Issue

Regional Conferences
NSWMOWA Regional
Conferences 2011 so far...
Christine Russell
Issue 01 / 2011
Wintalyka
To date we have had 5 Regional Conferences
that have been held in Orange, Wollongong,
Newcastle, Taree and Grafton. Across all of
the conferences we have addressed issues
associated with the future of food, marketing,
communication, responsibilities as an employer,
social interaction, nutrition, volunteering,
flexible food as well as local issues and
strategies.
Les MacDonald CEO of NSWMOWA has opened
all of the conferences and has presented his
vision for the future of food. We have had Dale
Rees-Bevan the President of Speakers Bank
talk about the value of being the public relations
face of your organisation at any moment
in time. Kathryn Dowling the Marketing
Manager of NSWMOWA has addressed the
use of marketing tools and marketing per se
in her presentations. Sue Atkins NSWMOWA
General Manager of Operations and Network
Support has addressed the meaning of why
MOW is more than just a meal as well as
presenting the new and innovative flexible food
model. Godfrey McCormick has presented on
the responsibilities of an organisation as an
employer and has covered compliance within
the new Commonwealth Community Care
Common standards.
In Wollongong Associate Professor Karen
Charlton spoke about improving the nutritional
status of meals on wheels clients, Dave
Abrahams from Volunteer Team presented on
the value of social media and the importance
of communication to internal and external
stakeholders.
Steve Marsh and David Kinsela from
Australian Red Cross presented online training
opportunities available through Red Cross.
The Newcastle regional conference featured
Lesleigh Adie and Kathy Nelson from Ourcare
Services on their better practice project and
enabling approaches to the care of clients. The
highlight of the Newcastle regional conference
was the Food Expo which attracted 16 trade
exhibitors to include Newcastle MOW, Home
Style Tucker from Port Stephens, Gourmania,
MyChef, Flagstaff, Medirest, Sara Lee, Sun
Rice, Rice King, Ventes, Prepared Foods, BCS
Catering, Heinz, Proportion Foods, Homebush
Cakes, PFD and Confoil. The array of products
and food to taste was fantastic and I would like
to express a big thank you to all of the trade
exhibitors that participated in the food expo to
make it the great success that it was.
I would like to especially acknowledge the lucky
door prize gifts from Homebush Cakes, Sara
Lee and Medirest.
The Taree regional conference took place the
next day after the Newcastle event and Nicole
Weber the Mid North Coast Development
Project Officer gave a very comprehensive
overview of her project. Lyn Stewart also
delivered a session on nutrition.
The Grafton regional conference featured
Debrah Novak who has worked closely with
regional media, followed by Sue Bowling who
presented on the up and about enablement
project. Other speakers included Jeannette
18
www.nswmealsonwheels.org.au