Zonta International

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:44): My question is to the Minister for Human Services, about Zonta International. Can the minister please update the chamber about celebrations to recognise Zonta International's significant milestone?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:44): I thank the honourable member for his question. The organisation known as Zonta, a global organisation, celebrated its 100^th anniversary on 8 November 2019. It was started in Buffalo, New York, by a journalist and playwright by the name of Marian de Forest, who was a trailblazing journalist—not many in those days. A group of women conceived of a club that would recognise leaders in business and the professions with the purpose to network and share professional experiences of women to provide services to other women through cooperative efforts. Other clubs began to be established and the Confederation of Zonta Clubs was founded, as I said, on 8 November 1919.

Its first focus was the education of girls and young women, so it clearly shares a lot of parallels with South Australia in our 125^th anniversary and similar movements that took place in South Australia to improve conditions for women and children. Its constitution, by-laws and criteria for membership and classification were developed with the official colours of mahogany and gold. The name Zonta is a Sioux Indian word meaning 'honest and trustworthy' and was adopted in 1930.

In 1969, Zonta was introduced to Adelaide by Dorothy Thompson, a Zontian from Toronto, Canada. She met with a group of women who later became the charter members of a new Zonta club. We have some 13 clubs in South Australia, including Adelaide Flinders, Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Torrens, Clare and Districts, Fleurieu Peninsula, Gawler, Lower Eyre, Mount Barker (of which I am a member), Noarlunga Southern Vales (of which the member for Reynell is a member), Para District Area, Port Lincoln and the Riverland.

On Saturday night, 9 November, a number of us were privileged to come together to share in the celebrations. There were performances celebrating 125 years of suffrage in South Australia and Natasha Stott Despoja AO was awarded with the centenary medal for her work for the advancement of women and girls, not just in Australia but globally.

The Zonta clubs are well known for their advocacy, and not just in Australia, on a range of issues. They held, quite recently—a couple of months ago—a forum in relation to older women and their experiences of homelessness, at which the Hon. Tammy Franks, the member for Hurtle Vale, the member for Bragg and myself attended and spoke.

They have also been celebrated at Government House and the clubs are very active in terms of their global advocacy. They are quite well known for producing breast cushions for women who have had breast cancer surgery and also for their birthing kits, which are provided to developing nations to assist women. We wish them well in their hundredth year and may their tradition long continue.