Marching forward at Zonta Women’s Day Dinner

PARIS Olympics silver medallist Jenna Strauch has been announced as the guest speaker for the upcoming Zonta Bendigo International Women’s Day Dinner, to be held at The Conservatory in McIvor Road on Tuesday 4 March.

This year’s dinner will also commemorate 30 years since the United Nations’ Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – a global plan to achieve gender equality and women’s rights – was adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.

The declaration is considered a blueprint for governments to take action on issues affecting women and girls and focuses on 12 “critical areas of concern”.

Zonta Bendigo’s Service and Advocacy Committee chair Robyn Williams said “it’ll be extra special” to have Ms Strauch attend.

“We feel she really exemplifies what the whole message for this year’s International Women’s Day is about, which is marching forward,” she said.

“We’re really looking forward to hearing Jenna’s stories and having her back where she grew up.

“She started swimming at Bendigo East Swimming Pool, which is just around the corner from the (venue), and is such an example of hard work (paying off).

“Whatever she was going to do, she was going to be successful at it.”

Several awards will also be presented during the evening, and all funds raised will support scholarships and projects dedicated to empowering women.

A complimentary orange juice or sparkling wine on arrival and a two-course meal are included in the entry price.

For ticket availability, visit the Gotix website.