Saturday, December 8, 2007

Amanda Maystone-Towell Zonta Brisbane South

When I reached 40 I gained more of a realisation that people need people. Yes, it sounds like a Babara Striesand song, however as I have the pleasure of working with people who have come from countries where they have had to deal with terrible hardship, I wanted to get involved in something. One organisation I came across was Zonta Brisbane South Club. Zonta, being an international womens networking organisation whose commitment to increasing the status of women through service, via health, welfare and education.

Our club together with two other Brisbane Clubs recently presented two Bursarys to two hard working, well deserving ladies for our Indigenous Bursary in conjunction with UQ in
Brisbane. The ladies currently are studying law and physcology - great work. Our club also has a commitment and gains from the comraderie of our members in hand making and packaging Breast Cushions for 2 local hospitals for both men and women post breast surgery.

We are engaging with a local school who has welcomed the opportunity to start a Z Club which our club members will mentor and support to encourage our young people to be involved in fundraising and bringing awareness to the concepts of our club. Z Club is for both boys and girls and we encourage them to utilise the skills and knowledge of our members which can offer leadership, experience in working with environment, local charities and community service and international awareness. Our young people are our future, and yet traditions and experience can lend such strengths and leadership. We are hoping to open up another 2 ZClubs from Brisbane South Region schools or a community club. If you are interested in being involved please let me know.

We joined with another club this year, met at UQ and with 100 members and volunteers, put together 3200 Birthing Kits which were sent to
Madagascar. These kits included sterile items which would give the mothers to be a hygenic and sanitary environment for the birth of their children. The high energy in the room, with participants in their teens to their eighties was a great sense of community and timeless effort. Some of the medical students at the university invested their time to this activity also. We encourage school students, and people of the community to come and join us. If you wish your name to be listed for the next Birthing Kit Day, please contact our club, or email me directly. You will be most welcome.

We are organising a great Trivia-Fun'draiser on the 29th March, 2008 to be held at the Old Brisbane Museum. This event is the Amelia Earhart Scholarship Trivia Night which is aiming to raise funds for the International Scholarships for Zonta International. We have been lucky to have a number of recipients in Brisbane. Zonta International has offered over $5M since 1938 when it began. The Scholarship is open to all women who are studying their PhD/Doctorate in Aerospace or related studies. Women from 57 countries have gained these scholarships. The Theme for our event is Around the World in Eighty Days. Great fun! Tables of 10 available for only $20 per person. Bring your friends, family and trivia guru's. Bring your drinks and food. There will be silent auctions, Big Raffles, and Up Up and Away - Buy a Balloon. All funds raised will go towards the International Amelia Earhart Scholarships.

Businesses wishing to be involved and be a sponsor are most welcome to contact me.

If you are interested in becoming a member of Zonta Brisbane South or a club in your local area you can review our web sites on www.zonta.org or www.brisbanesouth.zontadistrict24.org

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