Media Release: Mission Australia winner celebrates with BBQ cooked by celebrity chef Ben O'Donoghue

Heather Edwards from Greenslopes was the lucky winner of Mission Australia’s ‘Ben O’Donoghue BBQ’ competition, and on Saturday 13 February, celebrated her luck with nine of her closest friends, a brand new barbeque – and celebrity chef Ben O’Donoghue.

In October 2009, Ben O’Donoghue – one of Australia’s most talented and well-loved celebrity chefs, TV presenters and cook book authors – joined forces with Mission Australia to raise much needed funds for Australians in need.

His latest cook book – BEN’S BARBEQUE – was offered to Mission Australia supporters at the special price of $25, with $10 from each book purchased going towards financing some of Mission Australia’s programs and facilities. Every person who purchased BEN’S BARBEQUE went into the draw to win the ‘Ben O’Donoghue BBQ competition.

By purchasing Ben’s cook book, Ms Edwards has won herself a ‘Beefmaster 4 on Cart’ Barbeque from BBQ’s Galore, two cases of Penfolds wine and a fully catered barbeque Day lunch for ten people – cooked to perfection by Ben O’Donoghue.

Mission Australia CEO Toby Hall, said the ‘Ben O’Donoghue BBQ’ competition had been a great success.

“Australians are well known for enjoying a BBQ, and also for helping each other out in times of need – our competition brought those two things together, and we’ve raised over $5000 for our programs and facilities,” Mr Hall said.

“We really appreciate Ben’s support, and we’d also like to thank everyone out there who showed their support for Mission Australia by purchasing BEN’S BARBEQUE. The money you have raised will go towards helping out Australians in need.”

Ben O’Donoghue said he was delighted to throw his support behind Mission Australia and help some of Australia’s most vulnerable.

“I admire the work Mission Australia does, and the commitment with which they support our country’s most disadvantaged – so I feel privileged to have helped raise some well-deserved funds for the organisation,” Ben said.

“I also really enjoyed meeting Heather and her friends on Saturday and cooking up a storm on her brand new barbeque.”

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Images are available on request

Media contact: Melissa Tucker, Rowland – (07) 3229 4499, 0413 980 229 or Melissa.Tucker@rowland.com.au

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Celebrity chef cooks up a storm today for a good cause

Ben O’Donoghue, one of Australia’s most talented and well-loved celebrity chefs, TV presenters and cook book authors, will be cooking up a storm this Thursday, 15 October 2009, at Mission Australia’s Cafe One on Wickham to mark Anti-Poverty Week and the launch of his Australia Day Barbeque competition to help raise funds for Mission Australia.

Clients and friends of Cafe One on Wickham will enjoy a sample from Ben’s new cook book – Ben's Barbeque - from 11.30am.

Cafe One on Wickham provides low cost meals and coffee – as well as a range of individual support services – to homeless and seriously disadvantaged people. The cafe provides a sense of belonging to the lives of these people and is a place for them to reconnect with society.

Ben said he is thrilled to be launching the competition, a partnership with Mission Australia and Clayton Utz to help Australia’s vulnerable.

“I love cooking for people, and I can’t think of a better way to mark the launch of the competition and Anti-Poverty Week 2009 than by serving up a barbeque for some worthy Australians,” Ben said.

“I’m looking forward to sitting down over a steak sandwich, and listening to some of the stories of Cafe One’s customers and sharing a few of my own cooking secrets.”

Ben is offering Mission Australia supporters, the chance to snap up his cook book – BEN’S BARBEQUE - at the low price of $25, with all proceeds going to support Mission Australia’s Cafe One on Wickham.

Mission Australia and Ben are offering one lucky person, who purchases the book through the Mission Australia website, the chance to win an Australia Day barbeque in their own backyard for 10 people – cooked and catered for by Ben himself – along with two cases of wine from Penfolds and their very own Barbeques Galore barbeque.

Ben hopes the competition will encourage people to support Mission Australia.

“I admire the work Mission Australia does, and the commitment with which they support our country’s most disadvantaged – so I feel privileged to be helping raise some well-deserved funds for the organisation.”

Ben O’Donoghue cook book launch at Cafe One
Date: Thursday, 15 October 2009
Time: 11.30am
Where: Cafe One - 56/256 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley

Vision and interview opportunities with Ben O’Donoghue available for further information contact Melissa Tucker, Rowland – (07) 3229 4499, 0413 980 229 or Melissa.Tucker@rowland.com.au

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Café One on Wickham is a space for the entire community to interact. The Cafe not only provides approximately 20,000 meals each year, it also offers homeless and disengaged people with the assistance and support they need to make sustainable changes in their lives.

Café One on Wickham offers:
• Direct support to around 5,000 people through counselling, advocacy and connection to other specialised services
• Free legal and health advice to more than 650 people each year from visiting services
• Information about housing options
• A micro credit system
• A space to connect with others and avoid social isolation
• A meeting point for community groups
• Access to the Catalyst Program (a program conducted in partnership with Australian Catholic University to provide university education to disadvantaged Australians).

The café costs approximately $430,000 a year to run and relies entirely on the support of the community and local businesses.