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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-10-16 Daily Xml
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Ronald McDonald House

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. F. Pangallo:

That this council—

1. Recognises the outstanding role Ronald McDonald House in Melbourne St, North Adelaide, has played in South Australia for the past 25 years by providing a 'home away from home' for families with seriously ill or injured children who are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals;

2. Acknowledges the supportive, caring environment it offers where families dealing with significant trauma can stay together, close to the care their child needs;

3. Notes that each year Ronald McDonald House supports about 300 regional families with free, safe and friendly accommodation and support services, without any form of government funding;

4. Recognises the exceptional role volunteers play at Ronald McDonald House where they help create a warm, welcoming environment by cooking meals, maintaining the house, offering emotional support, and helping with daily operations, noting in the early years of the house, it was mostly run by volunteers, who generously gave their time and care to make it possible for families to focus on what matters most;

5. Acknowledges two very special volunteers who have been at Ronald McDonald House from the start, Mrs Jill Rowe and Mrs Colleen 'Nanna Cole' Billows; and

6. Calls on the state government to provide financial support to the wonderful charity as it prepares to relocate to a brand-new site closer to the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital at Thebarton.

(Continued from 4 June 2025.)

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:37): I rise today in support of this motion moved by the Hon. Frank Pangallo, recognising the outstanding contribution of Ronald McDonald House in North Adelaide to South Australian families over the past 25 years. Since its establishment, Ronald McDonald House has provided a vital sanctuary for families with seriously ill or injured children receiving treatment at the nearby Women's and Children's Hospital.

Each year, around 300 regional families are welcomed into a warm, safe and supportive environment free of charge and without any form of government funding. This is not just a place to stay; it is a home away from home where families can remain close to the care their child needs while surrounded by compassion and community. The house offers more than accommodation; it provides mental health support, nutritious meals seven days and seven nights a week, education continuity for siblings and culturally responsive care.

The heart of Ronald McDonald House is its volunteers. From cooking meals and maintaining the house to offering emotional support and helping with daily operations, volunteers have always been central to its mission. In its early years, the house was run almost entirely by volunteers, and today their dedication continues to shape the experience of every family who has walked through the door.

I particularly want to acknowledge two remarkable individuals, Mrs Jill Rowe and Mrs Colleen Billows OAM, who have each served as volunteers for 25 years. Colleen, affectionately known as 'Nanna Cole', is widely recognised for her warmth, resilience and tireless fundraising efforts. In 2019, she abseiled down a 33-storey building to raise funds for the house, saying, 'Everyone said you're crazy, but I had decided it was nothing compared with the turmoil some of our families face.' In June this year, Colleen was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the community through charitable organisations.

Under the leadership of CEO Melissa Monkhouse, Ronald McDonald House Charities South Australia continues to evolve and respond to the changing needs of families. Melissa's vision and passion for purpose-driven work have helped expand the charity's services to include case management, Aboriginal family support and outreach education programs across the state. I also wish to recognise the board, particularly Chairperson Rebecca Wessels, whose strategic guidance has been instrumental in the charity's growth.

Their leadership is now steering the organisation through an exciting expansion, building a new 80-room Ronald McDonald House near the future Women's and Children's Hospital at Thebarton, while continuing to operate the beloved Melbourne Street facility. This expansion reflects a growing demand for family-centred support and the charity's commitment to meeting that need with compassion and care. As planning progresses, it is timely for the state government to consider how it might assist in bringing this important project to fruition. With those remarks, I acknowledge the enduring impact of Ronald McDonald House and thank everyone involved for their generosity. I wholeheartedly support the motion.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (16:41): It is such an honour to speak to this motion and celebrate a truly remarkable milestone of 25 years of Ronald McDonald House supporting families right here in South Australia. Thank you to the Hon. Frank Pangallo for bringing this important motion to the chamber. For a quarter of a century, Ronald McDonald House has stood as a beacon of compassion, generosity and hope. It has been a home away from home for thousands of families, a place of warmth and comfort during times that are often filled with worry and uncertainty.

When a child becomes seriously ill or injured, families, both regional and interstate, face enormous emotional, financial and logistical challenges. For parents, their world suddenly revolves around hospital corridors, medical appointments and long nights of uncertainty. Ronald McDonald House steps in at that moment, offering not just accommodation, but a community of support; a place where families can rest, recharge and find strength knowing they are not alone.

I know the heart of this incredible organisation better than most because my mum, Julie Black, was previously chief executive. My mum had an incredible career in the not-for-profit space for over 30 years, and her role at Ronald McDonald House was a real highlight, and her final role before she retired three years ago. Mum loved her job at Ronald McDonald House. It was so much more than a job for her. I can tell you it was definitely not a nine-to-five job.

She was always on call, always ready to drop everything and head into Ronald McDonald House if a family needed help or if something went wrong. Whether it was late at night or over the weekend or during the holidays, she would answer the call without hesitation. My mum cared so deeply about the families at Ronald McDonald House and the mission of this organisation. The families also had such strength in such challenging circumstances.

I want to take a moment to recognise the incredible volunteers because they are truly the heart and soul of Ronald McDonald House—people like Colleen Billows OAM, who has volunteered for decades and is in every sense the grandmother of the house. Colleen cooked countless meals, offered countless hugs and gives comfort to so many families who just need a friendly face and a listening ear. She embodies the very best of what Ronald McDonald House stands for: care, compassion and connection. My mum and Colleen both abseiled down the InterContinental and it was quite a sight. It was an amazing achievement for both of them, and raised incredible funds for such a great organisation.

I would also like to acknowledge Chris Baker AM, who served on the board of Ronald McDonald House for an incredible 23 years. His dedication and commitment to supporting families during some of their most challenging times is truly inspiring. Chris's leadership and compassion played a huge role in shaping Ronald McDonald House into the welcoming, supportive place it is today. Thank you, Chris, for your extraordinary service.

I always admired the volunteers who worked alongside my mum. They gave their time so freely, sometimes day after day, week after week, to make sure families felt supported and cared for. What always struck me was that everyone, from the staff to the volunteers, treated families not as guests but as part of their community. Over the years, I had the opportunity to help cook meals for families at Ronald McDonald House, and I can tell you it is a truly humbling experience, sitting down with the parents, siblings and carers, hearing their stories, laughing with them and sharing a meal. Those moments were very powerful and something that I will always remember.

A warm meal, a clean bed and someone to talk to: these might sound like small things, but when your child is in hospital and you are away from home they mean absolutely everything. They are the lifelines. That is why Ronald McDonald House is so special. It offers more than a place to stay. It offers comfort, dignity and hope. It offers families the chance to focus on what matters the most: being together as a family and being there for their child.

As we celebrate 25 years, we are celebrating every person who has played a part in this story: the staff, the volunteers, the donors, and of course the families who have called this place home. To everyone who has contributed, whether it be through volunteering, fundraising, cooking, cleaning or simply offering a kind word—thank you. You have made an extraordinary difference.

To Ronald McDonald House, congratulations on 25 years of supporting South Australian families. You have created something truly special, a legacy of love, community and hope that will continue for generations to come. I wish Melissa and the team at Ronald McDonald House all the best, and here's to the next 25 years of helping families find strength, comfort and joy during the most challenging times.

The Hon. T.T. NGO (16:46): I rise to speak in support of this motion, and I thank the honourable member for providing the opportunity to recognise and celebrate 25 years of Ronald McDonald House in South Australia. Over the last 25 years, Ronald McDonald House has been a shelter of hope and healing for countless families whose children are receiving medical care in Adelaide. Ronald McDonald is spread across two buildings. The main house sleeps up to 10 families and the second apartment accommodation contains 10 two-bedroom self-contained apartments. These are located directly opposite each other on Melbourne Street, North Adelaide.

The support offered to families from South Australia extends far beyond the accommodation it has provided. Ronald McDonald House has not only provided a bed and a meal to more than 7,000 families over 25 years but also comfort, stability and hope during some of life's most challenging moments. When a child becomes seriously ill, families are often forced to travel long distances for treatment. At Ronald McDonald House, families can find a place where the lights are always on, where they are welcomed with kindness and where they can focus on what truly matters, and that is being together.

Ronald McDonald House is now part of the fabric of our health and community care, thanks to the continual work, support and donations of South Australians. It stands alongside the Women's and Children's Hospital, the Hospital Research Foundation and countless volunteers, nurses and doctors who embody the best of who we are as a community. This generosity of spirit reminds us that every child deserves the comfort of family, and every parent deserves the strength of community.

This 25-year milestone reflects the compassion, generosity and community spirit that defines our state. We owe deep gratitude to the staff, volunteers, donors and partners who make this possible, from McDonald's franchisees and local businesses to school charities and every South Australian who gives what they can. A special call-out to longstanding volunteers, Mrs Jill Rowe and Mrs Colleen Billows. Congratulations and thank you to Ronald McDonald House for 25 years of care and compassion, and may the next 25 years be just as exceptional.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (16:49): I rise to speak in strong support of the Hon. Pangallo's motion, which urges this council to recognise the outstanding role that Ronald McDonald House on Melbourne Street in North Adelaide has played in South Australia for the past 25 years and to acknowledge the supportive, caring environment it offers, where families dealing with significant trauma can stay together close to the care that their child needs. It also notes that each year Ronald McDonald House supports about 300 regional families without any form of regular government funding, I understand, and recognises the exceptional role that volunteers play at Ronald McDonald House and calls on the state government to provide financial support to the charity as it prepares to relocate to a brand-new site closer to the new Women's and Children's Hospital.

It has been 25 years now that Ronald McDonald House on Melbourne Street has offered a sanctuary in Adelaide for regional families with children facing significant medical challenges. Situated just some 200 metres from the current Women's and Children's Hospital, the facility provides a warm and supportive homelike environment for families. It is equipped with some 10 ensuite facility bedrooms, 10 two-bedroom apartments and convenient onsite amenities. Facilities include a recreation room, family lounges, a fully equipped kitchen, a children's playroom, outdoor play areas, a gym, a laundry and a peace garden, which I am sure would be most welcome given the challenges many of these families face.

Breakfast is provided each morning, in addition to a fully stocked pantry, so families can rightfully focus on the needs of their sick or injured children. Twice a week, the house offers a family dinner program, where multiple families have the opportunity to come together to connect and bond over their shared experiences, which I am sure in the end would make it somewhat more easy, although the circumstances are obviously very challenging.

Families staying at Ronald McDonald House have access to a range of support services designed to address the whole family's needs. The trained staff and volunteers work with the hospital school in the Women's and Children's Hospital so that children are able to continue with their studies, with teachers arriving each weekday in the morning to collect outpatients or siblings to take them to school and then back again in the afternoon. This incredible service greatly assists children undertaking treatment and their siblings in maintaining a sense of normalcy, whilst offering respite for parents and carers alike. They face very difficult circumstances and this great support that Ronald McDonald House provides, I am sure, is most welcome and highly valued.

At Ronald McDonald House, priority is given to families whose children have been recently diagnosed, seriously injured or require emergency treatment, in addition to families who are required to travel long distances from their home to the hospital. The charity appreciates that being away from home for medical treatment can put families under immense financial pressure, which is why its accommodation is completely free of charge for eligible families.

As the Hon. Mr Pangallo detailed in his speech when he introduced this motion, Ronald McDonald House is outgrowing its current premises, and with the new Women's and Children's Hospital being constructed near the new Royal Adelaide Hospital the organisation is seeking to relocate to a nearby location, which of course makes sense. Like the Hon. Mr Pangallo I, too, am hopeful that the state government supports Ronald McDonald House in this endeavour so it can continue its important work in assisting families in future who need to be in close proximity to the new hospital.

I wish to commend Ms Jill Rowe and Ms Colleen Billows for their 25 years of service with this outstanding charity, as highlighted by the Hon. Mr Pangallo. I am also indeed familiar with the commitment and passion of the volunteers who give their time and energy for the many beneficiaries of Ronald McDonald House. One of my good friends over the years, a gentleman by the name of Chris Baker, was on the organisation's board for decades. I take this opportunity to commend Chris for his efforts and dedication in serving Ronald McDonald House over this extended time. I know he put in not only his own sweat but also substantial resources of his own, such was his heart for the place.

Of course, I have to mention my good friend, the Hon. Ms Girolamo's mother, who was an outstanding servant of Ronald McDonald House and is, I think, regarded very highly by patients and staff who have had the benefit of experiencing the services offered at Ronald McDonald House. I strongly support the motion and commend the Hon. Mr Pangallo for bringing it to us.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (16:54): I wish to thank the Hon. Jing Lee, the Hon. Heidi Girolamo, the Hon. Tung Ngo and the Hon. Dennis Hood for their warm expressions of thanks to this great organisation, and to all the people who have been involved in the 25 years of Ronald McDonald House. We look forward to Ronald McDonald House being supported in its move to a new home close to the new Women's and Children's Hospital so that it can continue the wonderful caring service it provides to families and also, of course, continue its operation. I am sure that one day in this place they will be celebrating their 50th anniversary. With that, I commend the motion to the chamber.

Motion carried.

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