Our Group Social Support programme, Out and About, is back!

After nearly 8 months we have started taking our clients out of their homes so they can enjoy the compnay of others, try some new activities, visit favourite places and have some fun.

The programme happens each day and in a different location.

• Monday is based in Narooma.
• Tuesday is Lunch About and we go 'outside' of the Shire.
• Wednesday is based in Moruya.
• Thursday is based in Batemans Bay.
• Friday is a 'local' Lunch About.

New members have been joining the groups and we look forward to hosting and sharing with these people....and with you!

If you are inetersted in having time with new friedns, some laughter and fun, then contact us at our office (4474 4464) for details.

Chelsea and Keith would love to meet with you and help with your wellbeing through an exciting series of activities.

The 2020 Annual General Meeting of Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels Cooperative Ltd was held on Monday 26 October at Club Narooma.

The Members heard of the excellent year that the organisation had despite the drought, bushfires, flood, Covid pandemic and more floods!

The wonderful work and support of our volunteers was noted and the caring and compassionate efforts of our staff were also celebrated.

In his address the President (Phil Armstrong) made referenece to the support of organisations such as ours by the Federal Government which had allowed our services to remain viable but more, able to continue to serve the older and more frail members of our community during these difficult times. Mr Armstrong also paid tribute to the work of the staff and volunteers over the year as they dealt with new demands and expectations.

The Chair of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee (Allan Schuback) noted the work of Committee in overseeing the excellent turn around from the last financial year and how the Cooperative can move forward with confidence even though funding is only guaranteed by the Federal Government until 30 June 2022. Mr Schuback paid tribute to the three Eurobodalla Rotary Clubs and the Mourya Jockety Club for the donation of $24,000 towards a vehicle which is shared with Yumaro. He also noted AMH in Moruya and Travel Team Batemans Bay for their support of that project. He thanked Clubs Grant which gave $10,000 towards fuel for the bus which transports clients to Group Social Support activities and the Moruya Bowling and Recreation Club for their $2000 donation towards supporting our volunteers.

The Manager (Alan Russell) highlighted the work of all staff and volunteers through difficult times; the training which has been undertaken to meet the new protocols; the renovations to the office; that issues continue to be raised with the Eurobodalla Shire Council over the availability of facilities such as the Batemans Bay Community Centre; the increase in publicity the organisation has received; the generous donations and the Grants which have been won to enable ongoing support and development; the loyalty of our volunteers and the growing number of people interesting in helping even through the difficult times; that PALZ and the Wallaga Elders Groups stopped in March and had not started again due to the pandemic but that the Group and Individual Social Support activities were operating again.

Two Directors retired from the Board and the President thanked them for their service. Two others retired by rotation but were renominated and along with Jan Young and Deborah Buchanan were elected to the Board for the next two years. Following the AGM, the Board met and elected the office bearers.

The Board memebrs are:

President: Phil Armstrong
Chair, Finance, Risk and Audit Committee:  Deborah Buchanan
Chair, Policy and Adminitsration Committee:  Cathy Milliken
Chair, Food Panel:  Les Carter

Directors: Jim Greenshields, Sue Proud, Jan Young

Everyone was thanked by the President for offering to serve the community through Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels.

Thanks also go to the Management and Board of Club Narooma for their support and generosity in hosting our AGM.

At the end of October the Annual General Meeting of the Cooperative will take place.

This year the event will be held in Narooma at Club Narooma at 11am on Monday 26 October.

The Members have been sent the papers for the meeting and nominations for the Board close on Monday 12 October at 4pm at the office in Moruya.

This year there are to be three Directors retire by rotation and one other will retire due to moving from the area. Therefore four Directors positions will be up for election.

The present Board members are:
President  -Phil Armstrong
Finance, Risk and Audit Committee Chair  -Allan Schuback
Policy and Administration Committee Chair -Cathy Milliken
Food Panel Chair -Les Carter
Directors - Michele Sacoor, Sue Proud, Jim Greenshields

Members are invited to attend the AGM. The Board looks forward to presenting the Annual Report, the Financial Statement and telling how the Cooperative has handled the bush fires, floods and the present pandemic.

It has become a tradition for us to hold at Thank You function for our volunteers near National Meals on Wheels Day.

Over the last few years, this has been in the form of a High Tea around September 9th, at the Members Lounge of Moruya Jockey Club.

This year it could not happen but an alternative has been arranged.

A series of morning tea events have started. 

Since the beginning of September we have been hosting small groups, three monrings a week. The groups represent Meals volunteers (Fridays), Out and About volunteers (Mondays) and Individual Social Support volunteers (Wednesdays). Some of these will continue to meet until November so we can host, thank and train as many people as we can.

The occasion allows people working in the same area to meet each other, discuss roles and responsibilities, to have some fun (we still present our EMoW Awards) but also to undertake training to be able to meet Covid-19 Pandemic requirements.

The training has been designed for each group so is specific to the needs of those volunteers and their clients. 

As a result we will be ready to start our Group Social Support (Out and About) again in mid-October. Our volunteers have been trained in the new routines for collecting and transporting our clients, and for when they are hosting them at the centre of the day. This has taken a great deal of work on behalf of the staff but the volunteers have embraced these new routines, and like the clients can not wait to start again.

It has also been great to acknowledge our volunteers who have given years of service. This year we have 11 who have completed 5 years; 7 who have completed 10 years including our group from Involve; 1 who has done 15 years; and a remarkable lady who has completed 40 years service. Congratulations and thank you to each of these people. Your combined 180 years of outstanding service to others in the community is greatly appreciated and worth celebrating!

Thank you to all volunteers for your work, and for your ongoin commitment to making sure our clients are very well cared for.