History

Zonta Club of Botany Bay from 1994 

Zonta Club of Botany Bay was formed in 1994 by Zonta Club of Sydney and subsequently chartered in June of that year with 32 members. The charter president was Beverley Davies OAM, and was mentored by Shirley Graham from ZC Sydney. Unfortunately, many of the Charter Members did not follow through with their commitment to Zonta after the first year. Those who did commit were instrumental in the development and growth of a very pro-active club.

Service Projects

Cushions

Within the first 6 months, Zonta Club of Botany Bay had been inspired by a guest speaker, Vanessa Lambert, who spoke about post-operative support following Breast Cancer surgery. This lead to the development of a crescent shaped cushion to be used for supporting the arm after breast surgery. This project has continued with the club making approximately 950 items per year for local hospitals and Royal Womens Hospital.  The benefits of these cushions were quickly evident to other Zonta clubs who also adopted this project. In 2001, Zonta Districts 23 & 24 accepted the Breast Care cushions as District Projects and this has continued to the present time.

YWPA 

Each year since 1995 ZCBB has organised very successful Young Women in Public Affairs Awards involving the local schools. The quality of students has been outstanding with four winners, Elise Fisher, Katerina Jovanoska, Daniella Mraovic and Athena Savvas receiving District awards. Three of these girls, Elise, Daniella and Athena, went on to win a ZI award. 

Refuges

Women in local refuges have been supported with the club providing  bedlinen, kitchen appliances, cutlery, crockery, cleaning items , children’s clothes and bedding as well as toiletries donated through various sources.  

Birthing Kits

Since 2003, ZCBB has assembled birthing kits which were sent to various countries.  Birthing kits have been packed by many students in a variety of local schools and community groups

Project Youth/Project Educate

The Club supports this initiative with funds raised from our Vintage & Collectables Fair.

Project Youth supports young people aged 12-24 across Sutherland Shire, Georges

River and Bayside LGAs, offering programs that enable young people to become connected, safe and pursuing education.

Student Sponsorship

ZCBB has supported underprivileged students both in Australia and Tanzania to provide educational opportunities.   This is done via the Smith Family Australia and the School of St Judes, Tanzania.

ZCBB funds have also been used to the following: 

• Look Good, Feel Better
• Post natal depression
• Drought relief
• Diversional therapist for an aged care centre 
• Samaritan House
• TAFE Awards
• Nursing Chairs 
• Provision of Anorexia books for schools
• Breast Cancer, Young Women’s Day
• Dandelion Support Network
• Kookaburra Kids toiletry pack
•  STEM Awards and Community Awards  
•  St Judes - Sponsoring a young girl at the School of St Judes in Tanzania was part of the ZCBB support for women in education until her tertiary education was completed.
• Zonta Cares - This is a project that was developed after a visit to Zonta Club of Colombo II in Sri Lanka by Ann Selle & Kerry Parsons. It was established that many  women discovered they had breast cancer at a very late stage and often didn't get follow up treatment after surgery.  Zonta Cares trains nurses in Sri Lanka in specialist breast cancer diagnosis,  treatment and care of the patient.   A training workshop was conducted by breast cancer physician and  a breast cancer nurse trainer in 2019.   Due to the pandemic lockdowns followup training was not possible and a donation was made to Zonta Club Colombo II to carry on  the training within Sri Lanka.
• Zonta International Foundation has been supported with annual grants

The club has been successful in gaining grants & sponsorships from various institutions to cover the cost of some of our projects. It has also been successful in developing grant proposals for refuges and other service providers. Membership numbers have fluctuated over the years but it has been a very vibrant mix of members who have worked with enthusiasm and friendship making for a very ‘Can Do” approach to help fulfil the mission of Zonta International

The Zonta Club of Botany Bay is part of Zonta International and as with all clubs aligns its objectives with Zonta International in:

• improving the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women through service and advocacy
• working for the advancement of understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of executives in business and the professions
• promoting justice and universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
• uniting internationally to foster high ethical standards, to implement service programs and to provide mutual supports and fellowship for members who serve their communities, their nations and the world.

Zonta International is a leading global organisation of professional women working together to empower women worldwide through service and advocacy.

 Founded in 1919 as the vision of some 600 women in the USA, Zonta International has blossomed into an organisation which today engages the mind and spirit of over 30,000 women and men in more than 1200 clubs located in 67 countries around the world. Zonta International is proudly non-partisan and non-sectarian, with members from a diverse range of cultures and professional backgrounds. As Zontians in District 24 (covering most of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory) we voluntarily apply our time and talents working co-operatively, locally and globally, on a variety of service projects and advocacy initiatives, to advance the economic, professional, educational, health, legal and political status of women.