Formation of the QUOTA Club of Taree

“On Friday night the 20^th August 1947 a meeting was called in the CWA rooms to form a Quota Club of Taree.”

This was the first sentence recorded in the first minute book of the provisional Quota Club of Taree. On 6 November 1947 Quota’s International President Marie Higgins from Ohio, USA presented the Charter to the Taree Club and they were provisional no more.¹

Quota International was founded in 1919 for women to enjoy fellowship and service opportunities while also inspiring confidence. When the Taree Club formed, the world was emerging from WWII where women had served in every sphere of the war. Quota provided an avenue for women to continue their work in the community.²

Twenty-one women formed the initial club with Gertrude Richardson, the first female Mayor of Taree (and first female Mayor outside of the Sydney metropolitan area) chosen as President. The first project the women undertook was to create the Taree and District Day Nursery which they achieved in 1950.³

Since that success the club has raised countless funds for community projects including Manning Counselling Services, Women’s Refuge, Local Youth Refuge, installation of hearing loops at the Manning Entertainment Centre and Ormsby House, lip reading classes, the “Ban-mabah” quiet room at the Taree Library, and the public seating in Victoria Street carved by Russell Saunders OAM. In recent years the club has provided relief for drought, bushfire and flood victims. Past fundraising events included Debutante Balls which provided a service to young people and the very popular Bridal Spectaculars. In 1986 Taree Quota held a display of Dame Joan Sullivan’s opera gowns.

After 70 years of giving service to the community the present QUOTA Club is carrying on the legacy concentrating on people with hearing and speech impairments and youth.

Author: Janine Roberts with information supplied by Jeanette Holland OAM who compiled “Footsteps in Time”.