FOR Fran Crosbie, socialising is nearly as important as the meal delivered through Meals on Wheels.
The Kerang resident and fellow volunteer and friend Alison McKenzie have been part of the region’s service since it began 50 years ago.
And, neither are ready to give up yet.
Both explained that providing food was only part of the Meals on Wheels story.
“The socialising is important and in some cases I think it is nearly as important as the meal,” Ms Crosbie said.
Ms McKenzie agreed and said the social element was what she loved most about being a Meals on Wheels volunteer.
“I stop for quite a few minutes with some and chatter away, and living here all my life I know most of them and they enjoy the visit as much as the meal,” she said.
Her father got involved with the service when it started in 1970, in the now Gannawarra shire, and she joined him on delivery rounds, recalling it was much different in those times.
“My father had a printed card that he put on the dashboard saying we were exempt from wearing a seatbelt because we were delivering Meals on Wheels,” Ms McKenzie said.
Both ladies recalled that in those early days of the service, nobody locked their doors and if they didn’t answer the Meals on Wheels knock you simply let yourself into the house.
Things are now more formal, with those doing deliveries needing permission to enter people’s homes.
Ms Crosbie started her Meals on Wheels involvement after responding to a newspaper notice appealing for drivers and assistants.
Both ladies thoroughly enjoyed their roles with Meals on Wheels, and believed it was an essential service that must continue for the long-term, helping people to remain in their homes for as long as possible.
The pair urged young people to volunteer for the service, even if they thought they don’t have time, with Ms Crosbie describing it as rewarding and saying it’s amazing how much you can fit into an hour.
Ms McKenzie was just 29 years old when she started volunteering with the service, busy with her three children and at times also juggling her Meals on Wheels commitments with full-time work.
“But, I found an hour at least once a month to do Meals on Wheels,” she said.
Gannawarra Shire Council acknowledged the enthusiastic and dedicated service Alison and Fran had provided, with the two ladies presented with certificates, 50 years’ service pins and gift hampers at Kerang’s Atkinson Park last Tuesday.
Council CEO Tom O’Reilly congratulated the pair on their outstanding achievement, noting their volunteer work was motivated by their love of community and not the seeking of accolades, but making it clear they deserved them.
“I know that what you do makes a real difference and, for many people in our community, you may be the only point of contact they have during the day and that friendly face and the meal provided, you can’t put a price on what value that provides,” Mr O’Reilly said.
Gannawarra Shire volunteer co-ordinator Laura Bremner was pleased to have the opportunity to thank Alison and Fran, but hoped to be able to acknowledge their achievements in the presence of their peers when the COVID-19 situation allowed.
The council’s community care workers have been delivering meals since March to ensure the safety of Meals on Wheels volunteers who were largely in the age bracket most at risk from COVID-19.
Gannawarra Shire Meals on Wheels details
– Gannawarra Shire has 224 Meals on Wheels volunteers.
– Cohuna and Kerang hospitals prepare the meals, with three delivery cars running out of each hospital five days a week.
– Up to 14,000 meals are prepared each year.
– Hot meals are delivered in Kerang and Cohuna townships, while residents in places such as Quambatook, Leitchville and Koondrook receive their meals frozen.
