Speeches

Tuesday, 30 July 2024

Reception for Treasure Boxes


Rod and I are delighted to welcome the Treasure Boxes community to Government House to thank you for your contributions in enabling the organisation’s vital work.

For nine years Treasure Boxes has been alleviating hardship for children and their families who are facing tough times as a result of poverty, homelessness, or domestic violence.

Importantly Treasure Boxes is there to bring hope to the vulnerable, lessen trauma and hardship and provide a sense that people care.

You build self-esteem and self-worth.

Firstly, I pay tribute to the founder of Treasure Boxes, Rikki Cooke.

Shaped by her experience as a Child Protection worker, Rikki recognised the need to provide childhood necessities such as clothing, nappies, toys, toiletries and change tables for families living in poverty.

They are all things that may be beyond the means of people focused on providing shelter and food for their children.

Because of this, children are so often the innocent victims of disadvantage.

Sadly, cost of living pressures and the risk of homelessness have seen an urgent need to increase support for the most vulnerable people in South Australia.

Now more than ever, Treasure Boxes can help ensure families don’t fall deeper into disadvantage.

The simple gesture of giving children warm clothing and bedding and clean clothes for school and daycare so they do not stand out from their peers shows you care.

I thank everyone here for your commitment, dedication, and involvement in supporting Treasure Boxes’ work and making it the organisation it is today.

In particular, I thank the nearly 200 volunteers who are the heart and soul of the organisation.

A lot has happened since Rikki started gathering and distributing goods from her shed at home.

Today, Treasure Boxes is a valued partner working alongside government and other caring organisations and front-line workers who alleviate poverty and provide housing and mental health and wellbeing services.

Treasure boxes now supports more than 3,500 children and 1,300 families each year.

Of these 46% are Aboriginal children and families.

And more than 200 support organisations rely on Treasure Boxes to provide tangible support to help families. Many are here today.

Treasure Boxes now has two warehouses and a northern hub to store and distribute goods worth more than $2.7 million, and by recycling high-quality goods, prevents more than 3,000 tons of items ending up in landfill.

None of this would be possible without the devoted volunteers, staff, board members, and generous corporate and other supporters.

Thank you for believing in Treasure Boxes’ mission.

Rod and I are always heartened that so many South Australians care about our community and actively contribute to make it better.

The importance of Treasure Boxes is brought home in the following heartfelt words from a supporter:

Helping families doing it so tough right now and helping them get back on their feet, who may have lost everything is honestly priceless. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity for support. Keep shining you beautiful people.”

I wish the organisation well for the future as it continues to provide relief for South Australians doing it tough.

Thank you for “giving goods to kids in need”.

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