At Meals on Wheels SA, we often say the meal is just the beginning. For the DeCean family, it’s the people, the conversations, and the community spirit that have kept them volunteering and delivering for more than 60 years - spanning three generations and countless shared memories. 

It all began in the early 1960s with Pearl DeCean, who volunteered with the Brighton Meals on Wheels branch. Her youngest daughter Lynn, just a child at the time, fondly remembers tagging along on deliveries. “We’d visit a lady who had a talking budgie named Peter,” she laughs. “Mum always reminded me to chat to Peter - he was her best friend.” It was clear, even then, that Meals on Wheels was about far more than just food. 

That early exposure to kindness and care shaped the family. Pearl’s legacy lives on today through her children. Jan Playford has been volunteering with the Glenelg branch for over 15 years and has formed lasting bonds with many customers. “Some became dear friends. When they moved into aged care, I kept visiting. And when they passed, I went to their funerals. You become part of their life - and they become part of yours.” 

Her brother Kevin and his wife Vicki joined Meals on Wheels more recently and now deliver meals weekly from the North Glenelg branch. “Our Friday run is about 18 deliveries,” Kevin explains. “And it’s not just about handing over a tray - it’s about checking in, saying hello, and making sure someone feels seen and supported.” 

Their commitment to community goes beyond Meals on Wheels. Pearl and her husband ran the local News Review newspaper from their family home, turning their lounge room into a printing press and welcoming neighbourhood children who helped fold and roll papers. Their father was also a local entertainer and ventriloquist. “Our home was always full of people,” Kevin says. “Meals on Wheels feels like a natural extension of that - connection is just in our blood.” 

Jan brings that spirit into every interaction. She writes birthday cards, posts letters for customers, and continues visiting them long after deliveries stop. “It’s about people. The meal opens the door - but it’s the relationships that really matter.” 

Vicki agrees. “Sometimes we’re the only person they’ll see that day. It’s humbling and deeply meaningful to be that someone.” 

The family believes strongly in the power of small gestures to brighten someone’s day. They also see the broader impact on the volunteers themselves. “It’s a two - way street,” says Kevin. “You give your time, but you gain so much - purpose, connection, and perspective.” 

When asked what Pearl would think of her children following in her footsteps, Kevin reflects, “She’d be beaming. Mum was kind and community - minded. I think she’d feel proud to see that we’ve not only carried on what she started but built on it in our own ways.” 

Pearl’s legacy is a powerful reminder that good food and good people can nourish the soul just as much as the body. Meals on Wheels SA is honoured to be part of that legacy  -  and proud to have families like the DeCeans at its heart.