Nicole McDonald (right) says people should ‘always be looking to make a difference’ by helping others. Photo: Eurobodalla Shire Council.
Starting a career feeding those in need was an unexpected path for Nicole McDonald.
“I ran a holiday accommodation business as an independent agent,” she said.
“After the bushfires, I lost a year’s worth of income – and then a couple of months later, we had COVID arrive.
“I decided to let my business go, and while I didn’t go looking for it, I was very grateful that this position [with Meals on Wheels] came along.”
She took on a position with Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels several years ago as a finance administrator.
The organisation runs a delivery service for those unable to prepare their meals and also offers individual support such as organising day trips or visits to a client’s home.
“We want to make sure people are eating properly – they may be in the early stages of dementia so they can’t remember how to turn the stove on and off,” Ms McDonald said.
“You have regular volunteers that go to the same clients, so they get to know them.
“They’re also making sure the fridge and freezer have food in it. We have processes in place where we can give them a call if we feel something is not 100 per cent on track.”
Ms McDonald said the organisation offered “more than just a meal”.
“Those hour or hour-and-a-half bits of companionship are really important,” she said.
“It really does create that broader conversation and helps the local community, when we have someone take an old lady for a coffee or to Bunnings to buy a new plant for her garden.
“There are a few local girls that work here and they’ll know the clients. They’ll say, ‘Oh, I went to school with your son’ or something like that.”
It was for her efforts with the organisation that Ms McDonald was named Outstanding Employee at the recent Eurobodalla Business Awards when they returned on 20 July after a five-year break.
“I feel like I’m a bit old to get something like that, but it’s good to be driven and always be looking to make a difference,” she said.
“I love my role here; I love the job and working with the people here.”
Ms McDonald said the business awards were a night for the shire to acknowledge the efforts and achievements of everyone who was nominated.
“A lot of small businesses don’t have a profile where they can publicly recognise their employees or the business,” Ms McDonald said.
“It’s nice that whether you’re a plumber, an electrician or whatever, you can recognise their effort. Small businesses work really hard.”
The other 2024 Eurobodalla Business Awards winners were:
- Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion – JJJ Oriental Store
- Excellence in Sustainability – Tuross Little Lambs Preschool
- Outstanding Community Organisation – Banksia Villages
- Outstanding New Business – Sanitair Batemans Bay/NSW South Coast
- Outstanding Visitor Experience – Narooma Oyster Festival
- Outstanding Young Business Leader – Henry Hicks, Achieve Plumbing and Gas
- People’s Choice Award – Soul Tribe Studio
- Business of the Year – Narooma Mountain Bike Club.
Most winners – aside from the People’s Choice and Business of the Year categories – will be considered at the regional Far South Coast Business Awards. The winners at that event will then qualify for the NSW Business Awards.
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