 | IT ALL began as a small meeting at the council chambers which turned into a success story and an essential part of Dubbo's fabric. Fifty years ago, Meals on Wheels was born out of the Apex Club, and has seen several changes over half a century. Board member Maureen McKay remembers the first meeting with the newly elected president Peter Lawler.Mrs McKay has been an active volunteer for 45 years. |
Her involvement began as she was interested in finding out about "this new concept" of delivering meals to those in need.The meals were prepared at Lourdes House at first and then moved to Dubbo Base Hospital."Back in those days the meals costed two shillings and two pence," she said.
The Dubbo Dispatch reported on the front page of Wednesday, October 16, 1963, the first meeting at council chambers introducing Meals on Wheels in the city."The usual practice is for two ladies in a car to take one container with five meals to recipients, leave the meal and return the container to the place where the meals are prepared," the story said.
.Mr Lawler said it was thought only one container to serve five people would be sufficient at first, even when the demand built up he did not think more than 15 or at the most 20 person would be receiving the meals."Now the organisation prepares 100 hot meals a day to sick, aged, disabled and those who are need of good food and more than 30,000 frozen meals a year.
Mrs McKay said the beauty of the then newly formed organisation was the delivery of meals to people's home."You can send them (a sick person) to hospital to get better but they can die at home of malnutrition," she said."It was always very nutritious meals."
The volunteers who delivered the meals did more than hand over some food, they interacted with the individual and for some it was the only contact they had with the outside world.
Mrs McKay said in the early days the meals were served in tin containers and soup in a thermos. There were several times when the thermos would accidentally open and the soup would spill in the car or in the boot.Today, the meals were served in a spill proof container with cutlery and crockery and the food was kept warm.
Now there was a big menu for people to choose from with a choice of dessert and a variety of meals available."It is a great morale booster," she said.
The best part of her time in the organisation was the people who were most appreciative and she felt she was contributing to their welfare.
However, Mrs McKay was humble and insisted she was just "an instrument" who was volunteering and not the whole team.
When asked if she was considering leaving Meals on Wheels, she said she would keep going until she had life in her.
"Meals on Wheels is in very capable hands and we're very fortunate to be in the hands of Peter and the board," she said.
Service manager Peter English said the secret to the longevity of the organisation was the army of dedicated volunteers.
"Without them, we couldn't have been here for long," he said.
A big 50th anniversary celebration will be held at the Dubbo RSL Memorial Club on October 18 and Mr English encouraged past volunteers and residents to join the party.
"It is a milestone which deserves to be marked," Mr English said.
The Dubbo Dispatch reported on the front page of Wednesday, October 16, 1963, the first meeting at council chambers introducing Meals on Wheels in the city."The usual practice is for two ladies in a car to take one container with five meals to recipients, leave the meal and return the container to the place where the meals are prepared," the story said.
.Mr Lawler said it was thought only one container to serve five people would be sufficient at first, even when the demand built up he did not think more than 15 or at the most 20 person would be receiving the meals."Now the organisation prepares 100 hot meals a day to sick, aged, disabled and those who are need of good food and more than 30,000 frozen meals a year.
Mrs McKay said the beauty of the then newly formed organisation was the delivery of meals to people's home."You can send them (a sick person) to hospital to get better but they can die at home of malnutrition," she said."It was always very nutritious meals."
The volunteers who delivered the meals did more than hand over some food, they interacted with the individual and for some it was the only contact they had with the outside world.
Mrs McKay said in the early days the meals were served in tin containers and soup in a thermos. There were several times when the thermos would accidentally open and the soup would spill in the car or in the boot.Today, the meals were served in a spill proof container with cutlery and crockery and the food was kept warm.
Now there was a big menu for people to choose from with a choice of dessert and a variety of meals available."It is a great morale booster," she said.
The best part of her time in the organisation was the people who were most appreciative and she felt she was contributing to their welfare.
However, Mrs McKay was humble and insisted she was just "an instrument" who was volunteering and not the whole team.
When asked if she was considering leaving Meals on Wheels, she said she would keep going until she had life in her.
"Meals on Wheels is in very capable hands and we're very fortunate to be in the hands of Peter and the board," she said.
Service manager Peter English said the secret to the longevity of the organisation was the army of dedicated volunteers.
"Without them, we couldn't have been here for long," he said.
A big 50th anniversary celebration will be held at the Dubbo RSL Memorial Club on October 18 and Mr English encouraged past volunteers and residents to join the party.
"It is a milestone which deserves to be marked," Mr English said.