Raeleen Schache celebrates 50 years of service with Meals on Wheels
"There's no goal to volunteering, just the enjoyment of doing it."
A Mannum women has been volunteering for a local food delivery service since it began half-a-century, and she hopes to keep going.
When Meals on Wheels came rolling into Mannum in 1975, a then 35-year-old Raeleen Schache jumped straight on board, volunteering with her late husband, Murray.
The local hospital had asked all the organisations in Mannum at the time for volunteers for the new service coming to town.
Ms Schache, who was volunteering at the local church, said a lot of women went on board including herself.
"Most (clients) are very very happy to receive Meals on Wheels and I love going to meet people and ask how they're going," she said.
The 50 years of service plaque was awarded to Ms Schache at the Meals on Wheels annual awardee day ceremony, on November 21.
Since her first delivery, the service has certainly had many changes over the years.
"We used to have these big soup containers with a ladle in it, then a metal serving dish with three compartments in it, with meat veggies and sweets.
"We'd give that to them, and then have to pick the metal pot up again the next day."
Meals on Wheels service looks a little different then it did 50 years ago. Photo: National Archives of Australia and MOW Australia
For some locals the service not only serves them fresh hot meals but also a dose of social interaction.
"We might be the only people they see for the week.
"You know you're dong a good community service when they're so appreciative."
Now the amount of clients has decreased but the service is still very much needed in the community, with around 20 volunteers dedicating their time to deliveries.
What used to take an hour and a half now takes 30 minutes, Ms Schache said.
"I deliver on Fridays because nobody likes doing it on a Friday," she chuckled.
One client never fails to rip into their meal before she's even left the front porch; "he'd sit at his table with a knife and fork at the ready."
"That makes my day, when they really enjoy their meals."
Ms Schache encourages people in the community to get out there and start volunteering.
There's no goal to volunteering, just the enjoyment of doing it, she said.
"I hope to keep doing it for a couple more years now."
- Volunteer: call 1800 854 453 or go to www.mealsonwheelssa.org.au
