose. We also had a temporary tattoo station which was a huge hit with the kiddies.  

Approximately 80,000 people came along to the Telethon Family Festival, and we were one of over 100 Telethon beneficiaries who participated. It was an absolute brilliant showcase of the breath and depth of Telethon’s reach and the incredible service provided to our most vulnerable of children.

Seeing the incredible generosity of people in this state is testament to the unwavering spirit of the WA community, and how when we work together, we are incredible. 

Being just a small part of the Telethon weekend is an amazing opportunity for all involved and certainly made us proud to call WA home. 

We ran 5 free workshops a day, each packed with energy, learning and laughter. Our featured recipe, Crazy Corn Dip, was a tasty mix of three of the five food groups and packed with nutrition including dairy foods (cream cheese + yoghurt) for a boost of calcium for strong bones, the all important veggies (corn, carrot, cucumber, capsicum, celery) packed with vitamins and minerals to support immunity and overall health and grain foods (rice crackers) for energy to fuel our bodies and brains.

And best of all the kids got to learn that these are all Everyday Foods, which are really Superhero Foods in disguise.

The comments from the parents summed up our Royal Show experience perfectly: “My fussy son loved the dip!”, “Really enjoyed it thanks”, “It was great fun! Thanks!”, “The sessions were well organized! Good number of helpers and clear instructions”; “Very family friendly, easily accessible even for my 3-year-old and fun” and “well organised and great volunteers”.

The event is getting bigger and busier each year, we even got a mention on the news!

We are already looking forward to next year.

Find more healthy, tasty recipes.   

Many of the people who come to us are doing it tough. They might be dealing with illness, job loss or the rising cost of living. Some are facing domestic violence, grief or mental health challenges.

Every person who walks through our doors deserves compassion, understanding and respect. And so do our people.

Keeping ourselves safe is the most important thing. That’s why we want everyone to remember: let it go.

If someone is angry, don’t inflame the situation. If they want to leave without paying, let them go.

These moments are rare, but it’s never worth debating or trying to stop someone from taking food.

Nothing in our branches is worth risking your health or your life. Across Australia, there have been cases where well-meaning people were hurt trying to intervene.

Just last week, a young shop worker in Cooloongup was seriously injured trying to stop a theft.

If someone is being disrespectful, stealing or threatening, report it to your manager. We have processes in place, including contacting the Police if needed.

If a situation feels critical or is escalating, don’t wait. Call 000 and remove yourself and others from danger.

If you’d like to revisit the procedure, reach out to HR.