Coffs Harbour Meals on Wheels

Our Role

Our role is to ensure the frail aged and younger disabled are provided with nutritious meals to assist them to stay in their own homes without premature admission to a residential aged care facility.

Our Vision

Our vision is to be a quality provider of meals services to frail aged people and younger people with disabilities in their own homes keeping them from premature or inappropriately moving into care.

Area we cover

Coffs Coast Meals on Wheels service covers between Moonee, North of Coffs to England's Road South of Coffs. We also deliver bulk food West to Nana Glen.

Target Group

The target group for our services is

People in our region who are frail
The aged
Younger people with disabilities
Rural/Remote dwellers
Those with culturaly and linguistic differences
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (50 years plus)
Dementia sufferers
Financially Disadvantaged
Those with functional disability that prevents them from preparing their own meals
Those at risk of premature or inappropriate institutionalisation

Our target group also includes the carers of these people.

Our Funding

Coffs Coast Meals On Wheels is supported by funding from the Department of Health CHSP (Commonwealth Home Support Programme).

While Government funds cover the wages and administration of the service, we could not deliver our services without the support of volunteers.

Our meals are provided at production cost to clients, but our volunteers deliver the meals to the client's door and help out with the other services we provide.

The following staff are employed in Coffs Coast Meals on Wheels Inc

Manager : Bronwyn Webber

Assistant Manager : Debbie Preston

Office Assistant : Sheryl Cluff

Office Volunteer : Joanne Harland

Food Handler : Geoff Cooney

In addition, we have a team of 80 wonderful volunteers to assist in the delivery of meals and in our kitchen helping to make the delicious desserts and soups we deliver.

Meals on Wheels service relies on the support of volunteers and appreciate every one of them.

We have younger people with disabilities doing runs with their carers, this makes such a difference in their life as they have such pride to be able to help others.

Our History

Going strong since 1972. (Over 40 years!)

Paul Ireland came to Coffs Harbour in 1972 as CEO at the Coffs hospital, realizing the need for a Meal Service for the elderly he became involved with the Coffs Harbour Ratepayer and Citizens Assoc, there he was able to be involved in public speaking around town.

Paul put a proposal to the Board of Directors of the Coffs Hospital for approval which he received. He received assistance from the State and Federal Government and after getting a committee together he started delivering meals Wednesday 5th April 1972 with 2 runs in Coffs and 1 run in Sawtell a total of 18 meals. Rosters were drawn up and a lot of support was given by the local church groups around Coffs Harbour.

Coffs Coast Meals on Wheels helped to start Woolgoolga Meals on Wheels on the 4th March 1974. We thank Paul for starting this great service in our area. Paul was a recipient of the service in his later years.

Meals on Wheels moved from the base Hospital to the Community Village which was officially opened on 28th February 1992. HACC built a kitchen at the Community Village to cater for cooking meals and delivery to be done from there.