Tasmania
In April 2008, SecondBite began talks with the Tasmanian Government regarding the introduction of a Good Samaritan Act to allow food businesses to donate quality produce to not-for-profit community groups free from common law liability. Tasmania was one of only two states in Australia not to have an Act of this type. In June of that year, the Premier David Bartlett tabled the legislation and the Civil Liability Amendment Bill 2008 was passed. Mr Bartlett also announced a grant to allow SecondBite to start distributing food around the state. 
In 2009 SecondBite acquired a refrigerated truck and warehouse premises have been kindly donated. This support, together with a growing base of voluntary help has allowed SecondBite to begin operations in earnest. Since August our team has been collecting surplus food every week from supermarkets and delivering it to recipient agencies around Hobart to help them meet the nutritional needs of many people who are homeless or living in disadvantaged circumstances in the area.
The total amount of food donated for January 2010 was 3812 kgs
For a recent article in the Mercury November 2009 click here
For a recent article in the Mercury October 2009 click here
For more information on Tasmania, please visit the media room.
SecondBite Tasmania – Advisory Committee Members
Heather Chong
Heather is the Chief Executive Officer of Qew Orchards, a family-owned/operated apricot orchard located near Richmond. In 2003, Heather was named the Telstra Tasmanian Business Woman of the Year and also won the Tasmanian Westpac Group Business Owner Award. Heather is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Director of the Rivers and Waters Supply Commission, an Advisory Board member of the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, and Australian Women in Agriculture, and also Vice-Chair of the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation. She is an alderman with Clarence City Council and is an active member of the Rotary Club of Hobart.
John Ramsay
John is a lawyer with over 20 years experience as a Chief Executive in the Tasmanian Government. He was Secretary of the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services from 1999 to 2005, after heading the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, and the Department of Justice. Since he left the public sector in 2005, part of his consulting practice has been in health-related areas, including work for the Australian Health Minister’s Advisory Council and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and in environment and natural resources, working for the Tasmanian and Commonwealth Governments. John is the current Chairman of Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Charles Cook
Charles has been very actively involved in Rotary’s support of SecondBite Tasmania since 2008. He is a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Sandy Bay. Charles established Uniform City as a start-up business 21 years ago and continues as its owner and manager. He has had a long involvement with the St Vincent de Paul Society, during which time he was Secretary of St Vincent de Paul, Kingston. Charles holds a Bachelor of Business Degree and taught for over 20 years at the University of Tasmania and TAFE.
Kevin Todeschini
Kevin has been involved in the food industry for the past 30 years, from apprentice baker to Lead Food Safety Auditor. Kevin operated a successful small business and later held the position of Operations Manager for National Pies Tasmania. Kevin became involved in SecondBite as a volunteer through Business Mentor Services Tasmania. He is currently coordinating and delivering food-safety training to SecondBite staff. He comes to SecondBite offering skills in Safe Food Handling, Food Security, Work-Place Training and practical Business Management.