Successful International Women’s Day Breakfast 2019

Another very successful International Women’s Day Breakfast was held on Thursday 07 March with 200 guests attending. The celebrating of International Women’s Day each year is a key event to mark for all Zontians, as well as being a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity, a key ongoing focus for all Zontians. The function was ably emceed by Trish Collins and guests enjoyed a buffet of breakfast food.

Everyone was inspired by our wonderful guest speaker Professor Kerry Reid Searl. Professor Reid-Searl has been involved in the CQUniversity undergraduate nursing program for the past 27 years. She is currently the Director of Simulation and relieving Dean in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences. Kerry is an Adjunct Professor at Monash University. Professor Reid-Searl works with silicone props and has designed a technique – Mask-Ed (KRS Simulation) – that enables students to experience humanistic simulation experiences before being exposed to practical placements. This research influences not only the education of undergraduate and postgraduate nurses, but also patient safety overall. Our guests were captivated by the presentation.

Congratulations to our Young Women in Public Affairs Award winner Hayley McCann from Yeppoon State High School. Hayley has been an active member of the student parliament for the past four years and her inspiration for being in student parliament has been to broaden her peers’ perspective on world issues. She has attended various youth forums, such as the GRIP leadership days, organized by a local Member of Parliament. (GRIP stands for Generosity, Responsibility, Integrity and People.) Hayley has been a dedicated member of Girl Guides for 11 years and has attended a number of ‘Agoonoree’ camps, which are for young, disabled girls. She was given the opportunity to become a ‘Ranger’ at the camp last year, which meant she had the responsibility of her whole patrol and guest.Hayley received an academic scholarship to fly to Japan at the end of 2017 for a 10-day immersion experience and has also represented Girl Guides at a world Jamboree in England.

Joy McCartney was the winner of the Living Treasure Award. Joy is a committed and enthusiastic community member who lived, and raised her family, in the Marlborough area for many years, prior to moving to Rockhampton. Joy has been undertaking volunteer work of one form or another throughout her life both in the Marlborough and Rockhampton areas. Her support of the Marlborough Show Society over many years is well known and appreciated by many locals. For many years, she and her husband, Bob, held garden parties at their home in Rockhampton and raised substantial funds for the Cancer Council. She has also been an active participant in, and supporter of the “Relay for Life”, selling daffodils for Daffodil Day, and generously donating her time and donating towards a number of worthy causes. Joy’s volunteering ethos aligns with the ideals of Zonta and she has been a long-time supporter of the Rockhampton Club.

Thank you to our Breakfast sponsors Ergon and the Frenchville Sports Club and to those who generously donated raffle prizes for the very successful multi draw raffle. Thank you to all the team who made it such a success, Chair Trish of the IWD Committee and members of the committee, the Living Treasure Award organizers and judging panel, and the Service Committee led by Jenny, who organized the Young Women in Public Affairs Award. Trish and Berenice steered us successfully into the world of online booking with great results.

Our thanks, once again, to those guests who have supported the function each year from our first IWD function in 2002.