community
Breaking records to help fight hunger
RAA donated a record 35,500 meals to Foodbank during its fifth annual food drive, to support South Australians in need.
During October 2024 more than 2750kg of food and $15,000 in cash donations were collected across food drive locations – equating to more than 35,500 meals. It’s RAA’s best result since joining forces with the charity in 2020.
RAA General Manager of Community and Corporate Affairs Emily Perry says it comes at a time when many families are feeling the pressure.
“Everyone has seen the cost of living rise in recent years, and it’s concerning to see how many South Australian households are struggling,” Emily says.
“As the state’s largest member organisation, we feel we have a responsibility to do what we can to help those in our community who need it most, and throwing our support behind the great work Foodbank does is one of the ways we do this each year."
The latest Hunger Report from Foodbank revealed 35 per cent of South Australian households struggled to put food on the table last year.
Foodbank SA & NT CEO Greg Pattinson says demand is on the rise with food insecurity in Australia reaching a critical point.
“Demand for Foodbank SA’s services has increased by more than a third, as more families turn to us for support than ever before,” Greg says.
“Across SA and NT an average of 150,000 people are visiting us every month and one third of those are children, which is heartbreaking. That’s why we really need the community to support our initiatives like the RAA Foodbank Food Drive, so we can fill the trucks up and get them out to the communities who need it most.
To learn more about RAA’s partnership with Foodbank and how you can lend your support, visit raa.com.au/foodbank
President's message
It’s an exciting time for RAA, and 2025 is set to be a milestone year for our organisation.
We’ll be taking the next step in our modernisation journey and becoming a company limited by guarantee (CLG), after members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move at last year’s AGM.
It’s easy to overlook how significant foundational changes like these are, but when we reflect on all that we’ve achieved as a membership organisation in the past 18 months, there’s much to be proud of.
As Nick mentions in his column, our strategic partnership with Allianz will significantly reduce our risk in insurance and help us deliver more for our members. I congratulate Nick and his leadership team for the way they’ve flawlessly executed the partnership, and I look forward to seeing it come to life around the middle of this year.
We’ve also launched new products, like RAA Energy and RAA Towing, and introduced new benefits and services aimed at making life better and more cost effective for our members.
I’m so proud of the way the Board works together to set the vision and manage risk, leveraging our unique expertise to shape the long-term vision for a strong and successful RAA.
As Nick says, engaging with members to help shape RAA’s future is so important and something we’ll continue to do this year.
We’re already planning our next member forum, and we’ll continue to create other opportunities to more frequently connect with you in 2025.
Kathy Gramp
RAA President and Chairman of the Board
RAA Annual General Meeting wrap up
RAA’s 121st Annual General Meeting was held at the Entertainment Centre on 11 November 2024.
Attending members heard RAA President and Chairman Kathy Gramp and RAA Chief Executive Officer Nick Reade outline what RAA delivered for members in the 2023–24 financial year and their vision for RAA’s future.
Members voted in favour of two items at the meeting, including a special resolution to change the legal identity of RAA to a company limited by guarantee (CLG), and to approve a new constitution.
Kathy says it’s an exciting step in modernising the organisation’s corporate governance.
“We’ll have a new constitution that will take effect from 1 July, and while members are unlikely to notice any changes, the new CLG structure will set RAA up to deliver the best services and products – and the greatest value – for members well into the future.
“I want to thank the thousands of members who voted to secure a stronger future for RAA and make it harder than ever to demutualise our much-loved membership organisation."
For more information, visit raa.com.au/AGM
The year in numbers
members (up 2.2%)
holidays booked
roadside assistance calls handled
homes, vehicles, boats, caravans insured
RAA Charge sites completed
Clean Up Australia Day
It’s time to gather your friends, grab some garbage bags and pull on a pair of gloves for Clean Up Australia Day being held on Sunday, 2 March.
The annual event, which started 35 years ago, encourages communities to clean up parks, beaches, bushland and other natural environments across the country.
In 2022–23, more than 26,000 items were picked up by volunteers across South Australia with hard plastics accounting for 35 per cent of the waste collected. In 2024, about 750,000 people took part in Clean Up Australia Day at 11,246 locations.
Families, communities, schools and businesses can register a ‘clean up’ event in their local area, with organisers receiving a free kit containing bags, gloves and instructions.
To get involved or register an event, visit cleanup.org.au
Victor Harbor shop relocates
The RAA Shop in Victor Harbor has recently moved to Victor Central Shopping Centre.
Opening on Main Street in the 1930s, the Victor Harbor shop has been servicing the local community for almost a century.
RAA’s friendly staff are Fleurieu Peninsula locals and are on hand to help members manage their RAA Road Service and insurance policies, including travel insurance. Members can also book local, domestic and international travel and cruise holidays, apply for an International Driving Permit or purchase retail products, including luggage and mobility scooters.
The RAA Shop in Victor Harbor is open Monday to Saturday from 9am until 5pm.
IMAGES: Clean Up Australia; RAA/Robert Kidman, Mike Lockheart.
