A decade of dedication: Julien celebrates 10 years with Meals on Wheels
Feb 17, 2026
Julien is celebrating 10 years as a Meals on Wheels volunteer, delivering meals every Friday with the support of Yooralla’s Community Access services and his support worker, Youssef.
For the past decade, Julien has been a proud and dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteer, giving his time, energy and kindness to support people in his local community.
This incredible milestone was recently celebrated with a 10-year service award – an achievement Julien received with enormous pride and gratitude.
Julien, who attends the Community Access Hub in Box Hill, volunteers alongside his Yooralla support worker, Youssef. With support from Yooralla, Julien has been able to pursue his passion for volunteering, build independence and confidence, and contribute meaningfully to his community.
Together, they’ve completed their Meals on Wheels run every Friday for the last 10 years. Their commitment, reliability and positive energy have made them familiar and much-loved faces within the Meals on Wheels community.
Ten years of showing up, together
Spending a Friday with Julien and Youssef makes it clear why their contribution is so special. Their routine is second nature now, building their rhythm over hundreds of Fridays.
They arrive at the Meals on Wheels pickup point, where Julien heads straight to the office to collect the run sheet. He’s greeted by name, with smiles and friendly chats from people who know him well. Together, Julien and Youssef collect the esky filled with meals, load the car, and carefully check everything before heading out.
Julien proudly holds the run sheet as Youssef counts the meals, and once they’re on the road, Julien plays a vital role – calling out client addresses, tracking kilometres travelled, and helping keep the day running smoothly.
Making Fridays brighter
For Julien, volunteering is about connection. His favourite part is socialising, chatting with clients and volunteers, helping others, and spending meaningful one-on-one time with Youssef.
Through Yooralla’s Community Access support, Julien is supported to participate in activities that reflect his interests, strengths and goals.
And of course, no Friday run would be complete without music. The radio is always tuned to Fox for RnB Fridays where Julien, a huge RnB fan, sings along enthusiastically to every song – keeping the vibes high on their Friday journey.
Julien’s passion for volunteering doesn’t stop at Meals on Wheels. On Tuesdays, he lends his voice to the local ‘Stroke a Chord’ choir, and on Saturdays, he helps behind the bar at the Camberwell Lacrosse Club, demonstrating his truly selfless nature.
A night to celebrate an extraordinary achievement
Julien’s 10 years of service were officially recognised at the Meals on Wheels awards night in December. Both Julien and Youssef were honoured with 10-year achievement awards, along with gift vouchers as a thank-you for their outstanding service.
When Julien’s name was called, he stood proudly, smiling as he posed for photos – a moment that captured just how much this recognition meant.
It was a night full of celebration, recognising volunteers of all service lengths – including one remarkable individual who marked an incredible 55 years of volunteering.
Julien’s decade of volunteering is something to be truly celebrated. It represents hundreds of meals delivered, countless conversations shared, and a lasting impact on the people and community around him.
Congratulations Julien!
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