Amelia Earhart Fellowship
Amelia Earhart Day is just around the corner...
With the year almost over, and everyone getting ready to enjoy a relaxing time with family and friends, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of an important day in January.
Zonta International designated 11 January as Amelia Earhart Day in honour of Amelia Earhart's achievement as the FIRST aviator to fly solo from Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland, California on 11 January 1935 – a flight attempted by many others without success.
An aviatrix that stretched the boundaries of flight, Amelia Earhart was also a strong advocate for women in nontraditional roles. She encouraged women to think outside the box, saying we should “Try the impossible, and when we fail, our failure should be a challenge to others”. She also said that “If enough of us keep trying, we’ll get someplace.” As an AE Fellow, these thoughts resonate strongly with me.
 So how will you be celebrating Amelia Earhart Day? Do you have any plans to acknowledge this amazing Zontian? I would love to hear about them. If you do have an event planned, please share the Save The Date or Activity fliers so that we can spread the word and encourage other members to attend. I would also encourage all clubs to also post on social media and to ZI Share Your Story.
Have a wonderful and safe Christmas
Kaliope Vassilopoulos
AE Fellowship Coordinator and former AE Fellow
Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
The District 23 winner, and consequently recipient of a Zonta International scholarship, is Amy Zahra, nominated by ZC Perth Northern Suburbs Inc. Amy is studying Business Administration at Edith Cowan University.
This year marks the first time that Zonta International has awarded US$5000 scholarships to 37 women representing 23 countries (one per district/region and a second scholarship for each of the five largest disctricts. A press release and biographical description of each recipient will be posted on the Zonta International website by the end of January 2023.
Amy has clearly demonstrated outstanding potential in her field. She is currently working full-time as a Business Development Manager of Projects for Miele, studying part-time for her Master of Business Administration, and is the single mother of two teenage boys – Jackson aged 15 and Mitchell aged 12. While juggling all of these balls, Amy managed to make the Edith Cowan University Dean’s list for her Graduate Certificate in Project Management and secure an ECU Academic Excellence Scholarship to assist her with her Masters studies. The JMK Scholarship will assist her further in these endeavours.
Running her own business while her children were young, Amy also mentored other young women, resulting in them running their own businesses. Amy’s professional and entrepreneurial approach echoes that of Jane M Klausman.
Amy’s referees for her application praised her collaborative, dedicated approach to both her studies and work. Amy is able to combine business acumen with compassion and kindness. She truly is someone who epitomises Zonta and more broadly successful women in business.
Bev McNamara
JMK Women in Business Scholarship Coordinator
Women in STEM Scholarship
The ZI website has been updated and announces that, in June 2022, the Zonta International membership voted to continue the pilot Women in Technology Scholarship program with an expanded focus on all STEM fields, not only technology. Again, the program operates at the Zonta club, district/region and international levels, with each Zonta district/region able to submit one applicant for consideration for one of 32 US$5000 international scholarships.
A single candidate from each of Zonta’s 31 districts and one region will receive an award of US$5,000 from Zonta International. The website advises that application materials will be available in December 2022, with submissions due to ZI by 15 Sept 2023.
Dr Prue Cowled
D23 Women in STEM Scholarship Coordinator
Young Women in Public Affairs Award
I trust all D23 clubs have seen the YWPA application form and supporting documents for 2023 on the Zonta International website and Presidents and YWPA Chairs are working with the schools in your area to promote this award. It is an excellent opportunity for visibility and to plant the seed for membership growth. If you have not already approached the schools this year, now is the time to put in plans to do so early in 2023, as club winners need to be finalised by 31st March 2023.
- Consider press releases to publicise the award in your community.
- Send emails to school principals and school counsellors to elaborate on details of the YWPA Award. Maintain personal contacts with school principals and school counselors. Follow up to provide more information and guidance on how to complete the application form.
- Reach out to other youth and community organisations to find applicants.
- Use the collateral developed by Zonta International e.g. posters.
Please send winning applications including associated additional documents as one PDF file to jmpincombe@hotmail.com by 31st March 2023
Julie Pincombe
D23 YWPA Awards Coordinator
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Birthing Kit Project 
Recognising Your Champions – We Need Names By 23rd December, 2022
The Birthing Kit Foundation Australia, BKFA, partnering with Zonta Districts 22, 23 and 24 in Australia, wishes to recognise our Zontian organisers of Birthing Kit Assembly Days. Badges identifying these organisers as 'Champions' will be presented at Area Workshops in 2023.
Presidents, please provide details of these organisers and the number of kits made between 1999 and 2009. Please send the names to me by 23rd December, 2022 – houghton@westnet.com.au
History.
 Joy O’Hazy and the Zonta Club of Adelaide Hills in 1999 developed a Zontian’s Vision by believing, ‘A world in which all women have access to a clean and safe birth’ was achievable.
Julie Monis-Ivett OAM, Zonta Club of Adelaide Hills Inc. provided the following information.
Every hour 33 women die of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. An estimated 385,000 women die annually in childbirth, many from preventable infections.
In 2003, District 23 adopted the Zonta Birthing Kit project that was proposed by the Zonta Club of Adelaide Hills. This project involves clubs arranging birthing kit assembly days to put together simple clean birthing kits that are sent to help birthing assistants in developing countries. The kits cost $5 each and consist of a sheet of plastic, gauze, string, a blade, soap and gloves. The plastic bag and the plastic sheet are treated with an organic compound that helps the plastic breakdown.
This Birthing Kit project was recognised as the top Zonta International District Project at the Zonta International Convention held in Orlando in 2014. Districts 22 and 24 are also active in this project. As of mid-2021, 2.4 million women experienced a safer birth through access to clean birthing kits.
The Birthing Kit Foundation (Australia) was formed to oversee this project. Find out more at the BKFA website here.
Gaining Sponsorship and Donations to Fund Kits-- How to Do It
Corporate networks seeking tax deductable donations can use one of the three options below.
Option 1 – Make a tax deductable deduction direct to the Zonta Club. BKFA to provide tax deductable receipt on request.
Option 2 – A Zonta Club can set up a MyCause page and provide a link to the Corporate body or others as required. Donations can go direct to the specific project as specified by your Zonta Club.
Option 3 – Donate directly to BKFA via the QR code on the postcard (include relevant Zonta Club/AD as reference when making donation for accounting purposes).
Where Does My Donation Go?
BKFA provides support to women, babies, and young girls around the world. Our approach is two-fold, with the supply of Birthing Kits to support improved maternal and newborn health and a commitment to longer term solutions to complex health issues in remote and disadvantaged communities. Your tax-deductible donations will support the work of BKFA and our priority areas of maternal and newborn health.
ZONTIANS AND ZONTA CLUBS AS BKFA MEMBERS – Consider becoming an individual member or suggest your club becomes a member of BKFA. $70 for individual membership would be a wonderful gift for the person who shares our vision.
Forging partnerships to fund and assemble kits is rewarding. Please share your success stories and promotional activities.
Let’s ‘Build a Better World for Women and Girls’, recognise our Birthing Kit Assembly Day Champions and raise the profile of Zonta in our communities.
Tyril Houghton
D23 BKFA Ambassador
houghton@westnet.com.au
Breast Cushions Project
Congratulations to the Zonta Club of Adelaide Torrens on the 7NEWS Adelaide story on 25th October about the club’s involvement in Zonta breast cushion project. Many of you may have seen the Zonta breast cushion story at the time or shared on Facebook. If not, you can go to the club’s facebook to view it.
This great publicity has led to further interest in the project for an article published across Australia. Anthony Caggiano, a journalist at The Senior newspaper based in Adelaide contacted us looking to do a story for The Senior Health online newsletter November 29 issue. The newsletter is sent nationally and abroad.
With input from myself, Judy Lovett (ZC Adelaide Torrens BC contact) and Lyn Agnew (D22 Governor), Anthony wrote a great article. Here is the link: https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/7993211/cushions-soften-post-surgery-pain/
Thank you to Judy, Lyn and Anthony for their contribution promoting our important project.
I will send the next breast cushion production stats report request for six months ended 31 December 2022 soon and will require the reports to be returned by late January.
Jasmine Koch
D23 Breast Cushion Project Coordinator
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Lesley Sweetman is continuing as the D23 Advocacy Committee Chair for this biennium, having only served for part of the last biennium. As previously, she will be supported by Advocacy reps in each of the areas, who will work with their local clubs.
ZI president Ute Scholz has emphasised the importance of an advocacy presence around International Women’s Day (also Zonta Rose Day) and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
Area 1&4 Advocacy
Zonta International defines Advocacy as
The expression of support for, or opposition to a cause, argument, or proposal.
Advocacy may include influencing laws, legislation, or attitudes.
Zonta Advocacy is an action taken in the public interest, or for the greater good with respect to advancing the status of women and girls, and their human rights.
We are now in our third year of holding Area Advocacy Committee meetings. The members are a representative from every Zonta Club in Victoria, including ZC Albury-Wodonga.
In the last 6 months Area Committee has:
- Shared resources between Zonta clubs, and other organisations such as Everybody’s Home, Work for Justice Reform, and Workplace Gender Equality Agency known as WEGA.
- Work for Justice Reform – is committed to breaking cycles of disadvantage especially for Aboriginal and Torres Straits islander peoples.
- Distributed poems written by two Zonta members. Poems by Veena ZC MsE – Buried Deep, and Carmel O’Brien ZC Mornington – Not All Men were read by their authors for publication online or at an opening for the 16 Days of Activism.
- Prepared template letters to send to candidates for state and federal elections.
- Enabled many Zonta clubs to adopt the Behind Closed doors poster campaign with both the You are not Alone poster and Zonta says Now to Financial Literacy for women.
 
Ending family violence is complex. It requires a coordinated focus across all levels of our community and all aspects of family violence prevention and response systems. Safe and Equal have listed a summary in 5 steps which includes developing specialist workforce and meaningful primary prevention – men must be included in the processes.
Zontians need to raise awareness of issues before action can be undertaken. Together we can achieve more.
Bev Devidas
Area 1&4 Advocacy Chair.
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Debbie Schmidt : D23 Membership Chair / Lieutenant Governor
The beginning of a new biennium for Zonta is always an exciting time. The District is excited to be close to chartering our first e-club, the e-Club of Central and Southern Australia, which will be allocated Area 1. Further information will be given to clubs as we get closer to a charter date. I would love to hear from any past member or friend of Zonta who may be interested in being involved but have struggled, or would struggle, to make face-to-face meetings. Please pass on my contact details or email the District directly zontadistrict23@yahoo.com.au .
I am looking forward to celebrating with and assisting clubs to Build a better world for women and girls this biennium.
Debbie Schmidt Lt. Governor and Membership Chair
District Club Creator
ZI Goal 5: Position Zonta for the Future, aims, with the help of Club Creators, to increase membership by creating new clubs. In District 23, we have set the hopefully modest aim of chartering a new club OR Z club OR Golden Z club in each area during the biennium.
As the D23 Coordinator of Club Creators, I am still looking for a person from each Area to offer to assist me in coming up with ideas of where and how we can create new clubs. Much has changed in membership and the style of clubs, so I am looking for innovative ideas and discussions of how we can create new clubs in District 23.
Currently, we are still working on the establishment of the e-club of Central and Southern Australia for our District. Please email if you are interested sandraburnszonta@gmail.com ; our discussions will be via zoom.
Sandra Burns D23 Coordinator of Club Creators
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Register for the NGO CSW67 Forum on 5-17 March 2023!
 Registration for CSW67 will be open from 7 October 2022 till 27 January 2023.
Another year in which we, the ordinary people, may register for FREE and 80% of attendees will be virtual! Even if you feel you can’t join a session at 3 am that you would really like to know more about, if you register to join and don’t attend, you will still be sent the recording to watch at your leisure. It is well worth it!
But it is also a great feeling to become part of the wider world and to chat to some wonderful people you have not met before.
Link to register for CSW67: NGO CSW67 Forum Registration (whova.com)
Zonta International is an ECOSOC accredited non-governmental organisation (NGO) so when asked who you represent, just use ‘Zonta District 23’
Alwyn Friedersdorff
UN Committee Chair
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18 March: Areas 1 & 4 – hosted by ZC Melbourne on Yarra Inc.
25 March: Area 5 – hosted by ZC Hobart Derwent
29 April – Area 3 – hosted by ZC Perth Inc.
6 May: Area 2 – hosted by ZC Adelaide Hills
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 Join your Zonta friends in Bunbury for the District 23 Conference and be inspired to Build a Better World. The Conference Committee are busy organizing speakers and panelists, who will motivate us with ideas for achieving a better future for our world. The program will offer three fun filled few days in the southwest of WA.
So time to start making plans to holiday in WA . The program will begin with noon registration on Friday 1st and conclude at lunch time Sunday 3rd September.
A Conference Newsletter, with updates and accommodation options, will come out in November.
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International Convention - 27 June – 1 July 2024
Brisbane Convention Centre QLD
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It seems like no time since we were celebrating Zonta’s centenary. It seems we were ‘teal’ trendsetters! And now, in a flash, we have reached our 103rd Birthday.
As I write this, we are in the midst of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and the campaign to Orange the World. Zontians
around the world have been involved in these activities for several biennia; currently, the ZI Board has highlighted this time as a major focus for our Advocacy activities under
I recently had the privilege of attending the unveiling of the ‘Zonta’ bench in the Melton Botanic Garden. This was the culmination of a project to recognise the Zonta Club of Melton’s 25 years of service to women and girls in their local community, their contribution to gender equality and to those affected by family violence. The bench provides a peaceful and beautiful spot to sit, remember and reflect. Zontians joined together to read a moving poem by Venna Barsiwal - see below - (ZC Melbourne’s East). (photo is of poem reading)
biennium. Lynne is herself a remarkable woman; she says ‘I channel my energy into influencing and supporting each woman I meet to be empowered to reach her aspirations. I intend my legacy to be the contribution I make to achieving gender equality, through opening doors to education for women and girls’. Each month, she interviews a remarkable woman. Find their inspiring stories at: 
Among the key findings are:
assembly days, Pamper packing nights for those in need, Educational Awards, Bunning’s BBQ’s, and involvement with like minded organizations helping them prepare for Christmas giving. 
with many clubs joining ZCMoY on November 16th for the Walk against Violence in Melbourne’s CBD. Several clubs organised Orange ladies displays, Behind the door posters, Library displays, Daily social media postings on Facebook and Instagram and much more. 
the members of the Zonta Club of Gawler. The Mural was launched by the Mayor of Gawler and a short speech about Zonta was given by Lesley Sweetman, District 23 Advocacy Chair. Sandra Sullivan a mosaic Artist and member of the Zonta Club of Gawler shared her skills with other members so they could contribute to the development of the Mosaic. Sandra explained that in designing the Mosaic Mural her intention for the mural was to celebrate women and their children to picture them in a place where their memory is honoured. She wanted to eliminate any political or judgemental elements and instead highlight them in a place of safety and beauty and to pay homage to women, from all different cultures .. So many different symbols representing women are included. A border designed by local Aboriginal women, Kira and Cody from Ngadii Art surrounds the mural, a rainbow works its way across the panels to represent the LGBTQI+ community and among the various other symbols are those relating to feminist beauty i.e. birds and butterflies. 'The mural will be a sacred space, a place of contemplation for those who choose to sit and reflect. It will serve as a place of remembrance for the Zonta Club of Gawler and the Gawler Domestic Violence Networks' Annual Twilight Vigil which takes place during the 16 Days of Activism in memory of murdered women and victims of Domestic Violence.
Our secretary Jane Morrison, has sent in an interesting snippet for D23 members. Jane's son came across this statue in South Dakota. The statue is called “Dignity” and was erected by the Lakota Sioux tribe as a tribute to their women. It is a matriarchal society and as we know Zonta is one of their words. The statue is located in South Dakota but has not received much publicity in USA
The Area 4 clubs have been actively involved in the 16 Days of Activism. Activities have included:
