From Grassroots

Woolworths
  • 4.9 (16)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join us as we celebrate 100 years of Woolworths' commitment to Australian communities through powerful partnerships that create lasting change. In this special series, you'll hear inspiring stories from organisations like OzHarvest, Clontarf Foundation, Rural Aid, and The Salvation Army about how collaboration transforms lives across the country. Discover how Woolworths' century-long journey of caring for communities has built hope, resilience, and opportunity for generations of Australians.

Episodes

  1. 05/06/2025

    The remarkable origin story of Woolworths

    The remarkable origin story of Woolworths with Stephen Ward from the Woolworths Heritage Center, who reveals how five ambitious men with just £100 each built what would become Australia's largest retailer. Learn about the "very cheeky" business move that gave Woolworths its iconic name. From a single basement store in Sydney's Imperial Arcade in 1924 to employing 200,000 people today, this is the fascinating tale of entrepreneurial spirit and community service that shaped a century of Australian retail history.

    21 min

  2. 05/06/2025

    The Clontarf Foundation on improving the lives of young Indigenous men

    Meet Troy Gordon from the Clontarf Foundation, whose simple mission of "get the boys to school, get 'em to year 12, and get 'em a job" has achieved an extraordinary results for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men. Discover how what started as an accidental program has grown to support nearly 12,000 boys across every state and territory. And learn how Woolworths' partnership provides not just funding but employment opportunities, creating pathways that transform young lives and strengthen entire communities across Australia.

    17 min

  3. 05/06/2025

    The Salvation Army on supporting Australians on their worst day

    Meet Bindi Lupus, the Salvation Army's National Response Manager, who explains how their disaster relief teams provide not just food and shelter, but crucial emotional support to people experiencing "their worst day". Discover the remarkable 94-year partnership between Woolworths and The Salvation Army that began with a simple £10 donation in 1930. And learn how the Salvation Army's teams work alongside Woolworths to ensure that when disaster strikes, help arrives quickly.

    15 min

  4. 05/06/2025

    OzHarvest's Ronni Kahn on delivering 100 million meals to Aussies in need

    Meet Ronni Kahn, the visionary founder of OzHarvest, who turned her frustration with food waste at corporate events into Australia's leading food rescue organisation. Discover how what started as "rogue food deliveries" in a single yellow van has grown into a partnership where Woolworths provides 70% of OzHarvest's rescued food, approaching the incredible milestone of 100 million meals delivered. Learn how this 10-year partnership has transformed surplus food from Woolworths stores into hope and dignity for millions of Australians facing hunger.

    17 min

  5. 05/06/2025

    Rural Aid on supporting Aussie farmers during tough times

    Meet John Warlters, CEO of Rural Aid, on supporting farming families struggling through droughts, floods, and other natural disasters that threaten Australia's agricultural backbone. Discover how Rural Aid's mission goes beyond delivering hay and emergency water to include mental health counselling, recognising that farmers need support to make the big decisions that keep food on Australian tables. And learn how Woolworths' partnership with Rural Aid helps sustain the farming communities that produce the fresh food we all rely on, providing both practical assistance and hope during the toughest times in rural Australia.

    16 min
  6. Doing Dairy Farming Differently | Jason Riley, Dairy Farmer

    04/10/2021

    Doing Dairy Farming Differently | Jason Riley, Dairy Farmer

    Jason Riley was just 12 years old when he decided he wanted to be a dairy farmer, and now at 22, that’s exactly what he’s doing, working alongside his parents, partner and mentors. In this episode, Jason shares how his mum, a breast cancer survivor, is his main motivation (and puts in almost as many hours with the cows as Jason himself), the importance of mentors, and how not all advice is helpful.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 min
  7. Battling the Bushfires | Jake Brooks, Pineapple Farmer

    04/10/2021

    Battling the Bushfires | Jake Brooks, Pineapple Farmer

    Despite being a third-generation pineapple farmer, Jake Brooks had never seen a pineapple burn – that was until the November 2019 bushfires. Within 24 hours of receiving the call, the family business lost more than 1200 hectares as well as tractors, forklifts and about 200,000 pineapple plants. In this episode, Jake talks about how they’re bouncing back, sharing the workload with his twin brother, and whether or not pineapple does in fact belong on a pizza.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 min
  8. From Paddock to Plate | Mark Kable, Broccoli and Cauliflower Farmer

    04/10/2021

    From Paddock to Plate | Mark Kable, Broccoli and Cauliflower Farmer

    When Mark Kable was in his 20s, he threw his bag and his swag in the back of his ute and relocated from Dubbo (via Sydney) to Tasmania. He was looking for new opportunities to continue the family business and now he supplies over 90,000 tonnes of different vegetables, employs up to 300 people, and has expanded operations into Queensland and Victoria. In this episode, Mark discusses how the business survived some of Tasmania’s most devastating floods, how to get your kids to eat their veggies and how he reinvented the humble carrot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min
  9. Tree Change | Lynda Harding, Organic Citrus, Veg & Stone Fruit Farmer

    04/10/2021

    Tree Change | Lynda Harding, Organic Citrus, Veg & Stone Fruit Farmer

    Often people think a tree change is a shift to a quieter life, but not for Lynda Harding and her husband Noel, who took on a 1,500-tree stone fruit orchard in Western Australia with no prior experience. Lynda swapped her corporate life in Queensland to become an organic fruit and veg farmer. In this episode, she discusses how she sobbed until midnight during her first season of harvesting, fed her newborn under the trees while picking, and why today more than ever, in a time where COVID-19 has changed so many lives, she appreciates the life she’s made.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 min
  10. From Small Things, Big Things Grow | Jimmy Kalafatis, Fruit Farmer

    04/10/2021

    From Small Things, Big Things Grow | Jimmy Kalafatis, Fruit Farmer

    Jimmy Kalafatis, a second-generation fruit farmer, comes from a family of hard workers. His late father Angelo emigrated from Greece to Australia at the age of 19 looking for new opportunities and managed to build Kalafatis Farms from the ground up. Today, the family business has more than half a million fruit trees. In this episode, Jimmy talks about the importance of family, the work ethic he inherited from his father, and why you should always think twice before saying yes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    23 min
  11. Growing Pains & Gains | Andrew Smith, Organic Apple Farmer

    04/10/2021

    Growing Pains & Gains | Andrew Smith, Organic Apple Farmer

    Taking on the family business is a big job, let alone completely overhauling a 133-year-old family orchard. For fourth-generation apple farmer Andrew Smith, the risks were worth it. In this episode, Andrew talks about how he convinced his father to go organic (making them Australia’s first certified organic apple farm), turned imperfect apples into profit, and how fear helped drive his success. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min
  12. Trailer

    30/09/2021

    Trailer

    In From Grassroots, we share the stories of farmers who personify the character, grit and humour of what it means to be a farmer in modern Australia. Join series host, Edwina Bartholomew, as she meets six Aussie farmers from very different backgrounds. Each has faced risks and hardships, havoc and heartbreak, but their stories of perseverance will inspire you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 sec
  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Join us as we celebrate 100 years of Woolworths' commitment to Australian communities through powerful partnerships that create lasting change. In this special series, you'll hear inspiring stories from organisations like OzHarvest, Clontarf Foundation, Rural Aid, and The Salvation Army about how collaboration transforms lives across the country. Discover how Woolworths' century-long journey of caring for communities has built hope, resilience, and opportunity for generations of Australians.

Information

  • Creator
    Woolworths
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Woolworths
  • Show Website
    From Grassroots