By Margaret Maccoll
The increasing issues of homelessness in older women and domestic violence will be the focus of Zonta Noosa for the next two years, the club decided at a recent strategic planning session led by new president Margaret Fisher.”People are surprised to learn the extent of homelessness around Noosa and there has been a noted increase in women over 50 seeking assistance at the local refuges,” Ms Fisher said.
“It’s not just people sleeping in cars but people who have lost houses and are couch surfing or staying in a spare room of a friend.
“Sadly through the Covid period there has been an increase in domestic violence with more local women and their families needing support.”
She said the 2016 Census showed homeless women over 50 years were the fastest growing group making up 30 per cent of homeless and children under the age of 12 years escaping domestic violence the second highest group at 27 per cent.Ms Fisher said Zone Noosa aimed to support a south east Queensland initiative called Howzing and the Lady Musgrave Trust as well as supporting Shine Houses for crisis accommodation, supplying care packages to people who are homeless and distributing leaflets containing contact numbers for local assistance organisations.
Zonta Noosa plan to host an online women’s forum on older women on the edge of homelessness on 1 August.
“The goals of Zonta are inspirational and I am looking forward to working with our Noosa members who are a dedicated group of women committed to Zonta’s ideals and wanting to make a difference in the community,” she said. “I believe our strategic plan over the next two years will certainly allow us to achieve this.”
Ms Fisher retired to Noosa four years ago after a career as CEO within accounting organisations in NZ and Australia. She completed university studies in her 30s whilst holding down a managerial role and being a solo mother with two teenage boys.
Retirement for her was short lived as she immersed herself into the Noosa community, holding a board position for Noosacare, becoming a member of Noosa Chorale, a member of Sunrise bridge club and now taking on the role of Zonta president.
