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 to launch new community garden project

 Quota International of Whitsunday Inc is about to launch another ambitious community project, this time in collaboration with Conservation Volunteers Australia.

 The new “care and share garden project” is currently in a developmental phase, but the seed germinating among members of the two organisations is sure to grow nothing but success.

 While a venue for the garden has yet to be determined, the project will be targeting at-risk and vulnerable youth, with plans to incorporate native, bush tucker and edible gardens into the overall result.

 Regional manager for Conservation Volunteers Australia Caitlin Davies said she was very much looking forward to seeing the project progress.

 “We’re fairly new to the region so we’re really excited to become a part of the community,” Ms Davies said.

 Quota Whitsunday President Kerrie McCallum-Coles said this promises to be a true community project, for the community, by the community.

 “This project will bring together individuals, organisations and local businesses who care for the environment, care for their community and care enough about the Whitsunday region to share their skills and knowledge, share their time to help others and ultimately share what they create with everyone,” Ms Mcallum-Coles said.

 The project will require the donation of materials including soils, mulches, plants and tools. For more information or to become involved, contact Kerrie McCallum-Coles on 0409 222 548.

Whitsunday women form new Quota club

A group of passionate, young Whitsunday women will make history on October 8 when their group is chartered to become the very first group of its kind in the nation.

Officially called the Quota International of Whitsunday Coast, a group of some 15 community spirited women put their heads together some weeks ago to form what is arguably the very first “all young members' club” in Australia.

Group president Amanda Porter said the newly formed group was hoping to attract a few more professional, young women in their 20s and mid 30s who were interested in the social aspect as much as the charitable side of the organisation.

“Many of us did a fair bit of community work in high school … but it’s really just about young people who are looking for a good social networking opportunity and those who are passionate about their community,” Ms Porter said.

Only weeks old and the women are bursting with ideas to raise money including bake-offs, fashion parades, trivia nights and a booze cruise.

“Already we have a couple of projects we’d like to work towards including raising some money for youth space, put some more playground equipment around and deck out the green room at the hospital with a bit more stuff,” she said.

Veteran Quotarian and president of Quota International Whitsunday Jeanette Gray said the local Quotarians were actually world leaders in starting new clubs.

“There have been eight new clubs chartered internationally in the past 18 months …. Two of them are in this district. “All young people looking for professional development experience, the opportunity to travel and meet people should get involved,” she said.

Quota conference held in the Whitsundays

 The Quota 40^th District Annual Conference was a fun-filled four-day event, held from Wednesday to Saturday last week. Conference functions included a ‘meet and greet’ for Australian and international Quota members at the VMR in Cannonvale on Thursday, and a formal dinner at Peppers Coral Coast Resort on Friday night.

 The conference officially began on Wednesday June 1, with the arrival of Quota International President Gwenn Jackson. Ms Jackson engaged in a ‘listening tour’, whereby a group of non-Quota members were invited to identify what young people of today are seeking in terms of volunteerism.

 Ms Jackson said like many service organisations, Quota was in danger of becoming an ageing group, so to connect with the younger generations was important.

 “These young adults really do want to make an impact in their communities. They maybe communicate a little differently but that doesn’t diminish what they would hope to accomplish. Quota is trying to identify how we can join with them,” she said.

 Ms Jackson was full of praise for Quota Whitsunday Inc, describing members as “playful yet serious about their work”.

 “They have a genuine care and concern for their members and each other but also their community,” she said.

 President of Quota Whitsunday Kerrie McCallum-Coles said hosting the conference was “just brilliant”.

 “It’s a very big honour to host this event. The conference rotates through all the clubs in the district. Currently there are seven, so this is now a once-in-seven-year event,” she said.

 Ms McCallum-Coles said a big “thank you” should go to the conference committee and particularly Jeanette Gray, who organised the event.

 Ms Gray said feedback from the conference was good.

 “We’ve had lots of motivational positive speakers and having the international president here has been the icing on the cake.

 “We’re hoping we’ve learned some ways in which we can encourage others to join this incredible organisation,” she said

 Local resident Jenni Cridland was officially inducted back into Quota on Friday night.

 “I was in Quota a few years ago but because of family commitments I had to give it away. I’m very pleased to be back – it feels like coming home,” Ms Cridland said.

 Ms Cridland said Quota offered women of the Whitsundays great opportunities to give back to the community and further their own personal development.

 “Those are the main things I’ve come back for – the friendship and the fun and to serve our community. Being a part of something like this heightens your self-confidence,” she said.

 For more information about the Whitsunday Quota Club contact Kerrie McCallum-Coles on 0409 222 548.