Quotarians Carry the Olympic Flame

Three Australian Quotarians helped brighten the world
as torch bearers of the Olympic flame for the recent
games in Sydney.

The three Quota members, Christine Shaw, Leelamani Gunaratnam (left), and Bev Laing were selected as participants in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay for their exemplary work as community volunteers. And, of course, that work includes Quota service!

The criteria for selection as a participant in the relay, which brought the Olympic flame to Stadium Australia in September, required that a Community Torchbearer be someone who has:

• performed major feats of individual accomplishment against the odds;
• made outstanding acts of generosity or kindness;
• made a contribution to the benefit of his or her community;
• been a role model or mentor or made a special contribution to the lives of others;
• undertaken voluntary work or contributed to schools or youth groups;
• embodied pride and community values.

Sounds like an ideal Quotarian!

Moranbah Club Shares Delight with
the Community

The Moranbah Quota club was so delighted by the selection of their club secretary, Christine Shaw, to bear the Olympic torch that they created a service project to uplift the entire community in the Olympic spirit.

Club member Bess Samuel secured an Aus.$2,500 grant from the Regional Arts Development Fund, and, true to the Quota motto, "We Share," she invited various Moranbah clubs and organizations to join in the fun. The money provided materials for each group to produce a hand-painted street banner to complement the official banners of the Olympic Torch Relay. The local banners were hung at the Moranbah Town Fair to highlight community groups and activities and allow everyone there to celebrate the cooperative spirit of the Olympics.

Christine Shaw
Christine, secretary of QI of Moranbah, central Queensland, says Day 15 of the flame's 100-day journey to Stadium Australia was "one of the best days of my life!" A former Australian national judo champion, she was delighted to be honored as a different type of victor.

"Top-level sport was so much of my younger life, and now, after being active in the community, they have rewarded me by giving me the chance to run with the Olympic torch. To me, I feel like I've gone full circle—that working quietly in an out-of-the-way place for the community gave me the opportunity to be part of carrying the heart and soul of the Olympic Games is truly amazing," says Christine.

In addition to Quota service, Christine, a civil engineering drafter, also serves the community in other ways. She was part of a small group of women who organized the building of the Moranbah Neighbourhood Centre, which began with a day care center and staff social worker. Her work led to an award for service to Queensland. She has also made valuable contributions to other local projects and to scouting.

Leelamani Gunaratnam
Leelamani, a native Sri Lankan and active member of the Darwin Quota club, says she was greatly honored to represent her community in the torch relay. Hearing impaired herself, she is a committed volunteer in the Darwin community and for her homeland. She regularly collects used hearing aids to send to the Centre for Education of Hearing Impaired Children in Dalugama, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

Leelamani says her vision "is that all hearing impaired people, by being able to hear and speak, have the opportunity to attain an equal place in society and are accepted as creative contributors to the development of prosperous, peaceful, and just nations."

Bev Laing
Laing, a member of QI of Parkes, Queensland, carried
the torch in her town! Meanwhile, the Parkes club joined in the local pre-Olympic festivities by sponsoring a float in the Olympic Torch Parade there. The float depicted the sport of synchronized swimming, so the club created a pool in the back of a truck! Eight wetsuited Quotarians took "parade float" to new meaning as they traveled through Parkes, wearing nose pegs, splashing in time to the macarena. Well done!

The We Share Foundation celebrates the success
of our Olympic torch bearers, who have been
nurtured and encouraged by the members of
Quota International clubs.

—Mary Margaret Yodzis, Senior Writer
© 2000