National Australia Bank : Bedford Group and NAB team up to pack showbags

South Australians living with a disability are working to put smiles on the faces of children at this year's Royal Adelaide Show.

This month, Bedford Group employees will finish packing more than 250,000 show bags. They will be assisted by nearly 200 NAB volunteers - believed to be the state's largest ever corporate volunteering cohort - over three weeks from August 7 to August 25, at Panorama, Elizabeth and Torrensville. Bags packed include Wagon Wheel, Killer Python, Top Gear, and the ever-popular Bertie Beetle.

For Bedford Group employee, Andrew Sposito, the excitement is tangible. 'This is my first year working on the show bag line and I absolutely love it,' he said.

'I'm looking forward to the show and telling my friends and family which show bags I packed.'

Gregg Harris, NAB Retail General Manager SA and chair of the bank's SA leadership council, said this year's volunteering exercise was its largest ever. 'We have been volunteering with Bedford Group to pack show bags for four years and in that time the number of helping hands has more than doubled,' he said. 'Packing show bags is a clear favourite among our employees.

'NAB is committed to supporting the community, and to having a great workplace. Volunteering is a fantastic opportunity for our staff to give back to the community and meet wonderful people like those employed by Bedford Group.

'We strongly encourage more South Australian business people to get away from their desks, roll up their sleeves and volunteer with a not-for-profit organisation.'

NAB has one of the largest corporate volunteering programs in Australia, and offers employees a minimum of two days of paid volunteer leave each year. Since 2002, NAB people have contributed over 1.2 million volunteer hours.