Ruth McPhee was unpacking a Meals on Wheels pack from her car when she saw a lonely customer peering at her through the curtains.
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Upon delivery, the woman immediately asked if Ms McPhee would have a cup of tea and stay while she played piano to her.
Ms McPhee may have been the only person she spoke to all week.
This year Ms McPhee will celebrate 54 years of packing Meals of Wheels, her final year of service to the association.
She began her service with the organisation near Wagga Wagga and continued in Batemans Bay when she moved in 1983.
She stopped delivering meals six years ago but has come to the Batemans Bay Community Centre nearly every week to pack meals.
She said it was satisfying and therapeutic to be useful to others.
"It makes you appreciate what you've got," she said. "It's really good for the people doing it as well as the people they're helping."
Ms McPhee said organisations like Rotary, Lions and CWA had a "huge" amount to offer the community.
"I don't know how the country would run without the volunteers," she said.
Ms McPhee also spent time as coordinator at Telecross in Eurobodalla, a Red Cross service that provided a daily telephone call to people who are lonely or at risk of injury or illness.
"I find it quite amazing that people still remember me even though I haven't done Telecross for a while," she said.
Ms McPhee said the next generation should "get out and help".
"I do think there is a generation gap," she said. "Everyone seems to be too busy at the moment, which is pretty sad. We brought up our children and worked and still did all of this stuff."
Alan Russell has known Ruth for six years, since he became manager of the Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels branch.
"Where do you find dedication like this?" he said.
"54 years of service to Meals On Wheels is an incredible effort by anybody. It's a lifetime for some, and she's been very kind to so many people."