And when you look at the array of services Meals on Wheels provides through its social groups and gatherings, along with providing meals and social contact to people, it makes sense to ensure the services are affordable.

Simply, Meals on Wheels is all about helping people stay in their homes.

That is why the service started in Britain during World War II, giving frail older people the support and assistance they needed to stay in their homes.

It spread to Australia in 1952, starting with a woman delivering meals from a tricycle in Melbourne, before the demand became too great for her and the Red Cross took over.

Since then Meals on Wheels has grown and expanded to provide a wide range of support for older people, reducing isolation and helping them to live fuller and more independent lives.

And throughout it has enabled people to stay in the homes they love, rather than run the risk of having to go into aged care because of the combined impacts of isolation, poor nutrition and inactivity.

That is a key factor here.

Too often governments look only at the cost of providing a service, without considering the benefits and savings a service brings.

When a service such as Meals on Wheels brings huge savings in health and social costs, it is vital to have all levels of government working with the community to ensure it remains sustainable and affordable.

Yet while the government has decided to not increase fees by three to 10 times the current levels, as was under consideration, the issues is still on the back burner with a final decision to be made down the line.

Clearly, the fight needs to continue, to ensure the government and the bureaucrats are aware of the community’s concerns.

The older members of our community, and indeed all of us, deserve to have this important service maintained and affordable.