WAGGA'S Meals on Wheels service has "big shoes to fill" as long-serving chairperson Lex Bittar brings almost two decades of contributions to an end.
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The well known face around Wagga has announced his retirement after 18 years with the community volunteer group, but his legacy will remain strong for decades to come.
Acting as chairperson for 15 of those years, Mr Bittar has helped foster significant changes in the way Meals on Wheels serviced Wagga, and helped grow the organisation.
Current vice president John Craig is set to step into the role of chairperson, and said Mr Bittar's leadership will not soon be forgotten.
"His style of leading the organisation was unique, he always saw the positive side of everything that people did and listened to the ideas people had with such enthusiasm," Mr Craig said.
"Lex treated absolutely everyone with the utmost respect, and through his unique methods of leadership, was able to gain everyone's confidence which resulted in a great deal of cohesion among board members, which flowed on to staff and volunteers as a result."
Born and raised in Wagga, Mr Bittar contributed to the city in more ways than one, well known for his educational role setting up the Wagga Education Centre and serving as Principal of South Wagga Public school.
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But it was his retirement from education that led him to Meals on Wheels.
Mr Bittar saw, endured and facilitated many changes within the service, the most prominent of which being a switch from the delivery of hot to frozen meals.
The switch in business initially saw a number of clients lost, but thanks to his leadership, have since risen again to beyond the original figure.
Mr Craig said Mr Bittar will be sorely missed.
"He will absolutely be missed by a lot of people, there's big shoes to fill and we hope we can in some way live up to that with new leadership," he said.