Catalina Macahron is 90 and grateful to receive a three course meal, delivered to her home in western Sydney. As a migrant from the Philippines, many of her seven children and extended family live overseas.
“Thank you for coming today, thank you. Since my knee operation it’s hard to cook. The volunteers support many people.”
The meal of soup, vegetables and dessert is delivered on a red plastic tray, held by a rather extraordinary volunteer: the mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown.
“I do this every week, it’s the thing that keeps me grounded,” says Bilal El-Hayek, 37, a migrant from Lebanon.
"We are going to the homes of people who are often disadvantaged, and many have no family or friends to talk to.
“It is how I find out about people's struggles, and learn what residents are going through."
Catalina Macahron is a customer of Meals on Wheels. Source: SBS / Spencer Austad
Nationwide, 45,000 volunteers serve more than 10 million meals annually feeding more than 100,000 people.
The prepared meals support older people or those living with a disability to remain in their homes.
To be eligible for Meals on Wheels, customers must be aged 65 and over and registered with My Aged Care.
More than two thirds of meal services are provided under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), which supports Australians to live independently in their homes. Most meals cost around $10 and some customers or their families also contribute to the cost.
Driver Lynn Quinn is among the charity’s 14,000 NSW volunteers, and has just clocked up a record 50 years on the road.
Lynn Quinn, 81, receives a 50 year service award from Canterbury Bankstown mayor Bilal El-Hayek. Source: Supplied / Canterbury-Bankstown council.
“You give and you also get back. It's the little things that the volunteers do for the people that make a difference in their lives.
“Sometimes it might be 'Oh, can you reach up and get that thing down off the shelf for me, because I can't reach it'," she says.
Quinn started delivering Meals on Wheels in 1973, and has seen a lot of changes. particularly in the Canterbury-Bankstown area where more than 200 languages are spoken.
“You meet so many different people and that broadens your horizons, because I think all of us can get very narrow in our beliefs.
“My roster now is once every three weeks. However, sometimes when they're short of volunteers, they'll ask me to do extra and I will definitely take it if I'm available. I will always come in and do extra.”
Quinn’s can-do attitude recently helped her to reach that incredible milestone as Australia’s longest-serving Meals on Wheels volunteer.
“Lynn is a wonderful role model to our community, to our state, and to our country, and we're just blessed to have her here,” says El-Hayek.
“Anyone who does any kind of volunteering is a wonderful human being. And to do it for 50 years, that speaks of her character.”
Despite turning 81 this month, Quinn says she has no intention of hanging up the car keys.
“While I can keep driving myself, I will keep doing it,” she says.
“I enjoy the appreciation from people, because you are often the one person in their daily life that they see with the delivery of meals and have conversation with. It brightens their life and it brightens your life.”
For some migrants, loneliness and isolation can be a problem if their family lives overseas.
“This service not only about delivering a meal, it's also about having human contact,” says El-Hayek.
“And we ask that anyone who needs any support in the community, whether elderly or disadvantaged, or those living with a disability, should reach out to one of our team members and they'll be more than happy to help and offer support.”
Meals on Wheels volunteer Robert Cockle. Source: SBS / Sandra Fulloon
“Recipients are very grateful and always greet you with a smile. It is very fulfilling. You are helping people by stopping for a chat.
“Sometimes we also bring in the mail or the newspaper, or pull in the rubbish bin. So, volunteering is very worthwhile.”
El-Hayek says delivering Meals on Wheels helps to connect with his multi-cultural constituents.
“I do it because I enjoy it. I love giving back to the community, and it's important that we look after another in times of need.”
With many of Australia’s most vulnerable struggling to afford fresh food, El-Hayek says a home delivery of healthy meals is more crucial than ever.
Meals on Wheels delivers to the door. Source: Supplied / Meals on Wheels.
“So, many people are going through a tough time in their lives.
"But we always look out for one another and try to support each other as much as possible.”
Since the pandemic, he says Meals on Wheels volunteer numbers have dropped in the local area from 150 to around 75, and more helping hands are needed.
“If anyone would like to volunteer, please make sure to reach out to the team. Any support is greatly appreciated.”
Volunteer Lynn Quinn, 81. Source: SBS / Spencer Austad
“It's the right thing to do. I am very, very lucky because I have a daughter who has never left home and looks after me magnificently.
“So, I want to give back to people that don't have that, because I know how very fortunate I am.”
This story was produced in collaboration with SBS Urdu.
