Celebrating Volunteers at Ashgrove Meals on Wheels
In the lead-up to Queensland Day, Ashgrove Meals on Wheels was selected as the setting for a special Queensland Government spotlight feature celebrating what makes this state unique: its people, its communities, and the volunteers who quietly strengthen both every day.
The visit, filmed in mid-May, brought together Queensland Day media crews and local Meals on Wheels volunteers to showcase the everyday impact of community connection in action. And there was no better backdrop than Ashgrove, where volunteering is not just something people do, it is part of who they are.
Queensland spirit, lived every day
At the heart of the feature was volunteer Catherine Lamb, who spoke openly and warmly about what volunteering means to her.
Catherine has been volunteering since she was a teenager, driven by a strong sense of community and a belief in giving back. For her, volunteering is about simple, human connection and the feeling that comes from helping others in a meaningful way.
As Catherine shared: “It’s about the simple things, how good you feel doing something good, and how much it means to the person on the other end.”
That sentiment sits at the core of why she continues to volunteer, and why she is now passing that same example on to her own children, who join her during school holidays. It is a quiet legacy of care that reflects the true Queensland spirit, showing up for others and paving the way for the next generation to do the same.
A natural culture of giving back
Also featured in the spotlight was volunteer Julie, who reflected on how naturally volunteering fits within Queensland communities.
For Julie, the act of helping others is simply part of everyday life. Whether it is checking in on someone, delivering a meal, or sharing a conversation at the door, she described volunteering as something Queenslanders instinctively do.
It is this shared sense of responsibility and connection that brings Meals on Wheels services like Ashgrove to life.
Behind the scenes
A sincere thank you to Carolyn Draper, Coordinator at Ashgrove Meals on Wheels, for her support in making this feature possible. Carolyn helped coordinate volunteers and ensured the filming team had everything they needed to capture the heart of the service.
A celebration of community connection
Queensland Day is about celebrating identity, pride and the people who shape our communities, and this spotlight captured all three.
As the Queensland Day feature highlighted, this is what makes the state strong: people who step forward, support one another, and create connection where it is needed most.
This is Queensland. This is Meals on Wheels.
