Zonteyre e-News – May 2019 | Zonta Club of Port Lincoln

From President Jo Hay

This last month has been fairly quiet for Zonta. I was asked to speak as a guest speaker for the ladies at the CWA on Friday 12^th April. Most had no idea about Zonta so hopefully they are now enlightened!

Terral kindly represented Zonta Port Lincoln at the Area 2 workshop at Mintaro in Clare. Approximately 60 members attended. A huge thank you and we will here more from Terral later.

I laid the Zonta Wreath at the Anzac Dawn Service at 6am last Thursday along with other Service Clubs from Port Lincoln.

Our club is holding our Birthing Kit Day on May 11^th and I have made sure we will appear in the Lincoln Times, hopefully with an article and also in Community Corner.

Area 2 Workshop – Mintaro – April 2019 had the theme ‘CHANGEMAKERS’

Yesterday , Today , Tomorrow .

All Area 2 Zonta Clubs except one, approximately 60 members, were able to attend this informative and interesting workshop which was convened by Clare and Districts Zonta Club. Past International President, Val Sarah AM and three past and present District 23 Governors attended.

A new colourful banner for the100 Year Anniversary of Zonta has been distributed to all Zonta clubs.

The Governor of South Australia has invited 120 Zonta members to Government House on July 11th. Our club has 10 invitations so we hope they are all taken up for this once in a lifetime event.

Interesting house keeping forums were presented by :

Dr Joy O’Hazy and Bev Hocking -125 Years of Voting (Women fighting for the right to vote.)

Leann Symonds – Child Marriage

Margaret Rowland – Centennial Anniversary

PIP Val Sarah AM DGSJ & Liz Bice – Zonta International Fund – Endowment Fund

Lynda A’Bear – Membership

Prue Blackwell – Public Relations & Communications

Eronwy Edwards A2 Director – Our Clubs, Issues 7 Where Next

Speaker – Dr Helen MacDonald

Chief Executive Officer – Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council

“Queen Mothers, White Men and Leadership”

Dr Helen MacDonald is former CEO of the Naracoorte Lucindale Council. Prior to this she worked in the mining industry for 15 years, living in the United States of America, Africa and working in Australia, South America and central Asia as well as other countries overseas.

Dr MacDonald has a PhD in Philosophy (Applied Ethics) and Bachelor of Arts – Honours and continues her professional development through a variety of different and changing mediums. She spoke about her years in Ghana as CEO of Newmont Gold mining which was close to closing down when she arrived there. She turned it around by standing down the fly in – fly out executives who were not earning income for the mine, speaking to the wives (Queens) of the local Chiefs, when she learnt much local knowledge, and liaising with the Chiefs, then hiring local companies and workers to the mine. Dr MacDonald said the difference in the attitudes, economics and happier working conditions in the mine were astounding.

Speaker – Jo Stewart Rattray

Director of Information Security & IT Assurance, BRM Holdich

“Dream Big & Believe – On the Road”

Jo was a country Victorian child who dreamed big and believed she could. She became an accidental feminist activist whose journey took her to some exotic sounding locations and had the opportunity to speak to some amazing women whose stories were shocking to her. Inadvertently, a program designed to address the under representation of women in the Tech workforce, ‘SheLeadsTech’, has created safe places for women to network and share their stories without fear.

Jo was chosen as a representative to the 62^nd UN Council for the Status of Women in New York in 2018 where she worked with many amazing women from around the world to help change the lives of women and girls in many areas of their lives.

When travelling in Zambia she felt uncomfortable when not allowed to buy something from a woman’s street stall in a market place, but could from the male’s stall next door. She found that the children’s most prized possession was a pencil. The girls are not encouraged to go to school. In Sri Lanka she met the Governor’s wife, who had studied at University but was not allowed to take up a managerial position because she was married.

April Dinner Meeting – 30th April 2019

Speaker was Sharyn Whait, a Youth Counselor at the Port Lincoln High School. She is a mother of two children and also fosters other children. Her family has aboriginal boy Robert who is very happy and now attends school. Sharyn says it has been a very rewarding thing to do for her family.

At a successful AGM in April all positions have been filled or retained. There will be an incoming Secretary, Louise Mrdjen and a new Director Julia Collins. The recommendations to support Yarredi Services Women’s Shelter Homes, Dr Barry Kirby PNG and three Port Lincoln High Schools and Special School for Year 12 and end of year Awards.

The Annual Report 2018-2019 for all committees was prepared and tabled by Tass Shramm. Thanks to her for a great job.

The appreciation of all club members go to Pamela Carmody for an outstanding job as Secretary for the past years.

Hand Over Dinner Meeting – 28th May 2019 6.00pm Grand Tasman Hotel.

Birthing Kit Assembly Day will be held at St Joseph’s Boarding House community room on May 11th from 10am. 600 birthing kits will be assembled and packed ready for shipping to District 23 and then overseas. Any friends and guests of Zonta members are welcome to attend. Morning Tea will be available.