President Miriam Luyt will lead Quota International of Parkes Inc for the next 12 months and she will be assisted by Susan Ball, Cathy Clarke, Judy Chambers, Rosemary Morris, Lyndall Bowen, Kaye Lindsay and Jeanine Boland.

The new Board is already planning lots of fundraising and social events for our 55 members.

Quotarians at work

With the willingness and enthusiasm of members to buy, cut, sew, iron and pack feminine hygiene kits for the international project “Days for Girls”, over 120 kits were sent to Uganda, Timor Leste and Zambia.

Helping us ensure that the kits get to those in need are Brooke Lees who has taken kits to Uganda, Evelyn and Bill Shallvey who took kits to Timor Leste on their last visit, and Senior Constable Daniel Greef who delivered kits to the Seeds of Hope Orphanage in Zambia.

Currently we have another 100 kits ready to be distributed.

These kits assist women and girls to break the cycle of poverty and live lives of dignity.

NPM Family Day and art at Southern Cross

Quotarians catered at the Northparkes Mine (NPM) Family Day in April.

This was a great way for us to raise some funds and members enjoyed working in the fabulous kitchen.

Our Club is appreciative of the support we receive from NPM, not only on this occasion but also for the grants which assist our work.

In particular, our ongoing program of art at Southern Cross has been supported by NMP as part of their Community Investment Program for many years, and the $800 received recently is ensuring the supply of canvases, paints, brushes, etc.

It was also a pleasure to work alongside NPM in Cooke Park by serving breakfast on International Women’s Day in March.

Our work in local schools

As part of our ongoing program, we have donated 23 sound systems (to the value of more than $28,000) to local schools over the past few years.

These systems produce audible sound and voice clarity throughout the classroom.

Our members are also rostered on the local breakfast program at Parkes Public School.

At PECC we fund the annual hearing/speech screening assessments for pre-school children prior to their first year at school.

These assessments ensure that children start formal schooling with their parents and teachers informed about any hearing/speech issues that need attention.

During the past year we have donated funds to all the schools in Parkes, the Women’s Refuge in Forbes, Parkes Early Childhood Centre, Parkes Can Assist, Life Education (Healthy Harold), Share the Dignity, Birth to Kindergarten, and in partnership with the Lachlan Area Command we have donated to victims of domestic violence.

Why not join us in our very satisfying work – contact us via email on parkesquota@gmail.com