To this end, we have already this year given Frontrow To Go Sound Systems to some Parkes schools, collected old hearing aids to help poor, deaf people in Fiji, joined with other Quota clubs to support the South Pacific Area Scholarships in Hearing and Speech Training and Research, and awarded a grant to assist a local hearing impaired student and her family attend the Science Challenge held last April.

Now as we see plum puddings and Christmas cakes on the shelves in our supermarkets, we are coming to the end of this year and are planning our 2015 activities. 

With the next Science Challenge coming up on April 18 and 19, it is demanding immediate attention.  

So, parents of hearing impaired children, please look at our advertisement (below) about the challenge and get your application in right away.

The Challenge is an opportunity for hearing impaired school children of all abilities, aged from 7 up, to explore and get excited about the world of science.  

Its main aim is to show these children and their parents that a hearing disability is not an insurmountable barrier to a full and interesting life, including an unrestricted career.  

The children who attend are thrilled to be mixing with other children just like them, confidence soars and new and lasting friendships are often made, both between the kids and also among the attending parents who often find talking to others in the same position as they are, most helpful.

Your scribe was fortunate enough to attend the Challenge a few years ago – helping some of our Sydney based Quotarians who do all the catering for the attendees  - and was given the opportunity to go into some of the classes and to see for myself just what it was all about.  

I can only say to you that if you have a hearing impaired child, go for it.  

It’s absolutely brilliant.