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Older residents across the Hawkesbury will soon enjoy more than just a meal at their door. In a new partnership between the Hawkesbury Gazette and Meals on Wheels, the Gazette will now be delivered alongside meals, ensuring many people with limited mobility can stay connected to local news, events, and conversations.
Meals on Wheels staff and volunteers say their work is about far more than nutrition and this initiative comes directly from client requests.
“Some of our clients can’t easily get out and buy a newspaper or collect a free one, but they still want to know what’s happening,” a Meals on Wheels spokesperson explained. “Delivering their Gazette keeps them connected with Hawkesbury life.”
A Community Collaboration
The first bundles of the Hawkesbury Gazette will be delivered later this week. For many, the combination of a meal and a local newspaper will provide not just nourishment, but also a sense of belonging.
The Gazette recently returned to local ownership as a not-for-profit publication, drawing on contributions from local specialists and residents to ensure it reflects community voices.
“Our mission has always been to ensure everyone in Hawkesbury has access to independent, community-driven news. Teaming up with Meals on Wheels helps us reach people who can’t easily get to the newsagency or shopping mall,” a Gazette spokesperson said.
This collaboration highlights how organisations can work together to strengthen community ties and enhance social connection.
Meals on Wheels in the Hawkesbury: A Local Legacy from 1967
Meals on Wheels first began serving the Hawkesbury in 1967. At that time, many older residents in rural and semi-rural parts of the district were struggling with limited access to shops and services. Families and neighbours helped where they could, but there was a growing recognition that something more structured was needed.
That year, a group of local community members and service-minded residents came together to establish a Meals on Wheels service. Their goal was simple but powerful: to ensure no older person in the district went without a proper meal or regular human contact. What began as a small initiative quickly became an essential community service, especially for those who were housebound or living alone.
Nearly 60 years later, the program is still running strong. Today it is operated by 4 part time staff working alongside a team of 64 dedicated volunteers. Together, they carry on the tradition of care and community connection that Meals on Wheels was built on.
How to Access Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels is available to older residents, people living with disability, or those recovering from illness or hospital stays who may find preparing meals difficult.
- Eligibility & Access
Residents can self-refer or be referred by a family member, carer, health professional such as your doctor, or other local aged care services. They’ll be asked about dietary needs, frequency of meals needed, and delivery availability. Registering through My Aged Care.gov.au is required to receive subsidised meal rates. - Menu & Options
Choose from a wide range of main meals, light meals, soups and desserts. All meals are overseen by a dietitian, include a side of vegetables, and are nutritionally balanced. Meals are delivered frozen and can go straight into the microwave without prior preparation or can be stored in the freezer until needed. Special diets (e.g. diabetic, soft texture) are also catered for. - Delivery
Deliveries are made in the morning between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm. Available days depend on where the client lives. Clients must be home to receive deliveries, as meals need to go directly into the microwave or freezer. Meals are not left at the door. There is no charge for delivery.
- Pricing
Hawkesbury rates are:- Main meal $8.50 after subsidy
- Dessert and soups $4.50 after subsidy
- Private / unsubsidised clients pay more
- All customers must be registered with myagedcare.gov.au (assistance to do this is available)
- There is no delivery or other fees or charges
Clients should contact Hawkesbury Meals on Wheels on (02) 4571 1633 or 45 711 655 or drop in weekdays to Shop 3 / 36 Riverview Street, North Richmond between 9am and 1:30pm.
Why This Matters
For many residents, receiving a meal and a newspaper at their doorstep is more than a service, it’s an act of dignity, inclusion, and connection. With this partnership, Hawkesbury Meals on Wheels and the Gazette ensure community voices, stories, and wellbeing are available to everyone.
