It all boils down to love
Macquarie Inn head chef Kel Anderson’s father uses that indispensable service, Meals on Wheels, like hundreds of others around the region, reliant on a hot meal delivered when they need it but also a chance to see a friendly face and retain a sense of community along with it.
When restaurants, hotels, clubs and cafes went into total lock down earlier in the year, not only did it see the iconic hotel’s staff, including Ms Anderson, immediately without income, ineligible for Jobkeeper, but also, a mountain of food suddenly with no plates to fill.
“We had boxes and boxes of food. We made up care packages for our staff who were out of work and because I knew about Meals on Wheels through my dad, we offered food to them as well,” Ms Anderson said.
In fact, many local outlets found themselves in the same boat, including Club Dubbo, Garden Hotel, Lazy River Estate and the Pastoral Hotel, and all took the same approach to their food stores.
“Some of them gave us salmon, meat, fresh produce; boxes and boxes and boxes of produce,” Meals on Wheels service manager Peter English told Dubbo Photo News.
“They were shutting their kitchens down straight away. The Mac Inn, the Pastoral; they weren’t opening. It was come and get it or we’re throwing it out.
“They didn’t want to see any waste,” he said.
Scott’s Parts Plus also loaned the use of a coolroom to store the huge quantities of produce.
“We don’t have coolrooms we have plenty of freezers but no coolrooms,” Mr English said.
The Meals on Wheels board has wanted to thank each and every one but didn’t want to just write a letter or give a certificate of appreciation.
“The board just wanted to make it really public that these businesses are doing it tough and they need to be helped too.
“It’s hard to just target those half a dozen. Every business is in the same boat. But these one’s particularly thought of us. The businesses who were going into virtual lockdown the first-time round, they were cognisant of people who were in need. We just want to thank them publicly,” Mr English said.
As new restrictions come into play, outlets like the Macquarie Inn are adapting, fortunate enough spread their bistro dining tables into the function rooms and offering takeaway for patrons wishing to eat at home.
The Lion’s Pride which makes meals for Meals on Wheels can currently only have 16 people inside their restaurant.
“They can have 30 outside. Those sort of restrictions are becoming unviable. Fair enough when it’s lovely days outside right now, and you can have a few people outside, but come 6 o’clock when it’s cold, they won’t be,” Mr English said.
“Last week, they were getting 50, 60, 70, 80 meals every night basically, so now they’re back to 16. It’s really important to support these businesses. It’s going to be a long haul, I think.
“We’re reasonably fortunate. We’re funded by the Australian Government, but a lot of businesses, who rely on patronage, people walking through the door, I don’t know how we support them other than publicly, through stories like this in Dubbo Photo News,” he said.
“We want to acknowledge these businesses who supported us when things were going pear-shaped for them back in March. Let’s hope history does not repeat itself in next couple of months.”