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Our origins
In 2024, Meals on Wheels SA celebrated seven decades of supporting the nourishment, wellbeing and connection of thousands of South Australians - a milestone we are incredibly proud of.
Meals on Wheels SA was founded in 1954 by Doris Taylor MBE. Miss Taylor, who was disabled and required the use of a wheelchair from a young age, believed that each individual has a right to be treated with dignity.
Miss Taylor understood the importance of ageing in place and the desire for people to remain living in their homes, where they are often happiest.
“The most precious things left to old-age are freedom of action and the personal possessions which have become dear to them through the years and the memories they bring back of their loved ones,” she said.
She travelled extensively within South Australia and interstate to urge Governments and local authorities to support the Meals on Wheels service. Miss Taylor was determined to see her vision come to life and is the driving force behind Meals on Wheels’ success. She was our greatest advocate.
“It is not a charity - it is a social experiment,” she said. “An attempt to solve the problem of the care of the aged under modern conditions. It is, I hope, the beginning and centre of a Home Service Scheme, a scheme which could meet all the needs of the aged and enable them to live their lives as part of the community with the maximum of independence, freedom and comfort possible.”
The first Meals on Wheels kitchen opened in Port Adelaide on 9th August 1954, operating from a Nissen Hut donated by a local businessman on land provided by the Port Adelaide City Council. Despite the lack of a working sink, 11 volunteers prepared and delivered eight meals to vulnerable members of the community.
Meals were served out of canisters and plated up at each customer’s house; a far cry from how meals are packed and sealed in containers today.
Kitchens opened shortly after in Norwood, Hindmarsh and Woodville. The organisation grew into a statewide body, providing a model for other states and countries to follow. Ten years after it began, Meals on Wheels served its millionth meal. Now, we’ve served almost 60 million.
Nowadays, Meals on Wheels operates over 80 branches in communities across South Australia, delivering 1.2 million nourishing meals every year to 12,000 South Australians with the incredible generosity and dedication of over 6,000 volunteers.
CEO Sharyn Broer is incredibly proud of Meals on Wheels SA and its rich history.
“For over seven decades, Meals on Wheels has woven itself into the fabric of every community in South Australia, playing an essential role in supporting the nourishment, wellbeing and social connection of vulnerable, older people.”
“I challenge you to find someone who isn’t connected to Meals on Wheels in one way or another, either through a loved one receiving meals or through volunteering.”