Heartfelt contribution supports families at Ronald McDonald House Charity

Komatsu's Live your Dream program offers employees like Diana Easter the opportunity to make a significant impact on an organisation of their choice. For Diana, this initiative was a way for her to give back to a charity that means a lot to not only her, but her family.

The Live your Dream program is a Komatsu initiative that grants $10,000 to select employees each year to put towards a charity or organisation – whether that be a local community charity, a fundraising opportunity or a community support service.

Mackay branch employee, Diana, received her LYD grant for the Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) – North Australia. The RMHC provides a home-away-from-home for seriously ill or injured children, and offers free accommodation, meals, tutoring programs and support to them and their families. More than 2,200 families based in the Mackay region were supported by the RMHC in 2023.

“When the local house opened, I started volunteering in the family room and saw so many different families using the services. I got to experience firsthand the positive impact that the house provides to these families and the difference a meal, safe space, bed and a friendly conversation can have,” Diana says.

Diana’s nephew Nate has also been a resident of the RMHC in both Perth and Melbourne, and this had a lasting impact on her.

“RMHC offered comfort, housing and food at a very traumatic time for my family, not to mention easing the financial burden involved during their visits. My nephew and sister-in-law are based in Kalgoorlie, which is nearly 600km from Perth, so to have that support there for them when they were so far away from home and their family networks was beyond helpful,” Diana says.

Diana’s LYD grant will be used to provide local Mackay families at RMHC with essentials such as toiletries, snacks, sanitary items, water and activity packs for both children and adults who visit the house. Diana’s family and fellow Komatsu workers packed and delivered the first batch of supplies to the house.

"The RMHC were appreciative of the donation as they are an independent charity that relies on the work of volunteers and the financial support of individuals and corporate donations. Being able to give back and be a part of the Live your Dream program has been such a fantastic experience and I’m so grateful to have been selected. It’s a beautiful feeling to be able to give back to an organisation that has helped my family immensely,” Diana says.