Meals On Wheels Milestone

One of the largest community-based volunteer organisations Meals on Wheels is celebrating 60 years of operation and the place where the program began in South Australia.

MoW Founder Doris Taylor.

The concept of Meals on Wheels (MoW) started during the blitz in World War II Britain and a few meals were delivered in South Melbourne in Victoria 1953 by trike, says the SA organisation.

“But MoW as we know it today was the design and work of Doris Taylor in South Australia in 1954,” MoWSA CEO Sharyn Broer said.

“The South Australian organisation was the first of its kind to be constituted in Australia and the first to set out to produce its own meals with volunteer support. 

“Underpinning the organisation’s success is a dedicated group of more than 8,000  South Australian volunteers who donate their time to prepare and deliver meals to support the elderly, those with a disability and carers and allows them to live independently in their own homes.

“The organisation prepares and delivers over one million meals to some 9,000 clients across the state each year.”

The Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove visited Meals on Wheels, Port Adelaide in June to mark the start of his role as Patron of the Australian Meals on Wheels Association.

In the course of a year, more than 14.8 million meals are delivered by more than 78,700 volunteers to about 53,000 recipients Australia wide in cities, regional and rural areas.

“Meals on Wheels volunteers are recognised for their important role in supporting people who find difficulty in shopping and or cooking for themselves,” Broer said.

“Our volunteers not only prepare and deliver a nourishing, tasty meal, but they provide valuable social contact, a friendly ear and make regular ‘Safe & Well’ checks, which are vital to our clients and their families.”