Newly formed Zonta Club of Kiama-Shellharbour fuelling strong interest to improve the lives of women

A desire for real change in women’s issues internationally and within their own backyard is believed to have fuelled strong interest in the newly chartered Zonta Club of Kiama-Shellharbour.

As a 100-year-old international organisation, Zonta connected more than 26,000 women and men across 62 countries, said club founder Rita Sullivan, advocating for women’s rights, equality, education, and an end to child marriage and gender-based violence.

Traditionally, clubs have been running for decades but the Kiama and Shellharbour club is the first for the area.

“I went to a function run by the Wollongong club but my girls were a little bit smaller then,” she said.

“It was not the right time for me, but I thought then, these women seem to be acknowledging and awarding other women.”

Rita then started the now successful Berry club 23 years ago to empower women and improve lives, working her way through the various roles within the organisation.

She then came up with the idea to start one in the Kiama and Shellharbour area after she moved to Kiama with her husband.

Along with fellow Berry club members and now Shellharbour and Kiama residents, Meredith Bryce and Donna Maria, the trio finally chartered the club on 21 May after much talk.

“All sorts of people were asking, ‘So when are you going to start one in Kiama?’” she said.

Rita said they launched with “20 charter members, which is unheard of”.

“Then we put a post up on Facebook, and there’s about 14 more people wanting to know more about it or wanting to come,” she said.

Rita said she believed the growing interest stemmed from some of the women’s issues Zonta was passionate about.

“Zonta has been around for a very long time, and we’ve helped many young women and older women with scholarships, but the domestic violence aspect of what we do is important,” she said.

“We’ve been this little voice in the wilderness that says ‘Zonta says no to domestic violence’ and ‘Zonta says no to violence against women and children’.

“I genuinely believe the horrendous times we are having … now everyone’s talking about it, and now people are prepared to put their hand up and say, ‘Look, I want to stop this too’.

“So our little advocacy voice is stronger and louder, and people are saying ‘OK, we need to help these women. How can we do it?’”

She said all money raised through sausage sizzles, high teas, trivia nights and raffles was given back to Zonta projects, from emergency toiletries to starter packs of cleaning products, and toasters and kettles for those leaving crisis situations and setting up in new homes.

“We’re putting it to the new club to come up with ideas and I have a suspicion they’ll have some great ideas,” she said.

As examples, she said Berry had supported those at home through the Shoalhaven Education Fund and supplied hospitals with soft cushions for breast cancer patients to wear post operation, through to international projects like birthing kits for third world countries, and advocating to end child marriage and human trafficking.

Rita said Berry had also seen businesswomen and unsung heroes recognised, which was another initiative she would like to see adopted.

“One lady has been making cupcakes and selling them so she can go to the East Nowra Primary School and give those kids breakfast,” she said. “Nobody knew about it.

“Another one is a woman who has an animal sanctuary, and she takes in the animals of women that are suffering from domestic violence because they’re often used as a tool or weapon to scare the women and children.

“She takes in dogs and cats and minds them until these women can take them back. Nobody knew about her.

“So we want to acknowledge the unsung heroes, help those that are struggling a little bit, and make them feel part of a community or a sisterhood.”

She encouraged new members to join to connect with like-minded women helping other women, but stressed men were also welcome.

Those interested in attending the dinner meetings should contact Rita on 0412 747 510. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at the Kiama Leagues Club.