Quota Club Narooma president Stephanie Hancock and vice-president Michelle Wilson at one of the club’s monthly social events. Photo: Supplied.
Quota Club Narooma has been supporting communities in the Eurobodalla Shire and beyond for 37 years. It helps people of all ages, from schoolchildren to residents of nursing homes and has funded a speech therapist at Narooma Public School for more than 10 years. Surf lifesaving clubs, Marine Rescue, Animal Welfare League, Cobargo Scouts and women’s refuges are among the many groups it supports.
Boasting 29 female members, it is one of Narooma’s larger service clubs. Because there is always a lot going on, members can choose to get involved in a wide range of activities. The club has a fundraising arm and a community service arm. Members range in age from around 55 to women in their 80s.
One member has been with the club since its inception. Club president Stephanie Hancock said that reflected how worthwhile the club was and how social it was. “I don’t think anyone would refute it is a huge social club,” Ms Hancock said. When she moved to Narooma some six years ago, she found it a great way to meet people.
Last year it raised almost $22,000 that was shared among 21 organisations. The club’s main fundraiser is its Sunday afternoon meat raffle at Club Narooma. Members hold an annual street stall where they sell home-baked, homegrown and home-sewed goods. This is the main fundraiser for the speech therapy program at Narooma Public School.
That initiative reflects supporting the deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired is one of Quota’s founding missions. Other original goals of Quota were to provide basic needs to women and children, and to empower women.
Four times a year it runs a trivia night at Club Narooma for a deserving organisation that has approached the club to help it raise funds. It does absolutely everything, from taking bookings to preparing the questions.
In 2023/24, the trivia nights raised more than $6500 for Narooma’s Blue Water Dragons, Community Choir, Marine Rescue and the high school’s P&C committee. Vice-president Michelle Wilson said the trivia nights were a big commitment for the club but “they help us raise money for community organisations that need it”.
Local schoolchildren are major beneficiaries. Each year the club presents a $100 learning award to each of Bodalla, Central Tilba and Narooma public schools and Narooma High School. It also awards a $1000 scholarship to a Year 11 student to go towards their Year 12 fine art project.
Year 10 and Year 11 students may enter the club’s annual Student of the Year Quest. Students apply by sending an application form that addresses certain selection criteria. Each application is assessed by three judges. Students are then interviewed by the three judges. That is followed by a public speaking competition where students present a three-minute speech they have prepared. The final element is each student must make a one-minute ad-lib speech based on a single word they are told only moments beforehand.
Quota Club Narooma members Carol Mead and Wendy Mancell present a wreath on Anzac Day. Photo: Supplied.
Quota Narooma has a good reputation and other organisations entrust it with money. Last year the Tuross Book Club donated $550 that it had raised from a grand high tea. The book club wanted to support children. The Narooma club bought three sets of 15 children’s books that it distributed to preschools in Narooma, Tuross and Wallaga Lake.
It buys fruit and chocolates for residents of Dalmeny’s two nursing homes three times a year. Club members used to chat with residents but that has not been possible since the pandemic.
It has bought bedding for women leaving the South East Women and Children’s Services (SEWACS) and contributed to other community projects such as sending Narooma High School’s robotics team to Houston to compete in the world championships and the beautiful mural to mark Legacy’s centenary.
It is not all about money though. Some club members round up donated wool to crochet blankets for the rehabilitation ward at Moruya Hospital. The hospital has started to use them in the palliative care ward as well so there is a constant demand for that community service.
Members come from as far as Tuross and Wallaga Lake. Everyone is welcome and anyone interested in joining is encouraged to attend one of the monthly business meetings and at least one of their monthly social events to meet members and understand what the club does. For more information contact Ms Hancock on 0413 229 133.
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