Zonta Club celebrates anniversary

UNITED Nations Day marks forty-two years since the Zonta Club of Ballarat began their service to the local community, advocating for women, their rights, and opportunities.

Part of Zonta International, the Club launched on 24 October, 1978 with 37 members under the leadership of original charter president Val Sarah AM.

Championing women’s education and literacy, health, human rights as women’s rights, women and ageing, and the environment, the Zonta Club of Ballarat has not just worked in the immediate area but has had a global impact.

Ms Sarah recently returned to the role of charter president and is also a past international president.

She said the group’s “tightly-knit membership is celebrating friendships forged, community partnerships created, and delivery of service and advocacy.”

“As an organisation dedicated to empowering women worldwide, we envision a world in which women’s rights are recognised as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential,” she said.

“In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men.

“Members have the opportunity to link up with like-minded women and men in friendship clubs from Finland…to New Zealand, exchange gifts evocative of different cultures and traditions at international conventions, and participate in international study tours.”

As part of the anniversary celebrations, the Club member Catherine Taylor delivered gifts last Wednesday to this year’s Zonta Ballarat Great Women honourees, nominated by community members for outstanding service to the city.

Each Great Woman received a booklet of profiles on the honourees, a golden Zonta rose; the symbol of friendship, and a framed certificate.

Recipients included Ballarat Municipal Observatory’s Judith Bailey, Ambulance Victoria veteran Melissa Buckingham, Commerce Ballarat CEO Jodie Gillett, artist Deanne Gilson, lawyer Dianne Hadden, the Royal South Street Society’s Lorraine Harvey, and Ballarat Lyric Theatre’s Beverley Horwood OAM.

The late Donna Campbell, former Zonta Club of Ballarat president was posthumously honoured this year. A presentation evening could not run due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Other projects have included the Young Women in Public Affairs Award which recognises 16 to 19-year-old leaders serving the community exceptionally, breast cushions for post-operative recovery, and Gold Museum exhibition, Walking in their shoes.

Toiletry bags have assisted women and families escaping domestic abuse, birth kits have helped birthing attendants keep women and newborns well in more than 20 countries, and donations to the 3BA Winter and Christmas Appeals have supported vulnerable families in need of support.

“At the heart of everything we do, is our local community,” Ms Sarah said.

“We initiated the Sensory Garden in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, support awards through the Royal South Street Society Eisteddfod, and supplement the Zonta Art Collection of works…at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.”

Current international projects for Zonta Ballarat are focusing on women and girls’ protection and health in Peru, supporting gender-based violence survivors in Timor-Leste, educating and empowering girls in Madagascar and ending child marriage, prevalent in India.

Zonta International and the Ballarat Club are campaigning to stop violence against women and to encourage urgent climate action. Visit zonta.org.