PDF printable version of Working together to keep Meals on Wheels rolling across Queensland (PDF 27 KB)
Joint Release
Hon Justine Elliot MP
Australian Goveenment
Minister for Ageing
Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk MP
Queensland Minister for
Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs
16 July 2009
Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot and Disability Services Minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk today announced more than $5 million for Meals on Wheels services throughout Queensland.
Each day Meals on Wheels delivers 10,000 healthy, balanced meals to Queenslanders who are frail, aged or who have a disability.
The $5.2 million jointly funded initiative included a $3.4 million contribution from the Rudd Government and a further $1.8 million from the Bligh Government.
Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot said: “Meals on Wheels provide an invaluable service to the frail aged, younger people with a disability and their carers.
“Meals on Wheels began 55 years ago providing meals to eight people. Today it provides about 50,000 meals to people throughout the country everyday.
“Last year, the Federal and State Governments allocated around $30 million to Meals on Wheels organisations for meal delivery services which provided more than 11 million meals.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the Rudd and Bligh Governments to work together to care for older Queenslanders,” Minister Elliot said.
Minister Palaszczuk said “This $5.2 million will subsidise 147 Meals on Wheels delivery services throughout Queensland.
“Each year Meals on Wheels delivers around 2.2 million meals to older people in Queensland helping them remain independent and in their own homes and communities.
“The service caters for special dietary needs and delivers healthy and nutritious meals to the doors of the most vulnerable people in our community who rely on this service for a substantive meal each day.
“The Bligh Government’s Toward Q2 strategy supports fairer, healthier and caring communities across Queensland.
“During these tough economic times we have had to make difficult decisions to ensure the Bligh Government continued to fund important services, like Meals on Wheels,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Minister Palaszczuk said Meals on Wheels had grown from humble beginnings which started in a backyard garden shed in Ipswich more than 50 years ago.
“Volunteers are the life blood of Meals on Wheels and without them it would not be possible to maintain this vital service,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I encourage anyone who wants to give back to their community and our older Queenslanders to put their hand up and help out this outstanding organisation.”
Media contact:
For more information, contact Mrs Elliot's office on (02) 6277 7280
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