A Repurposed Life

'From the founder of OzHarvest, an ebullient, generous memoir with an exhilarating message.' ANNABEL CRABB

'Brimming with energy, altruism and refreshing candour' QUENTIN BRYCE

'The inspiring story of a woman with a big heart who dared to make a difference. This is a must-read book. I couldn't put it down.' ITA BUTTROSE

'Ronni Kahn is a force of nature. She has taught so many of us about the importance of embracing community and compassion through offering and sharing our food to those most vulnerable in our society.' KYLIE KWONG

'You don't get used to living permanently behind the eight ball - no matter how long you've done it, it doesn't get easier. There's a constant sense of shame that eats away at you, making you feel that you're just not good enough. Some people are so poor that they can't even afford to feel shame. Ronni Kahn, through her work with OzHarvest, does the very thing that offers hope to those in the poverty trap: restore dignity and remove shame. This is her story.' JIMMY BARNES

'Ronni Kahn is a one-woman freight train for the force of good. She is living testament to the awesome power of living in a way that is real and wholehearted, and whether people know it or not, that is why they are drawn to her. This book is not only a beautifully conveyed account of Ronni's story, but it also serves as inspiration for anyone who chooses to see life's challenges as opportunities to grow. Through serving others, there is the very real possibility we may find a sense of purpose, connectedness and joy.' MELISSA LEONG

'Inspiring, wonderfully honest and very much needed.' TIM FLANNERY

Life throws us mysterious ingredients. If we are brave enough to put the recipe aside and experiment, it's right there that things get interesting.

As the owner of a successful events company, throwing away huge volumes of leftover food at the end of the day came with the territory. But when Ronni Kahn hit midlife, she found herself no longer able to turn a blind eye to her food waste problem. Hand delivering the untouched food to homeless shelters around Sydney became her renegade solution. Little did she know that fixing her small problem at work would lead her to unlock a hidden purpose at the very core of her inner life.

Now founder and CEO of the food rescue organisation OzHarvest, Ronni leads hundreds of staff and thousands of volunteers with the goal to nourish Australia. She serves in an advisory capacity to government and is an instrumental leader in changing federal laws to improve social justice and environmental policies.

A Repurposed Life is the story of how Ronni found her voice, her heart and her deepest calling. From her early years growing up under the brutal system of apartheid South Africa, to a socialist commune in Israel, Ronni finally settled in Australia to discover a profound new way of living. Shared with the humour, warmth and energy that have made her an internationally renowned keynote speaker, this heartfelt exploration of the choices that define us will speak to anyone seeking a more passionate expression of being alive.

Preface

PART 1: SOUTH AFRICA
Chapter 1: Apartness
Chapter 2: Florrie
Chapter 3: Lemonade
Chapter 4: Selma
Chapter 5: Scarcity and Abundance
Chapter 6: The Place I Called Home
Chapter 7: Mandela

PART 2: ISRAEL
Chapter 8: Land of Hummus and Falafel
Chapter 9: Israel Attacato
Chapter 10: Socialist Motherhood
Chapter 11: The Perm
Chapter 12: Haifa
Chapter 13: Exodus

PART 3: AUSTRALIA
Chapter 14: Ribbons and Bows
Chapter 15: New Skin
Chapter 16: Keys to Nowhere
Chapter 17: The Dark Side
Chapter 18: The Night that Changed Everything
Chapter 19: Gourmet Repurposed
Chapter 20: Soweto
Chapter 21: City of an Angel

PART 4: OZHARVEST
Chapter 22: The Birth of OzHarvest
Chapter 23: Corner Office
Chapter 24: The Power of a Point
Chapter 25: The Lunch Meeting
Chapter 26: Tikkun Olam
Chapter 27: Amma
Chapter 28: Magic Yellow Apron
Chapter 29: Byzantine Bureaucracy
Chapter 30: Fishtails and Potato Skins
Chapter 31: Jewel in the Crown
Chapter 32: Take What You Need, Give If You Can
Chapter 33: Bottling the Brand

PART 5: TRUE CALLING
Chapter 34: Tennis Strings
Chapter 35: Silver Vixen
Chapter 36: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Chapter 37: Hearing the Unheard
Chapter 38: One Little Starfish at a Time
Chapter 39: The Ripple Effect
Chapter 40: Spiritual Sustainability
Chapter 41: One Warm Egg
Chapter 42: Chocolate Cake

Afterword
Acknowledgements
Index