Cootamundra Meals on Wheels Celebrates 60 Years of Supporting Their Community
On Monday 30th March, Cootamundra Meals on Wheels hosted a Morning Tea to celebrate 60 years of service and support for their local community. The event was well attended by past and present volunteers as well as many clients who rely on this vital service.
Special guests were Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke, Mayor of Cooamundra- Gundagai Regional Council, Abb McCalister, Meals on Wheels NSW Network Support Officer, Jenny Rea, and CHSP Engagement for Riverina Murray Andrea Kurta.
The service would like to thank the volunteers, businesses, schools and community organisations their support for Meals on Wheels on an ongoing basis.
The day would not be possible without the help from the dedicated committee as well as donations from valued local businesses.
The day also ran smoothly thanks to the students at Sacred Heart Central School.
Meals on Wheels continues to put their foundational morals of providing a service that extends beyond a simple meal above all else.
Extract from a letter written to Cootamundra Meals on Wheels for their 60th Anniversary from 2 long standing volunteers, Aileen Pether and Belinda Scott.
“Aileen Pether and I have been volunteering with Meals on Wheels since the early 1980's.
We joined the organisation when our boys were about 8 years old. My mother, Lorna Scott was amongst the original organising committee.
Aileen and I didn't know one another very well in those days. Time has changed that and 40 odd years later we've now spent a lot of time together!!
We retired at the end of 2025 and only then because other volunteering jobs take so much of our time, something had to give. At more than 80 years old we were delivering meals to many folk considerably younger than ourselves!! We were always rostered on together.
In the early days we carried heavy soup canisters to dispense into a variety of containers for the clients. Anything from soup bowls to billy cans were presented.
It has been very satisfying and a pleasure to serve the district and others less able. Spending time with people who have little social or family life has been very rewarding, knowing we are keeping these people connected to the outside world.
We hope the next generation of Cootamundra youngsters come on board and volunteer to keep the service ticking along. They will receive more out of their efforts than they will ever put in or can ever imagine.
Congratulations and best wishes to Kerry and her team for the continuing good service to our community of Cootamundra.
Thanks for the opportunity and honour to serve our Community”.
