In May 1966 33 women (initially 36 but three were unable to join the club once formed – they included June Dally-Watkins) at the top of their chosen professions became the Charter Members of the Zonta Club of Sydney.
An article published in the Australian Women’s Weekly at the time referred to these women as a “Who’s Who” and included many different professions, including doctors, lawyers, fashion designers and business executives.
In 2026 we look forward to celebrating our 60th birthday and as part of the celebrations we look back at all our members, and particularly the leading women who formed the club.
Over the past few years we have been profiling many of our Charter Members on the website. Some were giants in their fields and in many other voluntary organisations, and as such we have been able to find plenty of information for some of the original club members.
Others have limited information available, but we would love to add to this. If anyone would like to provide us with further information on any of the following women please contact us at zontaclubsydney@gmail.com
Miss Shirley Anderson – first female air traffic controller at Sydney airport, working from 1960 – 1985. She also held an unrestricted Private Pilot’s Licence and worked as an instructor.
Miss Marjorie de Tracy – Flight Hostess Superintendent for Qantas – first Flight Hostess to fly out of Sydney in 1948 on the “Kangaroo Route”. When the first flight hostesses were employed there were only 9 chosen out of 1000 applicants.
Betty James – Medical Record Librarian in Charge, Royal Price Alfred Hospital. Betty was also the president of the Medical Record Association of Australia and was on the Editorial Board of Australian Medical Record. She was elected the first President of the International Federation of Medical Record Organisations in 1968.
Jean Bromell – (Later Jean Turnbull Forbes Ransom after marriage) – trained nurse who had served in WWII, serving overseas in Palestine and England. Returning to Sydney she specialised in paediatric orthopaedic nursing and was matron of the Margaret Reid Hospital in St Ives, run by the NSW Society for Crippled Children. The hospital offered specialised services, particularly during the polio epidemic, which peaked in the 1950s. In 1949 she subscribed to the establishment of the NSW School of Nursing – later Australian College of Nursing. She was President of the College in the late 1950s.
Beatrice Krauss – Trained as a nurse at Price Alfred Hospital from 1930 – 1934 she became a full sister in 1938. She served in the AANS during World War II, serving in New Guinea. Apparently she later went to England and nursed the infant Prince Charles (not verified!). After being involved in a traffic accident which left her with scarring, she worked for Elizabeth Arden cosmetics, including teaching patients with scarring or disfigurements to apply makeup.
Sheila Chaffey – Economics graduate from Sydney University 1939
Winifred Plunkett – only known from classification – publishing – newspaper
Alison Reid – supervisor Commonwealth Bank Clearing department, who fought for equal rights and equal pay for women within the banking industry.
Aurea Ross – nutritionist/dietitian, worked abroad for the International Relief Organisation at Munich.
Nancy Smith – graduated with Bachelor of Laws from University of Sydney in 1959 and a Master of Laws in 1970. Although admitted to the Bar, she did not practice as a barrister. She held positions as Seniour Solicitor to the Reserve Bank of Australia. The University of Sydney awards two prizes in Smiths name. The Nancy Gordon Smith Postgraduate Prize may be awarded annually to the most proficient candidate for the degree of Master of Laws by coursework.
Zonta Club of Sydney 