140 Years Gala Dinner - Melissa O’Neill

WELCOME

Good evening, everyone.

As a West Australian with roots that stretch back to the Swan River settlement, I am incredibly proud to be standing here this evening.

Long before Bunnings became a household name, the Bunning brothers were helping build communities.

They constructed important buildings.

Created jobs.

And helped establish regional industries, investing in the growth and prosperity of Western Australia.

That’s a legacy that continues to inspire how we show up in communities today.

Because while Bunnings has changed enormously over the last 140 years, one thing has remained remarkably constant.

We've always believed that being part of the local community comes with a responsibility to contribute to it.

What many people don’t understand is that community isn't just a program for us.

It's a principle that is deeply embedded in the DNA of our business.

A great example is the investment we rarely talk about, and few see or understand.

Across our network, we have hundreds of Activity Organisers, full or part-time team members whose sole job is to bring our communities into our stores and our stores into our communities.

Hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure we do the right things the right way.

They help local organisations raise funds, bring people together and turn a large business into one that is genuinely local.

Our approach to community has never been complicated.

Show up, listen, and help.

But simple doesn't mean small. It's simple by design, because that's what makes it possible to do it everywhere.

And this simple idea continues to have significant impact.

The extraordinary fundraising figure Mike shared earlier is the result of thousands of local partnerships, each one grounded in people giving their time to help others.

It's not that community is easy, it's that we've chosen, again and again, to keep it simple enough that anyone can be part of it.

It's a principle that has guided generations of our team members and leaders.

And if I had to describe that principle tonight, I'd do it through four simple ideas.

The first idea is that communities are built by people.

Over the years we've met extraordinary people in communities across Australia and New Zealand.

Volunteers.

Mentors.

Fundraisers.

Coaches.

Carers.

People who simply decide to show up when someone needs help.

Many never seek recognition.

Most would probably be embarrassed by it.

Yet these are the people who create connection, belonging and resilience in the communities around them.

They remind us that the strength of any community is not measured by what it has, but by how people look after one another.

Through programs such as Legend of the Tongs, Coaching Legends and our Community Legends program, we've had the privilege of recognising some of these remarkable individuals.

They are often the quiet achievers, local heroes whose impact far outweighs the attention they receive, and they exist in every suburb and every town we serve.

The second idea is that communities are strongest when we work together.

One of the great lessons from 140 years is that meaningful impact is never created alone.

It is built through partnership.

Partnership between businesses and not-for-profits.

Partnership with our suppliers.

Partnership between our stores, our customers and the communities they serve.

And I want to call out the generosity of our customers, the ones who buy the sausage, attend the event, join the workshop, donate or volunteer their own time.

Together we've supported fundraising efforts, responded during natural disasters, invested in community projects and backed causes that matter to local communities.

These relationships are far from transactional.

They are built on shared values.

A shared belief that businesses can make a positive contribution to society.

And a shared commitment to leaving communities stronger than we found them.

Tonight I'd like to sincerely thank our supplier partners and community partners in the room.

You have helped shape the Bunnings story, and the impact we've been able to create together is something we are enormously proud of.

More importantly, our work doesn’t stop here.

The third idea is that strong communities need strong places.

Our purpose has always been to help create better homes and better lives.

But community doesn’t stop at the front fence.

It lives in playgrounds, sporting clubs, community gardens, neighbourhood centres, parks and gathering places.

The places where people meet.

Where connection happens.

Where people feel they belong.

And sometimes, those places are our own stores.

Every week, customers and community members come through our doors not only to buy something, but to learn something.

They come to gain practical skills, exchange ideas, build confidence and have a go at something new.

Community groups come to raise funds and awareness.

Families join in activities.

Customers learn skills that help them improve their homes and, in many cases, help others.

At their best, our stores are more than places of commerce. They are places of learning, participation and community connection.

That is why we continue to invest in initiatives that help create stronger, safer and more connected communities.

Whether it is through local store activities, our Community Grants Program, Safer Places, or our national community partnerships, the goal is ultimately the same:

To help create places where people feel they belong.

Places where people feel connected.

Places where communities can thrive.

And finally, community starts with opportunity.

One of the most important contributions any business can make is creating meaningful work.

For generations, people have started their first job at Bunnings.

Others have built lifelong careers with us.

Some have joined us for a fresh start, a second career or a new chapter in life.

Our stores are workplaces.

But they're also places of learning, opportunity, friendship and belonging.

Across Australia and New Zealand, thousands of people have developed skills, built confidence and found purpose through a career at Bunnings.

When we talk about community impact, we shouldn't overlook the power of opportunity.

Because opportunity changes lives too.

Closing

Perhaps after 140 years, the greatest lesson we’ve learned is this:

Businesses don’t build strong communities on their own. People do.

Our role is to stand beside them.

To create opportunities.

To share skills and knowledge.

To invest in partnerships.

To strengthen local places.

And to support the people who make communities what they are.

After 140 years, Bunnings is fortunate to be woven into the fabric of communities across Australia and New Zealand.

Not simply because of the stores we’ve built or the products we’ve sold.

But because of the trust, relationships and shared values we’ve built together over generations.

So tonight, to our team, our suppliers, our community partners and our customers, thank you.

Thank you for showing up.

Thank you for sharing our belief in stronger communities.

And thank you for continuing to build them with us.

Have a wonderful evening.