Meals on Wheels began in London during World War 2 (1939-1945). Families whose houses had been bombed and were unable to cook a hot meal for themselves, had hot meals delivered to them by the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) This service was an extension of the hot meals provided by the WVS to servicemen. (1) In Australia, Meals on Wheels, staffed by volunteers, started delivering hot meals to the elderly and infirm, in the Port Adelaide area of South Australia in 1954. (2) The very first meal was delivered on Monday 9th August 1954, to Mr and Mrs J.S. Grose of Semaphore. (3) The service was soon replicated in the other states. The meals were cooked in the Meals on Wheels kitchen at Langham Place Port Adelaide. This kitchen was built with the generous donations of businesses, and individuals, in the South Australian community. The land was donated by Port Adelaide Council, (4) the attached Nissen hut was donated by Le Messurier Timber of Port Adelaide. (5) A large commercial cooking stove with three large and three small burners was donated and fitted free by SA Gas Company.(6) Many South Australian businesses organised a “bob-in” collection, employees donating a “bob” (one shilling) to the Meals on Wheels service, on pay day. News Limited acknowledged all cash donations large or small in their Newspaper. Today Meals on Wheels (SA) Incorporated, has some 8,000 volunteers, around 5,000 clients, and up to 90 branches throughout South Australia.(7) This Meals on Wheels service was the long held vision of Doris Irene Taylor, who was awarded the M.B.E. in 1959, for her service to the community.

(The Picture and caption above are from the News (Adelaide, SA: 1923 - 1954) Monday 25 October 1954 p 2)

DORIS IRENE TAYLOR M.B.E.

Doris Irene Taylor (1901-1968) was born in Norwood, South Australia, on the 25th of July 1901. A copy of her birth certificate is held in the Campbelltown Library, South Australia, in the local history room. She was the eldest of four children born to Thomas Simpkin Taylor and Angelina, nee Williams. The family moved to Mount Gambier, where the early part of her childhood was spent. At the age of seven she had a fall that left her with a very bad limp. Four years later she had another bad fall that left her permanently paralysed. After a number of operations and prolonged stays in hospital, the family was advised that perhaps Doris should live permanently, in the Home for Incurables. Both Doris and her mother were totally against this idea, so Doris returned home and lived “independently” for the rest of her life in a wheelchair. She had limited mobility in her arms and hands but none below her shoulders and was reliant on assistance for most things, except applying lipstick. She was able to perfect the application of lipstick by herself. (8)

During the depression in the early 1930’s Doris was the secretary of a local kindergarten mothers club. She helped create ways to generate funds for the kindergarten. Also at this time she helped promote a soup kitchen for families affected by the dire economic downturn. This experience was to have a lasting effect on Doris, and later in life gave her this desire to help people in the community who were elderly or infirm. (9)

(Doris Taylor photo courtesy of the News 7th October 1953 P 12)

Doris became the secretary of the West Norwood sub-branch of the Labour Party, and is credited with persuading Don Dunstan to join the party and seek pre-selection for the seat of Norwood in the South Australian House of Assembly. She also managed his successful political campaign in 1952. In the early 1950’s Doris was public relations officer for the South Australian division of the Australian Pensioners' League. She also helped reorganise the Authorised Newsagents' Association of South Australia Ltd. At this time Doris also began to campaign for better conditions for the elderly and infirm and the most vulnerable in the community.

Doris died of bronchopneumonia on 23 May 1968 in Royal Adelaide Hospital. (10)

Researched and compiled by Jim Nelson, a volunteer with the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group. If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact the Local History officer on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au

References

1. Meals on Wheels. [online] En.wikipedia.org. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meals_on_wheels> [Accessed 16 Feb. 2017].
2. Cisternino, A., 2017. Meals on Wheels - History [online]. Available at: <http://www.mealsonwheelssa.org.au/index.php/aboutus/history> [Accessed 16 Feb. 2017].
3. Adelaide News 9th August 1954 P 25
4. Adelaide News 11th May 1954 P 14
5. Adelaide News 11th May 1954 P 14
6. Adelaide News 30th July 1954 P 10
7. Cisternino, A., 2017. Meals on Wheels - History [online]. Available at: <http://www.mealsonwheelssa.org.au/index.php/aboutus/history> [Accessed 16 Feb. 2017].
8. Doris Irene Taylor - Australian Dictionary of Biography. [online] Adb.anu.edu.au. Available at: <http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/taylor-doris-irene-11825> [Accessed 16 Feb. 2017].
9. Cisternino, A., 2017. Meals on Wheels - History [online]. Available at: <http://www.mealsonwheelssa.org.au/index.php/aboutus/history> [Accessed 16 Feb. 2017].
10. Doris Irene Taylor - Australian Dictionary of Biography. [online] Adb.anu.edu.au. Available at: <http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/taylor-doris-irene-11825> [Accessed 16 Feb. 2017].