They couldn’t quite make it to their 60th anniversary, but the remaining ladies of the Tenterfield Quota Club have called it a day after 59 years of serving the community.
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Of the four remaining active members, Elaine Smith and Daphne Struck have been part of the organisation since its inception, being among the 17 foundation members.
Quota came to Tenterfield in 1957 sponsored by the Quota Club of Glen Innes. Nell Sommerlad was appointed charter president. Charter secretary was Mrs Struck (then Miss Cuthbert) who was still serving, in the role of treasurer, into 2016.
Miss Smith has also filled many positions including secretary, president and treasurer. Her sister Ailsa (Quinn) was president in 1963 and was the club’s final patron.
When the club was first formed its priority was to help and work for the wellbeing of older folk, and lonely women in the district. The Golden Age Christmas Party use to be held in the Donnelly Hall in December from 1957 to 1976, and Old Friends Meet was formed in 1962 to encourage companionship and entertainment for the lonely and senior citizens in the community. It continues on the third Tuesday of each month, with afternoon tea and entertainment provided by community organisations.
Quota has donated financially and often hands-on to the Community Centre, Millrace Hostel, Tenterfield Hospital, Tenterfield School of Arts and many other organisations. Efforts to provide stage curtains for the School of Arts in 1963 resulted in a Baby Show, dubbed a “howling” success.
When local music teacher and Quotarian Alma Crook was looking for a way to showcase the talent of her students, Quota staged its first eisteddfod in 1981 and the biennial event remains the club’s crowning achievement. For its efforts the club was awarded The Sydney Morning Herald service award which was presented to Mrs Crook by NSW Governor Sir Roden Cutler, and is considered a highlight of the club’s history.
Following on from this success members launched an appeal to purchase a grand piano for the School of Arts. Tenterfield Shire Council offered to pay half of the cost and on April 23, 1982 Mrs Sommerlad presented a grand piano to then-shire president Kegga McCowen, for the people of Tenterfield. This acquisition continues to be a valuable asset to the community and draw compliments from visiting artists.
Over many years Festival Queen candidates were sponsored by Tenterfield Quota, with proceeds going to various community projects. The iconic Quota phone book came into existence in the late 1980s and has funded eisteddfods from then to the present day.
The club has supported a multitude of community causes over its six decades, particularly aids for the hearing and sight-impaired both locally and overseas. One of its most recent projects has been working with the Lions and Rotary Clubs on the Christmas Carnival, raising money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
As in any service club the fraternity – or, in this case, sorority – of the membership was a key factor. Mrs Struck well remembers undertaking relief work at the Glen Innes Post Office and catching up with Quotarians down there, particularly Madge Eagle at Eagle’s Butchery who was forever writing notes to her on butcher’s paper.
While it’s a sad day for Tenterfield, Mrs Gardiner said it’s important to be realistic and the former members will maintain the sorority, meeting for dinner once a month on a social basis.
“The club has just run its course,” she said.
With the management of the eisteddfod transferred to the safe hands of the Tenterfield Eisteddfod Association, community members will be relieved to hear the same committee is taking over production of the Quota phonebook, that essential local information resource.