Published on Tuesday, 26 August 2025 at 2:39:33 PM
Left to right – Gold Fields St Ives Advisor of Community Relations, Annika Turnbull with Kambalda resident and recipient Barbara Griffin (quoted below).
This National Meals on Wheels Day, Wednesday August 27th, we’re proud to celebrate a remarkable milestone — over five years of delivering not just meals, but care and connection for some of the community’s most vulnerable.
Originally launched in April 2020 in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shire’s Meals on Wheels service began as a lifeline for seniors needing support through lockdowns and isolation. What started with weekly phone check-ins and home-cooked meals quickly became an essential service that’s helped shape the community’s wellbeing ever since.
Since May 2020, the Shire’s Meals on Wheels program has delivered almost 20,000 meals to senior residents across Coolgardie and Kambalda. Currently, 55 residents receive fresh, nutritious meals twice per week. These are prepared locally, thanks to the generous support of industry partners—Ford Bayley Camp in Coolgardie and Kambalda Village. Each delivery also serves as an important welfare check.
Kambalda recipient Barbara Griffin, 75 said, “I have been receiving the meals since 2022 and I love the whole service. I look forward to the chats each week with the delivery team.”
In 2022, the program received national recognition when it won the inaugural Meals on Wheels Australia Service Excellence Award, with past President, Sharyn Broer recognising the initiative for its innovation and community collaboration all without Commonwealth Government funding.
Gold Fields St Ives Advisor of Community Relations, Annika Turnbull stated “At Gold Fields, we are proud to get behind initiatives that strengthen local communities. Over the past five years, we have partnered with the Shire’s Meals on Wheels program, a wonderful example of how care, connection, and collaboration can make a real difference in people’s lives. We’re proud to support a service that not only nourishes seniors but also fosters meaningful engagement. ”
Shire President Cr Malcolm Cullen reflects, “The Shire is proud to have founded and co-coordinated this program which, whilst providing nutritious meals also delivers welfare checks for the recipients. I want to thank each volunteer, our sponsoring partners and a special mention to Kambalda resident, Sam Gaunt who is our longest serving volunteer for their continued efforts.”
The Shire would like to thank everyone that has helped deliver the service from major sponsors to volunteer community members including Gold Fields St Ives, RangeCon Construction and Civil, Northern Star Resources, ESS - Kambalda Village, Ford Bayley Camp, St John Volunteers, MEEEDAC, Judumul, local volunteers and Shire staff.
To learn more about the Shire’s Meals on Wheels program, visit www.coolgardie.wa.gov.au/community/seniors/meals-on-wheels.aspx
If you would like to volunteer for this program please call the Shire on 9080 2111 or email mail@coolgardie.wa.gov.au.
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