By Desleigh Volpato, Zonta Stanthorpe President
Zonta Stanthorpe celebrated International Women’s Day at their annual Yellow Dinner on Saturday 4 March at QCWT.
More than 60 ladies dressed in many shades of yellow to take the opportunity to reflect on the achievements of women around the world, and reinvigorate our efforts to create a gender equal world.
Yellow is chosen to highlight the universal colour of friendship and fellowship and is also the colour of Zonta International’s symbol – the Zonta Yellow Rose. International Rose Day is also celebrated on the 8 May.
Guest speaker Amanda Dalton told her story of developing Protea Place, an outreach support Centre for homeless and vulnerable women in Toowoomba, how she saw the gap in support and found a way to fill it.
Amanda highlighted the work that Protea Place provides practical and professional support for women in need. They offer showers, laundry, meals, clothing, toiletries, friendship and support with referrals to housing, health and DFV support services.
Protea Place is expanding and working with the local community to open a centre in Warwick.
As an international organisation, Zonta has worked for more than a century towards the equal representation of women at all levels of society to help those less fortunate than us – women and girls who are more suppressed than people could ever imagine.
Zonta Stanthorpe would like to acknowledge the many businesses and individuals who donated items for the multi-draw raffle and the ladies who chose to celebrate International Women’s Day with us, to raise funds to help “Build a better world for women and girls”.
Funds raised at the dinner were distributed to Protea Place Warwick, and to Zonta International projects which include the education of girls, ending child marriages, ending gender-based violence, campaigning for equal pay and opportunities and basically embrace equality.“
Locally, Zonta Stanthorpe financially supports the Granite Belt Neighbourhood Centre and Safe Haven in Warwick, who both rely on the assistance of community funding to assist women and children escape domestic and family violence.
