Zonta Club of Perth Inc

Advancing the status of women worldwide

PO Box 237, Nedlands  WA  6909
 

  
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Zonta Service Programs

Zonta International is organised administratively into four levels: international, district, area and club.  At each level there is a range of service programs and awards.

 

Zonta International Service Programs

Zonta International is associated with the United Nations and has representation on many UN committees including the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).  Through the Zonta International Strategies to Prevent Violence Against Women (ZISVAW) program, Zonta International is dedicated to preventing violence against women through service, education, awareness and advocacy.

 

 A proportion of funds raised by clubs around the world is used to finance International Service and ZISVAW Projects.  Projects are selected by the membership at International Conventions held once every two years.  The 2008 Convention was held in Rotterdam and at this Convention members agreed to the following Zonta International service projects for the 2008-2010 biennium.  These projects work with UN agencies to:

  • Prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Rwanda (UNICEF)

  • Reduce obstetric fistula within the context of maternal and newborn health in Liberia (UNFPA)

  • Create safe cities for women in Guatemala and El Salvador (UNIFEM)

  • End violence against women through community action in Cambodia (UNIFEM)

  • Combat physical violence against women and supporting the implementation of protective and anti-discriminatory laws and policies in Egypt (UNIFEM)

  • Develop a community based centre for housing and rehabilitation of women victims of violence in Syria (UNIEM).

More information about these projects can be obtained from the Zonta International web site.

 

District 23 Service Programs

For administrative purposes, Zonta International is divided into 32 Districts.  All of Australia (except New South Wales, Queensland and the ACT) forms District 23.  A District Conference is held every two years and at the 2007 Conference in Hobart, members agreed to support three District 23 Service Projects for the 2008-2010 biennium.  The 2009 District 23 Conference will be held in Ballarat, Victoria. 

  • District 23 Yarri Wada Project is the dream of Senior Indigenous Law-women, from the Kimberley region of Western Australia.  It aims to give communities pride in their culture, good health, good education, employment and a safe living environment.  The project is co-ordinated by the Zonta Club of Perth.  If you would like to donate money to this project and help the women's dream come true, just download and complete the adopt a puppet form.

  • District 23 Birthing Kit Project that provides materials to birthing assistants in developing countries so that women may give birth in a clean birthing environment.  A person dies every minute due to complications caused by giving birth on the ground in unclean conditions and this AusAID funded program has helped tens of thousands of women in many countries.  The simple kits consisting of plastic sheeting, disposable gloves, string, scalpel and soap are made up during social workshop events and the kits posted directly to organisations overseas that have requested them. If you would like to make a financial contribute to this valuable project through the Birthing Kit Foundation just download and complete the application form. 

  • District 23 Breast Cushions Project helps women recover from breast cancer surgery by providing small specially designed cushions that fit under the arm to improve comfort.  The cushions are requested through hospitals and many Zonta Club members either sew cushions themselves or their club funds materials for community groups to sew the cushions.  The Zonta Club of Perth is one of a number of clubs that provides funds so the women at Bandyup Women's Correctional Facility may sew the cushions for this innovative project. 

Area 3 Service Programs

Each District is divided into Areas.  The Zonta Club of Perth is part of Area 3, which includes the six clubs in Western Australia.  In April/May each year an Area 3 workshop is held for members to learn more about the activities of Zonta and on a weekend near November 8th an Area 3 Founder's Day dinner is held to celebrate the founding of Zonta in 1919.  The hosting of the workshop and founders day dinners is rotated around all the clubs in the area.  Whilst there are no Area 3 service programs, some awards are organised at  the area level.  (See awards page).

 

Zonta Club of Perth Service Programs

The Zonta Club of Perth actively raises funds so it may support International and District programs and also support local women through our own Club’s service projects, advocacy activities and awards.

 

Service projects include:

  • Zonta House Refuge: providing financial and professional support, toiletries, clothes, and furniture to help women rebuild their lives

  • Zonta Holiday Relief Scheme: providing holidays for needy families so they can have quality time together

  • Ngarinyin Project: creating an extraordinary friendship with the Ngarinyin women in the Kimberley region of WA.

Advocacy activities include:

  • Supporting the Women’s Legal Referral Service that provides legal support to victims of domestic violence

  • Supporting education and information programs about female genital mutilation to eliminate this practice in Perth

  • Supporting initiatives to make the 10th September International Gynaecological Awareness Day.

The Zonta Club of Perth was instrumental in developing a Legislative Awareness and Advocacy Kit. The publication has been adopted throughout District 23 and provides a starting point and guide for members to advocate for the status of women worldwide.  It describes what advocacy is and provides practical tips on how to translate intentions into actions. 

From time-to-time representation is also sought from service clubs towards community projects for example, the Zonta Club of Perth has participated in the

The Zonta Club of Perth also has a rather unique rose garden.

State Images Community Art Project

 

What do the Swan Bells, wine cruises and the Perth Tram have in common with Zonta?  They are all represented at Barrack Square—a place that is fast becoming one of the most popular tourist venues in Perth!

The wonderful mosaic floor panels around the lake and water fountains were the result of the State Images Community Art Project, a project that involved Zonta International and other community groups to celebrate the Centenary of Federation in Australia.

This project was one of a series of initiatives to celebrate the Millennium.  Funded by Lotteries WA, the project sought to involve artists (young and old, professional and amateur) in creating their image of their region at the turn of the century and in turn having that image translated onto mosaics as part of the Barrack Square development.  A copy of the mosaic was also be made for display in the home region.

Adjacent to the mosaics are plaques for all the community groups that helped with the project.  The Zonta International plaque is on the left hand side as you walk from the river to the bells!

So how about this for a bit of summer fun…. visit Barrack Square and see the mosaics, then see if you can find the “twin mosaic” on your visits to other parts of the state!  The 9 regional duplicate mosaics are located in the following places:

  • Great Southern– Albany

  • Gascoyne—Denham foreshore

  • Kalgoorlie/Esperance—main street Kalgoorlie

  • Kimberley—Derby library

  • Mid West—New Geraldton Maritime Museum

  • Peel—In garden bed near tourist bureau in Mandurah

  • Pilbara—Roebourne

  • South West—Bunbury

  • Wheatbelt—In front of tourist bureau in Merredin 

So next time you visit the Square take a look at the mosaics and the Zonta plaque.  Have fun looking for the mosaic twins!

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Western Australian Centenary of Women's Suffrage Memorial and Pavilion, King's Park and Botanic Gardens

 

Zonta has been recognised for its role in supporting women in Western Australia with a bronze plaque in the precinct of the King’s Park and Botanic Gardens memorial Pavilion.  The plaque set in a pathway leading to the pavilion reads “Zonta International working to advance the status of women worldwide”.  

Do take the time to visit the Suffrage precinct the next time you are visiting King’s Park and find us out!

 

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Zonta Rose Gardens

 

The beauty of a single yellow rose has been a favourite Zonta motif for more than a decade and many clubs have created "Zonta rose gardens" as colourful ways of promoting their clubs to the community. 

The Zonta Club of Perth has a specimen rose bush at, The Niche, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre.  The rose provides stark contrast to the native garden in which it is located, but is easily accessible to people in wheelchairs. 

The rose bush was the brainchild of our club member Freda Jacob who has worked tirelessly to make life easier for those with physical disabilities. 

Other clubs in Western Australia have rose gardens including Peel Region, Bunbury and Dunsborough.

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Wonderful things happen

when women get together

to help women ...

 

Joan Kirner,

former Premier of Victoria