Published on Tuesday, 5 April 2022 at 8:00:00 AM
Meal recipient Judy Budrey and Shire Councilor Tammee Keast.
The Shire of Coolgardie is excited to be celebrating 100 weeks of providing meals on wheels to the most vulnerable in the community this March.
Beginning in April 2020 the home delivery meal service has been supporting approximately 60 Senior residents each week, aged 70 and over, in the Shire since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local resident Judy Budrey has praised the program.
“Being on my own at times I would make a sandwich instead of cooking meat and vegetables.
Now I look forward to Tuesday’s and Friday’s I enjoy each meal, sometimes there is enough for two meals.
The meals are so tasty and having them delivered to my front door is wonderful.”
Another Shire resident affected by chronic fatigue syndrome shares their experience,
“I have chronic fatigue syndrome/Ross River virus. Preparing food is exhausting. Having meals on wheels two days a week has been fantastic! I’m also on the Age Pension, so the meals have saved me money.
I love the smiling faces of the people that deliver, and they are so caring in asking how I am doing. They are always on time and very efficient.” – Coolgardie resident
Shire President, Malcolm Cullen is delighted that the program is still in place especially with COVID-19 now a part of our daily lives,
“With COVID-19 reaching the Goldfields, the Shire’s recent mandates have become crucial to ensure the continued delivery of this program for those in the community who need it most”
The program is ‘one of a kind’ in the state with a unique collective approach. Meals are prepared by ESS Kambalda and Ford Bayley villages, jointly funded by the Shire of Coolgardie, Gold Fields and Northern Star Resource’s, and delivered by Shire staff, St Johns, MEEDAC and volunteers. This sustainable approach works in conjunction with the Shire of Coolgardie’s new collaboration strategy and ESG framework.
Bevan Jones, General Manager at Gold Fields’ St Ives Gold Mine commented that, “at Gold Fields our priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, business partners and the communities in which we live and operate – this is particularly important given the current challenges presented by COVID. We are proud to partner with local government and ESS to provide this vital service to support the most vulnerable members of the Kambalda community.”
The Shire would like to thank Gold Fields, Northern Star, St John and MEEDAC for their ongoing support with this program.
If you would like to submit an expression of interest to join the Shire of Coolgardie’s Meals On Wheels program, please contact the Shire on (08) 9080 2111 or complete the expression of interest form on the Shire’s website.
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