Beaudesert MOW former president John Bartlett
Beaudesert Meals on Wheels has been providing a wonderful service to the Beaudesert district for over 38 years.
The decision to form a Meals on Wheels service was made at a public meeting held on August 4, 1982.
It is unlikely that even the most optimistic of the 45 people who attended that meeting would have been able to foresee the success story which was to follow.
The first delivery of eight meals was made on October 25 that year and the organisation is now approaching a major milestone with the delivery of its 250,000th meal.
Initially, the service was limited to Beaudesert but over the years has extended to other districts including Mundoolan, Tabooba, Kooralbyn, Woodhill, Veresdale, Gleneagle, Kerry Hills, Canungra, Tamborine and Tamborine Mountain.
The standard meal package includes soup, main meal, dessert, snack and fruit juice which provides sufficient food for both lunch and dinner.
The service is available to frail, older people as well as younger people with a disability and their carers.
Special meals to meet medical requirements such as gluten-free, allergies and diabetes are available.
The Federal Government provides a subsidy towards the cost of the meal for over 65s who are registered with My Aged Care, and the State Government assists those under 65. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders the age of 50 applies.
Community representatives make up the Beaudesert Meals on Wheels Board with friendly volunteers providing the home-delivery service.
This wonderful support is appreciated by the clients as they enjoy both the meal and social interaction. To many, this is the highlight of their day.
Beaudesert Meals on Wheels lives up to the slogan "More than just a meal".