QI of Alstonville-Wollongbar, New South Wales, Australia

This club created a community service project to benefit local residents, and, after encountering a snafu, encouraged local lawmakers to implement a groundbreaking policy to benefit people throughout their state.

The club collaborated with the local fire brigade and ambulance service to provide an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) for the community. Because the nearest ambulance stations are 22 kilometers away in Lismore, too far away to make a difference in cardiac crises, the Quota club approached the local emergency services about housing the AED that the club would purchase at the local fire house to be manned 24 hours a day by volunteers. Difficulties in realizing this goal led the club to hold an open community meeting during Quota Cares Month, which revealed enthusiastic support for the idea and widespread news coverage on local TV.

With funds raised for the AED, the club encountered another quagmire in facilitating cooperation between the two emergency services. So, members approached their Parliament representative to share information about the problem. A groundbreaking agreement followed that will allow other communities in Australia to set up similar arrangements for emergency services manned by volunteers. The club now sponsors CPR classes in the community to train as many residents as possible to use the AED.

To read the club's winning application, click here.

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