100,000 Meals
Each year, we proudly deliver over 100,000 meals, bringing comfort, care, and a friendly check-in to our communities.
800+ Clients
Over 800 clients trust us to deliver not only nourishing meals but also a sense of companionship and community.
100+ Volunteers
With the support of over 100 passionate volunteers, we’re building stronger communities and delivering more than just meals every day.
Our Service Footprint
Bundaberg & District Meals on Wheels provides vital meal delivery and social support services across a broad geographical area within the Bundaberg Region.
Our History
The first Australian Meals on Wheels service began in 1953 when Mrs E. Watts pedalled a tricycle around South Melbourne. Some 13 years later Bundaberg & District Meals on Wheels started a proud legacy spanning over six decades. Founded in 1966 by a small group of passionate community members, the service began with just a handful of volunteers preparing and delivering meals from a local church kitchen. The mission was simple but powerful: to support older residents, people with disabilities, and others in need by providing nutritious meals and a friendly face at the door.
In July 1966, Mr John Crossley was elected President of the Bundaberg Lions Club, and that night received a cheque for $400 from the Ladies Auxiliary. That cheque came with a request to create a project called Meals on Wheels. Mrs Stopford and Mrs Johnston had visited Toowoomba and had seen Meals on Wheels in action.
The first meals were delivered on the 17th of October after being cooked in the kitchen at the Methodist Church. Meals were delivered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week at a cost of 40 cents each. 11 meals were delivered on the very first day, but that number quickly escalated. In the year from July 1967 till June 1968 a total of 6300 meals were delivered.
Over the years, the organisation has grown significantly in response to increasing demand and demographic change. In the 1990s, Bundaberg Meals on Wheels relocated to a more permanent premise at 10 Eastgate Street, Bundaberg East, which has served as the operational base for our services ever since. From this location, we now deliver more than 100,000 meals annually across the region.
The service has evolved to include fresh and frozen meals, wellness checks, and support for clients receiving services through My Aged Care, NDIS, and private arrangements.
Our reputation for care, compassion, and reliability is deeply embedded in the Bundaberg community. Today, with a team of over 100 volunteers and a small but dedicated team of staff, Bundaberg and District Meals on Wheels
continues to play a vital role in keeping people healthy, independent, and connected to their community.
