Zonta Club of Adelaide Torrens Story

We are ordinary women doing extraordinary things.

• On 14th August 1981 the Zonta Club of Adelaide Torrens was chartered under the watchful eye of “Mother Zonta”, Dr Heidi Taylor.
• There were 39 charter members, with Suzanne Langlois inducted as the Charter President.
• The club was launched at the Oberoi Hotel on 22nd October 1981.
• Members focussed on safety for the aged, involved the club in broad discussions on women’s equality and non-traditional girl’s careers and sponsored women with disabilities.
• Continence Sticker Project was an early initiative. These ‘stickers’ were small advertisements designed to assist women by instructing them on how to avoid incontinence. Produced in their hundreds and stuck on the backs of toilet doors they can still be found today throughout South Australia with details on how to do pelvic floor exercises. Later these stickers were translated into Greek, Italian, and Vietnamese to serve our increasingly diverse community.
• Other early projects included supporting local women’s refuge, Chisholm Place; the ‘Koala Trail’, a newspaper recycling project and the Woman of Achievement award.
• In the 1990’s member and education specialist Margaret Ford developed “Women Living Alone Safely” brochures which were printed and disseminated throughout the community, especially in retirement villages.

• In the 2000’s District wide projects “The Breast Cushion Project” and the “ Zonta Birthing Kit Project” were embraced by members. Both projects are actively supported today.
• The Birthing Kit Project led to the formation of the Birthing Kit Foundation.
• Today the club takes a strong position in the areas of Advocacy, Education and Service and offers support to women and girls in Australia and overseas.

 

 

The energising effect of our work has been a wonderful and inspiring journey, long may it continue.