Celebrating 25 years

The Zonta Club of Brisbane East Inc (Club number 1235) was officially Chartered on 13 March 1989 with 23 members.

The Club was sponsored by the Zonta Club of Brisbane Inc and organised by Zonta Club of Brisbane Inc Club Member, Ms Ailsa Gillies.  Our first President was Gabrielle Talty (now Dorward).

The Charter Celebrations were a gala affair with a formal dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Brisbane.  The Charter was presented on 10 April 1989 by the Zonta District XVI Governor, Ms Susan Laidlaw.  The Club was allocated to Area 1 in District XVI.

Guest Speaker at the Charter Dinner was Ms Betty Byrne-Henderson with entertainment provided by the Claire Hansen Trio.

Club Meetings

The Club meets on the second Monday of each month except in January.  Venues have varied over the years. Finding a suitable venue was difficult when membership fell.  The Club now meets at the Bulimba Library which with present numbers has proven a suitable venue with access to kitchen facilities and WIFI.  Where possible, time at each meeting is devoted to a Guest Speaker or a relevant Zonta topic.

Club Details

On 18 August 1989, the Zonta Club of Brisbane East became an Incorporated Association under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 with the Incorporation Number IA 06124.  The first Constitution of the Club was agreed and lodged with the Office of Fair Trading on 25 May 1990.  The Constitution is under review with a revised document to be considered by the members at the 2014 AGM.

In accordance with legislative requirements, the Club applied for, and was provided with, an ABN with effect from 1 November 1999.  The Club does not have to register for GST as it does not have the required level of income/expenditure.

The Club is covered by Public Liability and Voluntary Workers’ Insurance through the District 22 Insurance policies.

Membership

The Zonta Club of Brisbane East Inc was chartered with 23 members.  Membership has varied considerably over the years from a high of 47 in 1994 -1995 to a low of 13.  Two Charter Members, Denise Conroy and Beverley Farley OAM remain active members of the Club.  Our current membership stands at 15.  The Club endeavours to maintain a diversity of classifications in accordance with ZI requirements.

Club Board and Committees

Our Club Board comprises President,  First and depending on Club numbers 2^nd Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary – Correspondence and Minutes and between two and four Directors. Although currently small in numbers, the Club has endeavoured to meet Zonta International requirements in relation to Club Committees with members allocated to a Committee generally of their choosing and a Board Member accepting the role of Committee Chairman.  Our current Committees are Advocacy, Membership and Service.

Club Advocacy

 The Cub has been active with Advocacy and over the years has submitted many motions for debate at District Conference in relation to issues suitable for advocacy initiatives at the District level.

 Club Service Activities

Since 1992 the Club has provided a scholarship to a Grade Twelve student from Balmoral State High School.  The dollar value of the scholarship has been increased over the years and funding is now given for three years subject to continuing enrolment and passing the subjects each year.  In 2013 the scholarship was renamed in honour of our Charter Member, Beverley Farley OAM, in recognition of her former position as Principal of Balmoral State High School and her contribution to the Club since its Charter.

In 2013 a scholarship was offered to a Grade 12 refugee/immigrant girl from Yeronga State High School on the same basis as that applying to the Balmoral State High School.

The Club keeps in contact with the recipients of the scholarship by inviting them to attend a meeting each year to provide an update on their course of study and their aspirations for the future.

Using the workroom facilities of one of our members, the Club commenced making Zonta Breast Care Cushions in 2003.  These cushions are made via a working bee of members and friends with some 700 cushions made and distributed in the past twelve months. The Club provides cushions to the Mater Private Hospital each month as well as the Radiation Oncology Unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and, as necessary, to Logan Hospital.

For many years the Club has supported a Women’s Refuge.  Support has been via refurbishing of refuges, purchasing starter kits for women leaving the refuge to set up their own home, provision of clothing and linen and providing Christmas Hampers and gifts for the women and children in the refuge over Christmas. Club members have also provided new women’s and children’s underwear to the Brisbane Domestic Violence Service (BDVS).  In 2013 the Club sponsored the printing of Safety Cards and Posters for distribution through BDVS. The Safety Cards and Posters contain information on resources available and the relevant contact phone numbers women can use if finding themselves in a situation of domestic or family violence.

Since our Charter financial support has been provided to many many organisations eg sponsorship of a car for Blue Nurses, refurbishment of a unit at Leonard Lodge at the Royal Children’s Hospital and provision of equipment eg to the Wesley Oncology Unit and Palm Lodge Nursing Home.

 Club Fundraising

To fund our service projects over the years the Club has had many and varied fundraising activities, both big and small.  We have joined with other Zonta Clubs for some of the major activities eg an Art Show and Charity Auction was a joint fundraiser with the Zonta Clubs of Brisbane South Inc and Wynnum Redland Inc.

For a number of years our major fundraiser was our Annual Antiques and Collectibles Fair.  Currently our major event is our monthly Bunnings Sausage Sizzle which provides a regular source of income.

We have enjoyed a Day at the Races, Golf Days, Charity Dinner Auctions, Breakfasts to celebrate United Nations Day, Crazy Whist evenings/afternoons, Mystery Car tours, Fashion Showings at Blue Illusion in Bulimba, a Welcome to Spring High Tea, selling of Entertainment Books and sales of wine, candles, cakes and slices.

In 2013 the Club supported the worldwide Zonta Says No (to Domestic and Family Violence) Campaign by participating in the District 22 Walk and holding its own Cocktail function where speakers from the Queensland Police Service and the Brisbane Domestic Violence Service reminded us of the prevalence of domestic and family violence in our local area.

 Area Activities

The Club has been active in Area Meetings.  The Club hosted the 1996 Area 5 Meeting and has provided many speakers for the Area Meetings over the years. Ros Kinder is a past Area Director.

Club members gave generously to the Queensland Skin Bank and the QIMR Leneen Forde Scholarship into research of the Epstein Barr Virus.  Both were Area projects.

District Activities

Since Charter the Club has been represented at every District Conference and hosted the 2005 District 24 Conference at the Crowne Plaza, Surfers’Paradise. Ros Kinder was District Governor for the 2004-2006 Biennium.  Denise Conroy and Ros Kinder have chaired numerous District Committees and Margaret Casey was District UN Committee Chairman. Ros Kinder is still active at the District level as District Webmaster and Chairman of the Bylaws and Resolutions Committee and Denise Conroy is a member of the Nominating Committee and a Centurion.

The Club supports the District project of making and distributing Zonta Breast Care Cushions free of charge to women and men who have undergone breast surgery.  The Club coordinates this activity on behalf of District 22.

 International Activities

The Club has had delegates and members attend all but one ZI Convention since Charter.  Club member Denise Conroy has been Chairman or a member of a number of International Committees.

 ZI Foundation

Since Charter the Club has supported the Zonta International Foundation sending one-third of funds raised each year to the Foundation.  The Club supports the YWPA and JM Klausmann Awards and Club winners have been successful at both District and International levels.

Report Prepared 31 March 2014 by Club President Ros Kinder with the assistance of Club Archivist Beverley Farley OAM.