Victorian Nationals MPs recently volunteered to cook dinner for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Melbourne’s North Fitzroy.

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in Victoria and Tasmania support more than 2000 families of seriously ill children, as well as high-risk pregnancies requiring medical treatment, predominantly from regional and rural areas.

Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said so many people in our community have benefitted from the remarkable work of the RMCH charity, either directly or indirectly through knowing someone who relied on the accommodation support.

“The service that the Ronald McDonald Houses provide is critical for regional families when a child is undergoing specialist medical treatment that’s only accessible in Melbourne,” Mr Bull said.

“They provide for essential accommodation, comfort, care, and kindness to regional families when they need it most.

“It was a humbling experience preparing a meal for families who are away from their home and support networks, due to their child seeking treatment, and to be able to chat to those families gave a great insight into what they are experiencing.

“It was great to play a small part in supporting families accessing the service – cooking a homestyle meal and sitting around the dining table, listening to their stories.”

While connected to McDonalds, Ronald McDonald House services are reliant on external funding, including Government grants and donations from the community to keep the service operating.

“It is difficult to comprehend the true financial, emotional, and mental cost of caring for a child who need to undergo treatment at a hospital that is far from home,” Mr Bull said.

“The road ahead for their family often means countless days navigating the hospital system, but thanks to the Ronald McDonald Houses, some of the stress is alleviated.

“There are many fabulous volunteer opportunities at RMHC that can be undertaken to help support seriously ill children and their families.

“I encourage anyone who would like to get involved like The Nationals did to contact Victoria/Tasmania volunteering team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..”

Caption: The Victorian Nationals MPs volunteered to cook dinner for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.

Monday, 17 July 2023