NOURISHING the community for 25 years is no small task. From humble beginnings Camden Haven Meals on Wheels now delivers 15,767 meals each year to 200 needy people both in town and to the remote fringes of the region.

The dedicated service also provides meal vouchers for local restaurants, meals for dementure day care patients, organises supervised group outing lunches, breakfast costs for disabled high school students and carers, food shopping, provide fruit and vegetable packs, frozen meal alternatives to cover weekend needs and volunteers will sit with some clients who require friendly company.

A small band of community-minded locals came together in 1983 to address concerns over a lack of food services to help the frail, aged and disabled people of the Camden Haven.

A public meeting at the Camden Haven Community Health Centre saw a steering committee formed with Fred Samuels as president, Jack Whiteoak as Treasurer, Mae Eades as Secretary and Committee members Reverend R. Howell, Pat Longworth and Ralph Gill.

The group worked to set up the Camden Haven Meals on Wheels operating committee: Vince Beecher as President, Tom Stanford and Jack Whiteoak as Vice Presidents, May Eades as Secretary, Peggy Faddy as Treasurer and Committee Pat Longworth, Rev. R. Howell, Ralph Gill, Fred Norrie and Pat Wellington as the roster clerk.

First meals were delivered in June 1983 from the community health centre. Hastings District Hospital kitchen provided the meals – a maximum of 20 meals three days a week - and 36 volunteer drivers and helpers made the deliveries.

Local fundraising events, raffles, walk-a-thons, and donations from the community and businesses kept the service ticking along.

The meal delivery increased to five days a week in 1986 to meet increasing need. A further 10 meals were provided by the hospital and the Laurieton United Servicemen’s Club provided additional meals. The volunteer brigade numbered 100.

In 1986 the committee successfully applied for funding to construct their own building on Community Health Centre grounds to better service the increasing need from the community.

Local building Gary Ferris submitted the successful tender in 1987 and completed the task in February 1988.

In 1990 Laurieton Haven Retirement Village became the provider of meals. Their kitchen could supply up to 100 meals at minimal cost and cater for special dietary needs.

The first paid staff member, Edna Pritchard, was employed in 1992 to run the service. Funding was provided by the Department of Community Services to subsidise meals, cover the costs of wages and administration.

Additional staff joined the fold as the service grew, including Ann Coll who is the longest serving relief coordinator service manager.

Long time president Vince Beecher stepped down and Judith Bowerman was elected in his place.

The Camden Haven Meals on Wheels received outstanding results when their policies, procedure manuals, standard tools and self assessment procedures were validated by the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care in 2002. During the inspection the service received a score of 19.2 out of 20. The next validation is due in 2009.

As staff increased the management committee sought to extend the Meals on Wheels building and worked through regulations set down by the Department of Health and Lands Department.

Again a local builder was the successful tender for the project. Tony Gunning Homes completed the work early in 2007. During the renovations not one day passed that meal deliveries were not met.

Funding from the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care meant the addition of services to the traditional meal delivery regime.

Today Camden Haven Meals on Wheels volunteers number 250. Life membership was granted to Peg Faddy, Mae Eades, Vince Beecher, Dorothy Hellowell, Patricia Legge, Alex Barrie, Daphne Johnston, Judith Bowerman and Jim Wilson.

The organisation remains faithful to their core commitment to supply nourishing, well-balanced meals to the frail, aged, disabled of all ages who, thanks to the service, are able to live independently in their own homes.

Camden Haven Meals on Wheels thanks long-time sponsor the Laurieton United Servicemen’s Club, auditor Ron Witham and local business LJ Hooker whose staff give up lunch breaks twice a month to deliver meals and donate their fuel vouchers back to the service – perhaps an inspiration for other businesses.

For any information contact service manager Edna Pritchard on 6559 8883.