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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-07-24 Daily Xml
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Meals on Wheels

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (15:36): I rise to acknowledge and record my thanks and the thanks of my community for the 40 years of service provided by the Onkaparinga branch of Meals on Wheels South Australia. It was a genuine pleasure to join the branch for its 40th anniversary lunch and AGM on Thursday 19 July 2018. The service and pastoral care provided by Meals on Wheels volunteers throughout the Hills cannot be overstated. It is a vital service sustained entirely by volunteers in the branches, and many in my community depend on that service for their ongoing wellbeing.

To reflect briefly and to inform members, meals are provided to those who are unable to prepare a meal or shop for themselves with ease. They are also provided to people who may be recovering from major illness or surgery. A significant number of meals are provided to people with a disability, people in their senior years, people who perform work as a carer or people who need assistance due to a special circumstance or crisis.

It is estimated that over the past 40 years the Onkaparinga branch of Meals on Wheels has delivered 259,427 meals; this year alone the branch has delivered 3,427. It is important to me to record in this place the volunteer efforts of Ms Dawn Coulter and Ms Kay Joyce. Ms Coulter and Ms Joyce were foundation members of the branch, and they continue to deliver meals 40 years later. I also wish to acknowledge Mr David Kerber, Mr Andrew Nicolson, Mrs Rosemary Franklin, Mrs Mary Collins, Mr Leon Stacey, Mrs Pam Cotton, Mrs Debbie James, Mrs Ann Sommerville, Mrs Jill Smith, Mrs Audrey Kramer, Mrs Bronwyn Stopford, Mrs Violet Copeland and Mrs Ann Wuttke.

As members will know, there are approximately 88 Meals on Wheels branches across the state, from Ceduna to Renmark and from Quorn to Port MacDonnell. Using an average, I note that about 4,300 meals are delivered daily, and the quantity of ingredients involved is of course very significant. I understand that some 50 million meals have been delivered since Meals on Wheels was founded by Doris Taylor 60 years ago. Meals are prepared at Meals on Wheels kitchens, in country hospitals and in similar facilities. There are approximately 8,000 volunteers who assist Meals on Wheels.

Ms Taylor, in founding Meals on Wheels, did not intend to start a charity, and it is true that those who receive meals make a modest contribution to the cost of the service. However, it is right, I feel, to say that Meals on Wheels is a vital form of pastoral care, not just in my community but across the state. I heard many stories at the AGM of ways in which volunteers had provided companionship and wider assistance to those in our community who are often lonely, vulnerable or afraid. For this additional care, I also record my gratitude and the gratitude of my community.

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