Empowering women since ‘78

EACH March, International Women’s Day prompts the world to reflect on women’s rights, empowerment, and achievements.

UN Women’s 2022 IWD theme, ‘changing climates: equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,’ and the broader campaign, ‘break the bias: a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination,’ align with the values of a particular non-government organisation, deeply rooted in Ballarat.

The Zonta Club of Ballarat has worked to advance women’s rights since 1978, and is concerned with issues including health, education, climate action, equity and human rights, economic empowerment, gender-based violence, child marriage, and human trafficking.

It’s a local branch of Zonta International, which has aimed to empower women through service and advocacy in 63 countries since it launched in upstate New York 103 years ago.

Zonta Ballarat’s Val Sarah AM, also a former president of Zonta International, said some of the higher profile Club campaigns have strived to stop violence against women and children, advocated for gender equality, and urgent climate action.

“To mark the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence last year, local Zontians led a twilight walk around Lake Wendouree in collaboration with other local groups,” she said.

Key Club projects have included the creation of essential care and toiletry bags for women escaping domestic and family violence, birthing kits for mothers and newborn babies in remote areas of 30 countries, and breast cushions for women and men recovering from breast surgery.

Zontians support the Zonta Foundation for Women which partners with the United Nations to focus on adolescent girls’ health and protection in Peru, gender-based violence survivors in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste, and education and gender equity issues in Madagascar.

Ms Sarah, with fellow Zontian Catherine Taylor, represent the Ballarat Club as part of a Futures Think Tank for climate action.

“Led by futurist Carole Theobald in Perth, the think tank now attracts a caucus in the USA, and interested Zontians in Luxembourg, Switzerland, Finland, and Nepal, whose climate concerns both mirror our own, and provide insights into vastly different circumstances,” Ms Sarah said.

Ballarat Zontians also celebrate and promote high-achieving women, presenting an annual Young Women in Public Affairs Award to committed community leaders and change-makers between 19 and 19 years of age.

The 2021 recipient was former Ballarat Clarendon College student Eloise Amirtharajah who was also awarded more broadly by Zonta International.

But the Club’s flagship initiative has been the Ballarat’s Great Women presentations and honour roll.

“This is a celebration of those who have lived, been educated or worked in our fair city, and in doing so, have made a significant contribution to our community,” Ms Sarah said.

The Club has presented “lasting gifts” to the City, including the Zonta Art Collection of Australian women artists at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, and the tranquil Zonta Sensory Garden at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, where a yellow Zonta rose of friendship is planted.

Read more about the Great Women Honour Roll in next week’s edition on Thursday, 10 March. Visit zontaballarat.com.