Proud moment for Quota of Whitsunday at Kuffs launch

 An idea that started from a conversation in a bathroom in the Orient some 18 months ago came to fruition on the Cannonvale foreshore on Saturday afternoon with the official forming of a vivacious new youth club for the Whitsundays.

 Kuffs, which stands for Kids United for Friendship and Service, and comes under the Quota Whitsundays’ umbrella, is Kerrie McCallum-Coles’ baby and on Saturday afternoon she was glowing with delight for her newly formed group.

 "This turnout out today and the number of kids that we have now is well above my expectations and exceeds anything I dreamed of," she said.

 "I have fallen off the mountain a few times in the past 18 months but I got back into it and here we are today, with 15 members, which exceeds all of my expectations."

 Quota Club International President Chris Tracey-Patte and several more dignataries were all on hand to witness the momentous occasion, which has attracted the attention of quota clubs worldwide. In a speech in front of the gathering crowd, Ms Tracey-Patte congratulated Ms McCallum-Coles on her new ideas and enthusiasm and welcomed all the new members to the fold.

 "I look forward to hearing about your successes and also to seeing you at our world conferences in the future," Ms Tracey-Patte said.

 Quota Whitsunday member Margaret Roberts made a delicious cake to mark the occasion, which was officially cut after the ceremony.

Quota welcomes new KUFFS club for kids

 Juniors of the Whitsundays now have a new club, thanks to Quota International of Whitsunday. The junior Quota club ‘Kids United for Friendship and Service’ (KUFFS) held its inaugural meeting on Saturday June 18 with an initial eight members eager to find out more.

 President of Quota Whitsunday Kerrie McCallum-Coles said she toyed with the idea of a junior Quota for about 12 months.

 “Quota International has approximately 50 JQ clubs around the world, but there are only about two in Australia.

 “After the success of our award winning project Chef de Quota and my work as the co-ordinator for ‘Get Set For Work’ at the Proserpine State High School, I have come to realise there is a real need for some sort of group to be formed where kids that don’t belong to sporting or dance clubs or other organisations can come together for friendship and service within our community,” Ms McCallum-Coles said.

 “KUFFS can offer these kids a social outlet, an opportunity to contribute and open many doors into our community, to enhance their prospects for future employment and give them the ability to make a difference.

 “These are the volunteers of the future,” she said.

 KUFFS will meet for lawn bowls and a sausage sizzle at the Airlie Beach Bowls Club, this Friday, July 1, at 5pm. Thereafter meetings will be held fortnightly at the Macdonalds in Cannonvale, with the next meeting scheduled for Saturday July 16 at 9.30am.

 Ms McCallum-Coles said KUFFS would be looking for new members and a sponsor.

 For more information contact Kerrie McCallum-Coles on 0409 222 548.