Inverell Community Support recently welcomed the Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP, Member for New England,
for a visit to our meals on wheels site, highlighting the enormous contribution volunteers make to
services across our local community.
During the visit, Barnaby joined Services Manager Christal Harding on a Meals on Wheels delivery run,
calling out “Meals on Wheels” as they arrived and meeting local clients who were delighted to welcome
them.
It was an opportunity to see firsthand that Meals on Wheels delivers much more than a nutritious meal.
Each visit provides a friendly face, a conversation and an important point of connection for people living
independently in their own homes.
The visit focused on Volunteer recognition and opportunities to incentivise small businesses to release
workers for volunteer service in their local community. Christal put forward to the Member for New
England, a National Volunteer Register would support volunteer verification and recognition and enable
volunteers to move around Australia with confidence knowing their volunteer service is honoured,
trusted, and rewarded.
Christal explained:
“Our services create connection in our community – we support older persons right to age in place at
home, transport people across New England to reach vital medical services and provide beautiful social
connection, and none of it is possible without our backbone of volunteers”.
“Volunteer numbers have reduced over the years, and younger families can struggle to give their time
during already busy working weeks, even when they would love to help. If more businesses could see the
value that volunteering can bring to workplace culture and support their employees to volunteer in their local community, our communities would be stronger, and we would continue that Australian spirit of
mateship and lending a hand.”
The visit also recognised the important role local businesses can play in volunteering. Local business
owner Miles Devlin of LJ Hooker Inverell and his staff give their time each week to support Meals on
Wheels Inverell.
“Meals on Wheels is such a vital service within our community. The least we can do is volunteer
ourselves, or have a staff member volunteer, to ensure our clients receive their meals and to help sustain
this important service within our community, it’s only one hour per week, but the reward of giving back—
and the relationships built through volunteering with Meals on Wheels—are priceless.” Miles Devlin –
Owner LJ Hooker Inverell
For Inverell Community Support, volunteering is at the heart of keeping essential local services
operating. Whether it is delivering a meal, helping someone reach an important medical appointment or
simply offering conversation and companionship, every contribution of time makes a significant
difference.
