Year: 2013

Last Friday we enjoyed our last club breakfast for 2013 and in light of Zonta International’s current 16 days of activism to stop violence against women and White Ribbon Day on the 25th November, we continued with our focus on domestic violence with a fantastic guest talk by Jane Sleight-Leach who shared her story with us and was a true inspiration to the club with her strength and perseverance. Jane also gave us an insight into the Life 2 Project, which is an organisation started by Jane to provide the tools and support to empower women to be confident, true to themselves and able to find peace within their lives. More information about the Life 2 Project can be found at http://www.life2project.com.au/ and we strongly encourage you to read more into the great work Jane is doing.

We also had the honour of inducting our newest club members with an astounding 7 ladies becoming official members of our club. We would like to extent a very warm welcome to our newest members; we really look forward to working with you and feel very lucky to have such a talented group of ladies joining us.

Lastly, as our fundraising efforts this year have been so successful due to the hard work undertaken by our Finance and Fundraising Committee and all of the support received by the Brisbane Community, we have been able to raise an additional $1000 for service projects. We have decided to donate this to the Young Parents Program (http://www.youngparentsprogram.org.au/) who provide a fantastic and much need support service to first time pregnant and parenting young women to improve pregnancy and birthing outcomes for young women during the antenatal period and general health and social outcomes for mothers and babies for the first year in the postnatal period. The particular program we chose to support was the Welcome to Motherhood Pamper pack Project, which provides various items to mothers, for themselves and their newborns such as baby clothes, nappies and lotions to compliment the emotional support offered by the organisation. What a great service!

We wish everyone a very relaxing and safe Christmas, and a Happy New Year. 2014 is looking like it is going to a great year for our club with so many exciting and fun things planned to advocate for the empowerment of women – we can’t wait!

This morning many of us were thrilled to be present at the Supreme Court Breakfast for White Ribbon Day – as usual, clad with our bright orange Zonta Says NO shirts.

This kicks off the 16 days of activism to say NO to violence against women – see the Zonta says NO website for more information and ideas!

On November 9th hundreds of Zontians, including a great contingent of members and friends of Zonta Club of Brisbane Breakfast, attended Newstead Park to walk 6.5kms in support of the Zonta Says No Walk to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

It was quite hot, but a beautiful day and a wonderful setting. We had many people come up to members and curiously ask what it was all about – and truly this was what it should be about: Getting the word out there about the Campaign, and Zonta.

At the conclusion of the walk, we were honoured to hear from three wonderful speakers. Dr. Shannon Spriggs spoke on the importance of changing bystander behaviour, and finding ways to be empowered to change individual and social behaviours to put an end to the existence and acceptance of violence against women and girls. A member of the Queensland Police spoke about the definition and instances of Violence in Queensland and Australia. Finally, a survivor of domestic violence told us her story, and I think everyone was moved by her bravery and courage, as well as her conviction to help others in similar situations.

We would like to thank the District 22 organisers, and especially Amena Reza, District 22 Area 3 Director, for making the event such a successful and memorable experience for all those involved.

On Friday the 1st of November we were very fortunate to have Dr. Ans Van Erp speak to our group about the important concept of “Advocacy” within the organisation.

I think everyone in attendance walked away with a far better understanding of what Advocacy means – both in general, and in terms of what we as a club can do to Advocate for women and women’s rights, locally and globally.  I am certain many felt enabled and inspired to do more, thanks to Ans’ wonderful insights and inspiring words.

We were also once again thrilled to celebrate the award recently given to our Club by the United Nations Association of Australia Queensland Community Award. Please see below a picture of Judi Hutchison, who received the award on behalf of the Club, and our Club president Karyn Lees, with the Award.

What a fantastic breakfast meeting – we look forward to seeing you at the next one!

(P.S. Have you still not bought your tickets to the Estee Lauder event? Click here!)

On Saturday the 26th of October, at 5.15am (an ungodly hour it has been argued by unnamed person/s) a small contingent from the Zonta Club of Brisbane Breakfast volunteered their time to cheer on the participants of the first annual Brisbane Walk to End Women’s Cancers.

Not only was it a really worthwhile event to contribute time and energy towards, but it was a lot of fun! We were given “clappers”, a cow bell, and some streamers with which to welcome people coming into the Roma Street Parklands for the event – yes, we were a Welcoming Cheer Squad!

At the same time as spreading some enthusiasm and happiness amongst participants, we were all wearing our Zonta Says NO t-shirts, and we did have a few people ask about it – so we were able to raise the profile of the campaign, and of Zonta.

Amazingly the Walk was able to raise $3.5 million! We were amazed, and inspired by the enthusiasm and efforts of all involved, and hope to be back again next year.

The Welcome Team

The walkers gathering.

P.S. Are you looking for the link to buy tickets to the Estee Lauder event? Click here!

We are thrilled and proud to announce that the Zonta Club of Brisbane Breakfast was awarded with a United Nations Association of Australia Queensland Community Award on the 23rd of October, in recognition of advocacy for women worldwide through our commitment to the Zonta Birthing Kit project since 2006.

The awards were presented by Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AC, Governor of Queensland in the company of the president of the UNAA Queensland Clem Campbell at Government House.

Judi Hutchison accepted the award on the club’s behalf and she was accompanied by Karyn Lees, President and Helen Hutchison, fellow member of the Zonta Brisbane Breakfast club, plus Erica Osborn, Project Administrator of the Birthing Kit Foundation (Australia).

Judi accepts the UN Community award on behalf of the Zonta Club of Brisbane Breakfast.

To find out more about our Birthing Kit involvement, please visit our Birthing Kit pages.

A big congratulations to everyone, and especially Judi and Helen Hutchison, without whom we know the project would not be nearly as amazing as it currently is!

(P.S. Looking to buy tickets for the Estee Lauder event? Click here!)

At our most recent breakfast at the beginning of September, we hosted May Lamont – a brilliant speaker, and most admirable woman. May told us of the worthy work that is enabled partially through the support of many organisations including Zonta,  in Papua New Guinea particularly in regards to maternal health. This resonates with our club particularly due to our involvement with the Birthing Kit project.

We very much enjoyed hearing May speak, and look forward to hearing from her again in the future. For more information about the organisation in which May is involved, please visit: Soroptimist International

We were also happy to induct two new members to our board – Petrina Fraccaro and Colleen Miller. We would like to extend our thanks for their hard work!

Finally, thank you to everyone who supported the Mexican Fiesta – for some fun pictures see our Facebook page, or the Events page here on the site.

Ola!

Don’t forget to buy your ticket for the Mexican Fiesta this Friday at 7pm – tickets are just $20.

A mexican buffet will be provided, special musical guests and of course a brilliant Raffle prize is up for grabs.

So buy your ticket here!

Salud!

The 2013 Birthing Kit day was a resounding success!

Thanks to everyone’s contributions of time, energy and funds, we were successful in completing 12,000 kits this year – ahead of time (by just after 11am)!!

Would you like to celebrate with us? Come to the Mexican Night!

Friday the 30th of August, 7pm at the Hotel Orient Mexican Kitchen.

Tickets available HERE

At our most recent meeting, we were fortunate enough to have Jessie Westaway, Senior Industrial Officer with Queensland Working Women’s Service (QWWS) speak to us about the important work that is done to support women in the workplace in matters of discrimination, bullying, unfair dismissal and many other issues.

We were also thrilled to be able to present a cheque to both of our service projects – Queensland Working Women’s Service, and Women’s Legal Service. Zonta Club of Brisbane Breakfast is proud to support such wonderful organisations who make such a big impact in the lives of women who desperately need their services.

Pictured below are Jessie Westaway, representing QWWS, Ayesha Murray our Vice President, and Natalie Davidson, representing WLS.

Jessie Westaway of QWWS, Ayesha Murray, Vice President of ZBB, and Natalie Davidson of WLS.