This week marks the twentieth anniversary of Nola Dudley Insurance as a Binney Street business entity.

Nola went into the insurance business while working full-time in the local furniture store. In those early years the hours were long as she worked after normal working hours to represent about sixty clients of the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce.

As the number of insurance enquiries increased, Nola added National Insurance Company of New Zealand to her books, and in 1984 answered a newspaper advertisement to add Ansvar to her agency. Later on, she successfully negotiated to represent another five companies, enabling her to offer a range of alternatives and provide the best possible cover for her clients.

By November 1988, Nola’s business had expanded sufficiently for her to open her own office in the small shop at 66 Binney Street. Her reputation for diligence and efficiency became well known not only locally but also within the industry; Ansvar, in particular, has a policy of challenging its agents to meet ever-higher sales figures, and several times Nola has earned the accolade of that company as its Agent of the Year.

Nola’s success is largely due to the friendly and personalised service she gives her clients, many of whom have cause to be grateful for assistance that has gone far beyond what one might expect of a mere business acquaintance. When you add this attribute to Nola’s extensive knowledge of her industry, it is not surprising to find that she is the first agent local people turn to for additional cover or recommend to their friends.

The past twenty years have seen not only a huge increase in the volume of Nola’s business but also a change in methods. While she began with an index card system (which she still defends as “perfectly adequate!”), industry demands have necessitated the adoption of new technology, and Nola’s records became computerised. However, her clients can be assured that they will never be “just a number” at Nola Dudley Insurance, as Nola and her two part-time staff members, Ruth Beckham and Pat Meighan, continue to offer the same friendly service in the Binney Street office.