The first Z Club comprising 28 young women and men was chartered by the Zonta Club of Noosa at a ceremony on 29 May at the Good Shepherd Lutheran College.
This new service club is designed to promote leadership, international fellowship and volunteerism.
As well as presenting the charter document, the Zonta Noosa president, Robyn O’Neill, also presented Z Club badges to president Truly Holmes and the inaugural board members Millie Toy, Mischa Norgrove-Simpson, Claire Jones, Ruby Hutchinson, Cate Hardinge, Katerina Christofis and Grace Miotto.
Zonta International (ZI) holds non-governmental organisation status with the United Nations. The Z Club program was established in 1948 to invest in youth development by providing opportunities for the students to develop communication and leadership skills, explore career options, and increase their international awareness and understanding through service.
Zonta Noosa will act in an advisory capacity for the Z Club members who will undertake service projects; the students will plan, organise and participate in activities which will give them hands-on experience in improving the lives of others at both a local and international level. Examples of projects include assembling birthing kits for women in developing countries to promote a safer birth and care packages for homeless women and girls in the Noosa community.
Zonta president Robyn O’Neill expressed her delight in welcoming the students into the Zonta family and hoped that it would be the start of a long and rewarding relationship.