Already the year is zipping past us! April and May meetings have slipped by without being updated, but as they were action packed including guest speakers, new member inductions and the AGM including electing a new Board and President, it seems reasonable to publish a recap.
In April, club members gathered in person and by Zoom and were joined by guest speakers Marissa Moliterno and Ashlea Bay from The Miranda Project, as well as Joanne Perks from the Liverpool Women’s Health Centre who joined the meeting by Zoom.
We were treated to two excellent presentations (even with technical difficulties online!) about some of the projects which are being run by these two organisations.
The Miranda Project is an innovative, gender specific program working with women at risk of both domestic violence and criminal justice system involvement. We heard that around 60 women receive intensive support at present, and a further 200 may receive outreach support annually to a wide ranging client base. Around half the Project’s clientele are First Nations women, and they are supported by dedicated Aboriginal case workers. The Project has produced wonderful results for their clients, and you can read more about the outcomes in the Miranda Matters Newsletters, available here.
As our club, and now District service project the Zonta Club of Sydney has long been a supporter of the Miranda Project through the Keeping Women out of Prison (KWOOP) coalition. The club provides backpacks to the Project, which are then distributed to women on release from custody. They include many items which are to assist the women on their release, including gift cards for groceries or clothing, an Opal card (Sydney transport card), some cosmetics, sanitary items, notebook, water bottle, and others. We heard that the backpacks are very well received, especially some of the small luxuries and to know that people they have not met care for them.
We also heard about the Liverpool Women’s Health Centre Healthy Relationships Project for disadvantaged girls, which is a project originally established in partnership with a local High School to target disadvantaged and disengaged Year 8 girls. The project covers topics including cyber bullying and sexting, healthy relationships, teenage pregnancy, sexual safety and self defence.
In May, club members heard from guest speaker Keith Gregory, who is developing a program called the “GOE (Guardians of Earth) Kids Club”. This is an innovative program which aims to support young children (both primary school age and high school) at risk of harm by use of an online club and online mentor avatar. A number of athletes, singers and other well known Australians have already agreed to be online mentors as avatars. You can find out more about the project here.
You may think with so many guests and a usual round of business PLUS an AGM to conduct we couldn’t possibly fit anything more into our club meetings, but in both April and in May we were lucky enough to induct a new club member.
In April, Leah joined the club, and in May Veronica rejoined after previously relocating to another club. We welcome our newest members and look forward to their contributions.
And to top it off, in May 2021 the Zonta Club of Sydney celebrated our 55th birthday, which of course was celebrated with a cake!
If you would like to join us for our June meeting, which will be held on Wednesday June 16th at Club York in Sydney you can email the club at zontaclubsydney@gmail.com for further information. Our guest speaker for June will be Area 1 Director Bernadine Guy, and our new office bearers and board will be inducted on the night.
Zonta Club of Sydney 