Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts - Janice Maeditere.
Christmas is the season of giving, and who does it better than an organisation that gives to kids? Sallyanne is very passionate during Christmas because she champions the Be An Elf charity, which proclaims its mission is to help transform lives, instil hope, and build a brighter tomorrow for children in need.
The#RUDstory is about our employees, the charities they support, the values they hold dear, and their experience of teamwork, challenges and motivation at RUD.
How many years have you been doing the Be An Elf charity?
My family has been supporting Be An Elf for the last seven years, and RUD Australia has been on board for the last six years. RUD's involvement has become a cherished tradition. RUD's commitment to Be An Elf has been long-term, with the team consistently contributing to the cause year after year.
The team at RUD plays a significant role in fulfilling the Wish Letters, gathering donations, and ensuring that the gifts are delivered to families in need during the holiday season. Their participation has made a meaningful difference to the children and families served by BE AN ELF and the larger community.
Can you tell us a bit more about the charity?
Certainly! Be An Elf is a community-driven charity that operates primarily during the Christmas season. It aims to help children and families in need by fulfilling their wishes and providing essential items. The charity connects local children, some of whom are dealing with homelessness or extreme poverty, with businesses, organisations, and individuals who are willing to donate.
Each year, Be An Elf collects "Wish Letters" written by children or their parents, detailing their requests for holiday gifts. These requests are often for basic necessities like shoes, bedding, clothes, or hygiene products rather than toys or luxury items. The goal is to help families who are struggling to make ends meet, especially during the festive season when the pressure to provide for children can be overwhelming.
Volunteers, including individuals and company employees (like the team at RUD Chains), read the letters, match them with donations, and assemble gift bags filled with the requested items. Volunteer Deliverers then distribute the gifts to families, ensuring they receive them before Christmas Eve.
The charity’s impact goes beyond just material support; it brings awareness to the hidden issues of poverty, domestic violence and homelessness that many Australians face, particularly those who live in marginalised communities. Be An Elf encourages people to reflect on the importance of community and the profound impact that simple acts of kindness can have. It's a powerful reminder that Christmas isn't just about celebration - it’s also about giving back and helping those who are less fortunate.
Through the initiative, Be An Elf fosters a sense of connection and compassion, reminding us all of the power of community in making the holiday season brighter for everyone, no matter their circumstances.
We have been seeing a lot of cost-of-living issues recently. Have you seen an increase in requests?
The rising cost of living has significantly increased the number of Wish Letters received by Be An Elf as more families are struggling to make ends meet. With soaring expenses for essentials such as food, rent, and utilities, many parents are left unable to afford even the simplest gifts for their children. This year, we have seen an influx of requests for necessities like school shoes, warm bedding, clothing, and basic hygiene products - items that should never feel like luxuries but have become unattainable for many.
Families who might not have sought assistance before are now reaching out due to financial pressure, and the stories in the letters reflect the hardships faced by everyday Australians. These letters give us a powerful glimpse into how the cost of living crisis is impacting children. Requests like "a can of Soap, Shampoo and Conditioner," "a proper pillow," or even "some snacks like biscuits" highlight the heartbreaking reality of what families are forced to prioritize just to get by.
How does RUD get involved in Be An Elf?
RUD gets deeply involved in Be An Elf by mobilising its employees to help fulfil the charity's mission during the Christmas season. Here’s how they typically get involved:
Adopting Wish Letters: Employees at RUD volunteer to read and adopt Wish Letters from children in need. These letters often contain requests for basic necessities like clothing, bedding, shoes, or hygiene products, which are crucial for families struggling with the rising cost of living.
Fulfilling Wishes: After adopting the letters, the RUD team members choose items from the list and donate them, ensuring that the children's specific wishes are met. This might include purchasing and preparing items like school shoes, toys, or essential household goods.
Gift Wrapping and Packaging: Once the gifts are collected, RUD volunteers help organise and package the donations into gift bags. These bags are then sent to Be An Elf's headquarters for final distribution to the families.
Support and Awareness: Beyond physical contributions, RUD also raises awareness and encourages other employees to get involved. They help spread the word about Be An Elf and rally support from their colleagues to contribute more Wish Letters and donations.
Do you have any additional comments?
I take great joy in leading the Be An Elf initiative and inspiring my colleagues at RUD to contribute more wish letters. It fills me with pride to work alongside such generous people, all united in making Christmas the most magical day of the year for everyone.
We are always looking for people in engineering, fabrication, welding, sales or marketing who believe that customers and culture are important. If there are no suitable roles,click hereto send us an expression of interest.
Australian Red Cross is a volunteer-based organisation with 110 years of experience and a community of 20,000+ members and volunteers. One of the most visible divisions of the Red Cross is Lifeblood, which collects not only blood but breast milk as well.
#meetKaren - The RUD February Charity Champion who spearheads the RUD Australia Lifeblood Team Donation Program for #Redcross.
Karen Gabolinscy works in the HR and WHS Department at RUD and is very passionate about helping others. The People & Culture team sat down with Karen to understand why she is passionate about Lifeblood and how RUD is helping the community through this program.
How many years have you been involved with the Red Cross?
36 years
What inspires you to continue advocating for the Red Cross?
My small contribution continues to help save lives, assisting the unemployed with ongoing support and emergency disaster support across Australia.
Why is this important to you?
I continue to support it as I know that the Australian Community has been receiving the support they need from a caring charity for 110 years now!
How does the Red Cross help save lives?
To know that for every 1 blood donation made can save up to 3 lives…..so with my 51 donations = 153 lives saved!!!
How does the RUD team help with the cause?
In 2023 we have registered a Red Cross Blood Life Team called “RUD Australia”, and we have new staff members joining throughout the year with regular donations. In 2023 we had 11 donations and in 2024, we have started off with 5 donations for the team!
Any other comments on the charity?
Please read some facts about Lifeblood and how it has been saving lives since 1929.
We are always looking for engineering, fabrication, welding, sales or marketing people who believe that customers and culture are important. If there are no suitable roles, click here to send us an expression of interest.
Welcome aboard Australia’s leading material lifting and handling technology company.
Click the button to read about us, our products, news, blog posts and everything happening at RUD in Australia and around the world.
If there's one thing The Order of Mo is known for, it's this. Growing a Mo is our symbol for better men’s health. It also grabs attention and starts important conversations.
November is Movember for Leigh Dalton, who champions the month in our #RUDstory series. The RUD Stories are about our employees, the values they hold dear and the highlights of teamwork, challenges and motivation while working at RUD.
#meetLeigh - The RUD November Charity Champion promoting men’s health issues on prostate and testicular cancer and men’s suicide.
Leigh Dalton, based at our Perth office, has been an advocate for Movember and has been prioritising this charity in the RUD workplace since 2014. The People & Culture team sat down with Leigh once again to understand why he is passionate about Movember, how RUD is helping to create a culture of care and well-being and why mental health should be a priority in our daily lives and in the workplace.
How many years have you been involved with the Movember charity?
I did Movember with some of the lads I played basketball with a couple of times before starting with RUD. But since I’ve been here, I’ve captained the team every year and this is our 10th consecutive Movember campaign.
What inspired you to continue advocating for this charity?
The conversation around men's health is very important. I have two young sons who I hope get to grow up in a society where men speaking openly about their physical and mental health is met with positive conversation and compassion rather than the old school “just harden up” response of past generations.
Do you think employee well-being is critical at RUD?
Employee well-being should be human well-being, regardless of your occupation and workplace, whether you work full-time, part-time or are not in employment. Everyone’s well-being is important. That being said, RUD does a great job of putting the staff's well-being at the forefront, with plenty of opportunities for people to be involved in various and numerous activities throughout the year and advocating for open and honest conversation amongst everyone here.
What other programs do you get involved with?
I’m a supporter of The Cancer Council as I have a personal and family history of cancer in various forms, and I’m also a big supporter of The Salvation Army. Both organisations do great work in the community in supporting those in need in what is often the darkest times of their lives.
Why do you think others should join your team to raise awareness for mental health?
I understand not everyone wants to commit to growing a Mo or the move challenge, and that’s okay. I just hope people hear the message about open and honest conversation and looking after ourselves, speaking up when things aren’t great and going to the GP when something isn’t right. Over the years, I’ve had conversations with colleagues who were thankful they were encouraged to have those types of discussions and that it made a good positive difference in the lives of them and their loved ones. Click here to join or donate to the RUD Chains Moustache Club.
So give it a go - it shows the world you stand for healthier men and a healthier world.
Interested to join the team?
Check our current vacancies on our Careers page or on Seek.
We are always looking for people in engineering, fabrication, welding, sales and admin who believe that customers and culture are important. If there are no suitable roles, click here to send us an expression of interest.
Welcome aboard Australia’s leading material lifting and handling technology company.
Click the button to read about us, our products, news, blog posts and everything happening at RUD in Australia and around the world.
The Red Cross slogan says, let's commit to helping and serving others.
We are well into 2023 and we continue into our February Charity Champion in the #RUDstory series. The #RUDstory is about our employees, the charities they support each month, the values they hold dear, and their experience of teamwork, challenges and motivation at RUD.
#meetKaren - The RUD February Charity Champion who spearheads the RUD Australia Lifeblood Team Donation Program for #Redcross.
Karen Gabolinscy works in Human Resources and Work Health & Safety at Brisbane and is very passionate about helping others. The People & Culture team sat down with Karen to understand why she is passionate about Lifeblood and how RUD is helping the community through this program.
What is the charity and how do they serve the community?
Australian Red Cross was founded in 1914 – in Melbourne by Lady Helen Munro Ferguson.
Australian Red Cross mobilises the power of humanity to bring people and communities together in time of need. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for human beings
Emergencies and disasters – find shelter, find support and find their loved ones
Employment Services – assisting people back into the workforce
Blood Services – operate blood banks Australia wide to help save lives
Why is this charity important to you?
This charity is important to me because
I am proud to be a life blood donor of 50 donations myself and knowing this contribution can assist so many in need and assist front line workers saving lives.
Emergencies and disaster assist is necessary within Australia and in particular Queensland, Red Cross is often first on the ground offering much needed support throughout these crises.
Red Cross offers support to people getting back into the workforce with employment services of CV writing, job application processes and upskilling of training – making a real impact to people's lives.
What does the contributions of RUD and the wider community have on helping this cause?
RUD’s support will be making a real difference…..
Supporting our workers to take the time out during work hours to donate blood.
Assisting with all costs to host a staff BBQ to raise much needed funds for the emergency and disaster appeal.
Any other comments on the charity?
Please read some facts of Lifeblood and how it has been saving lives since 1929.
We are always looking for people in engineering, fabrication, welding, sales or marketing who believe that customers and culture are important. If there are no suitable roles, click here to send us an expression of interest.
Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone - Charles M. Schulz
Christmas is the time of giving and we continue into our December Charity Champion in the #RUDstory series. The #RUDstory is about our employees, the charities they support each month, the values they hold dear, and their experience of teamwork, challenges and motivation at RUD.
#meetSallyanne - The RUD December Charity Champion on making a difference to children during Christmas through the #BeAnElf organisation.
Sallyanne Byrne works in Sales at Brisbane and is very passionate about giving to the community. The People & Culture team sat down with Sallyanne to understand why she is passionate about Christmas and how RUD is helping the community through this charity.
What is the charity and how do they serve the community?
BE AN ELF connects local children in need with businesses during the Christmas season. The children vary from new-born to fifteen years (some of the fifteen-year-old are local homeless youths who need some love). Not having food to eat or being homeless is a sign of poverty. All too often poverty is hidden ‐ and it is hard for many ordinary Australians to comprehend, let alone understand its impact.
For the last 16 years in December, BE AN ELF volunteers read letters written by children to Santa and arrange gift bags for distribution. The letters are mostly written by local kids or their mums or dads asking for 'new shoes', ' bed sheets’, ‘pillow' or other necessities.
The Wish Letter helps everyday Aussies like us to see what it means to be underprivileged. The Wish Letters are matched to the gifts by volunteer elves like the team at RUD Chains. We pick a few items from the list and then send it back to the ELF HEADQUARTERS to dispatch to families through Volunteer Deliverers by Christmas Eve.
Why is this charity important to you?
BE AN ELF is an opportunity for me and my family to give back to society and to children in need. I love the support of my RUD work colleagues who are very generous. With COVID and increasing homelessness, the gift of giving is a small token that the RUD team and I can do to make a child feel loved on Christmas day.
I would love to see a well-balanced society and help children out of their impoverished upbringing. This is very important to me because it empowers me with a sense of worth during one of the most magical days of the year. And it all starts with a Wish Letter.
The founder of BE AN ELF once told me, they delivered a Wish Letter to a family whose child requested a block of cheese and the child cried on receiving the cheese (which brought tears to my eyes). We also had child request a can of Aeroguard this year and a good painting book to paint pictures to sell to help his mum pay the bills. These are some of the things we take for granted and it saddens me that there are children suffering loneliness, frustration, and self‐doubt. Christmas is the time of giving and through BE AN ELF, I want them to feel special like every child on this day.
What does the contributions of RUD and the wider community have on helping this cause?
When a child receives a gift which is the item they asked in the Wish Letter, the big smile is the reward. Nothing can replace the feeling you get when granting a wish such as a new pair of black school shoes or a Barbie or a pair of new undies (to replace the ones that were holey and pre-worn). The difference we make at RUD through the BE AN ELF is the empowering contribution to society’s vulnerable and smallest members who most of the time end up neglected because they do not have a voice.
Any other comments on the charity?
I love spearheading the BE AN ELF and encouraging all my colleagues at RUD to contribute more wish letters. It makes me proud to working with generous colleagues for the same cause, making Christmas the most magical day of the year for all.
We are always looking for people in engineering, fabrication, welding, sales or marketing who believe that customers and culture are important. If there are no suitable roles, click here to send us an expression of interest.
If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself - Henry Ford
This is the first article in our #RUDstory series. We will be sharing our employee stories on the values they hold dear, and highlighting their experience of teamwork, challenges and motivation while working at RUD.
#meetLeigh - The RUD November Charity Champion promoting men’s health issues on prostate and testicular cancer and men’s suicide.
Leigh Dalton based at our Perth office has been an advocate for Movember and prioritising this charity in the RUD workplace since 2014. The People & Culture team sat down with Leigh to understand why he is passionate about Movember, how RUD is helping to create a culture of care and wellbeing and why mental health should be a priority in our daily lives and in the workplace.
Can you tell us about yourself and why is Movember so important to you?
The RUD Chains Tuesday Afternoon Moustache Club started in 2014 and is open for anyone to join.
The Movember mission of promoting conversations, action and raising funds around men’s physical and mental health is close to my heart. On a personal level, with a history of mental ill health, I believe I should take better care of myself. I also have two young sons who I do not wish to be subjected to mental health struggles. Finally, the bonus of growing a moustache is really a fun part of the month
What inspired you to be an advocate for this Charity?
While growing up, mental health was not something many people spoke about. Also, there were no available resources or support services like there are today. There have been some dark times in my life, and a few that I am grateful and feel blessed to have been able to walk away from. Because I almost didn’t!
Drawing from your own experience, can you give us some tips for managing mental health?
I have been lucky that through my life I had people who I could talk to, such as a few close friends and family members, my wife, an excellent GP and a great clinical psychologist. I have found talking to be the best medicine. People are, in my experience, only too happy to listen and help, as best as they can.
I always try to really encourage people to speak up if they are not doing well. There are many available services, including your GP who can help you access a Medicare rebate for sessions with a psychologist. Movember has a fantastic support page on their web page too https://au.movember.com/mens-health/get-support
Why do you think employee wellbeing is a priority at RUD?
As a company, RUD values culture and inclusion very highly through programs such as the Employee Assistance Program which is available to staff and their families and a fantastic Wellness Program.
RUD has been fantastic with their support of The RUD Chains Tuesday Afternoon Moustache Club. Every year more people sign up to be on the team and since 2014 we have raised $21,160 for Movember. This includes the dollar for dollar match that RUD generously does each year. I am confident that we will have another big year in 2022 too.
Why do you think others should join your quest for mental health?
As well as the money we raise, through Movember, I hope we can start conversations. Important conversations with our colleagues, our friends, and our families. I like to encourage everyone to stop being afraid or embarrassed and to speak up. I am glad I did, and I am sure in the long run, you will be too!
We are always looking for people in engineering, fabrication, welding, sales or marketing who believe that customers and culture are important. If there are no suitable roles, click here to send us an expression of interest.
