Joyce Warrington, 86, has been a volunteer with Port Kembla Meals on Wheels for nearly 50 years.

Born in Port Kembla in 1926, Warrington is from that Depression-era generation who believe that when the going gets tough, the tough help out.

The service has been operating at Wentworth Street, Port Kembla, since 1965.

Eighty volunteers sort, heat, pack and deliver daily hot meals and once-a-week frozen meals to more than 60 clients in Port Kembla, Kemblawarra, Cringila, Warrawong, Berkeley, Primbee and Windang.

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Warrington has been involved since it began.

‘‘We’ve always been active – always done something to help somebody all my life,’’ she said.

Ruth Claussen had a clothing shop in Port Kembla and her daughter had just started Meals on Wheels in Sydney.

At that stage in 1965, Warrington was working with her at Fairleys general store and Warrington was in.

‘‘We put on a backyard fete and included our children in it – we raised enough money, £10, to buy the first container for Meals on Wheels,’’ she remembered.

‘‘Mrs Claussen started to cook the meals in her little shop and then we graduated to three containers.

When Warrington and three other volunteers received life membership this year, she read out a poem called Helping Hand:

If when climbing up life’s ladder

You can reach a hand below

Just to help the other fellow

Up another rung or so

It may be that in the future

When you’re growing weary too

You’ll be glad to find there’s someone

Who will lend a hand to you

Thank You.