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Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
New leader takes the helm at Zonta Club
Chris Brown. PHOTO: ODT FILES In the Zonta spirit of empowering girls and women worldwide, the annual changeover of the Zonta Club of Oamaru president and committee members took place at the Brydone Hotel recently. The changeover allows all members to experience different roles within the club including leadership, advocacy, publicity and fundraising. The dinner celebration also included guest speaker, former deputy mayor and mayoral candidate for the Waitaki District Mel Tavendale. New president Chris Brown was inducted. Outgoing president Rebecca Koberstein said the North Otago club had all the hallmarks of the Zonta spirit, with its focus on belonging, community and their passion for giving a voice to those who cannot speak. "Zonta prides itself on working together to build a better world for both women and girls, and we can be proud that is what we have achieved," she said. Mrs Koberstein thanked the "hardworking" members for their tireless efforts on targeted district projects including Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and Project Uplift, where women's bras are sent in the thousands to benefit women in the Pacific Islands and throughout New Zealand. She said the "hard work" on service projects was admirable, but their fellowship set them apart. "An important quality that makes us special, it is how we care and support each other," she said. "Zonta" is derived from a Native American word meaning "honest and trustworthy". A new initiative The Zonta Empowerment Grant for Women was introduced this year to acknowledge the global campaign International Day of the Girl on October 11. Three chosen recipients will be announced in October. The club also awards the Gillies Family Scholarship annually to support educational opportunities for women, and hosted fundraisers including a successful quiz night and fashion parade last year, Mrs Koberstein said. Fundraising committee member Denise McMillan said this month the club would host a luncheon at Ele and Grant Ludemann's home to raise funds for the Ovarian Cancer Foundation on June 29. Mrs McMillan said the event with award-winning chef Pablo Tuccini, and Uruguayan chef Federico Scattoni, was a "fun way" to celebrate Argentinian food and raise money for a good cause.
ABC News
28-04-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Health, climate and community sport: What older voters in the Tasmanian seat of Bass are talking about this election
In the northern Tasmanian city of Launceston about a dozen women have gathered to pack birthing kits to send to women in developing countries. The women here are engaged, with a lot to say about Australian politics and the upcoming federal election. "My biggest concern is the climate," Carol Fuller, 78, says. Carol Fuller volunteers with organisations that promote gender equality and stand against gendered violence. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) " I have two grandchildren, and I wonder what sort of a world they're going to inherit, or certainly their children are going to inherit, and nobody seems to be taking it seriously. " The birthing-kit-packing session was organised by the Launceston chapter of Zonta, an international volunteer organisation advocating for the rights of women. Ms Fuller is its president, on top of her duties as chair of the Launceston White Ribbon committee, a gender-based violence prevention organisation. Photo shows Tasmanian federal electorates 2025 graphic. All eyes will be on whether the Liberals can flip Lyons on election night, but could there be other surprising contests in Tasmania? Labor is hoping for a Braddon surge, while one of its ministers could be looking over her shoulder. She's voting in the marginal electorate of Bass, which covers Launceston, north-east Tasmania and Flinders and Cape Barren islands. Her day-to-day life is devoted to caring for others, particularly underprivileged women, which is reflected in her ethos towards the election. "The other thing I'm concerned about, in terms of women, is the growing statistic of homeless women of our generation who weren't as lucky as us to have an education and a career, and therefore superannuation and a secure old age," Ms Fuller says. In her own family, she's witnessing the financial struggles many Australians are currently experiencing. Carol Fuller spoke last year at Launceston's candlelight vigil, which honoured those affected by domestic violence. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) "My daughter, who has two teenage kids, is working part-time and has just separated from her husband," she says. "She's paying rent that she can't afford, plus helping to pay a mortgage in order to keep some equity in the house that they bought. " So she's getting her inheritance early so that for this period of life she can manage to survive. " With Concerns about support for younger generations Rose Parker, 65, is a retired teacher who now works with young offenders and those struggling to attend school. "I think the inequity between non-government and government school funding is just appalling," she says. "We should not have homeless people, we shouldn't have kids who can't go to school because they can't eat properly, we shouldn't have parents — who I deal with — who go in and shoplift food to eat and to sell it on because they don't have any money. " These are our children we're talking about. " Rose Parker is frustrated by the gap between the rich and poor in society. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) The major parties often warn against electing a minority government — which happens when the winning party doesn't secure enough seats to govern without the support of minor parties or independents — but that's not something Ms Parker is worried about. She referenced the success former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard saw in passing legislation while in minority. "I'm really looking forward to loads of Greens, and loads of independents, and loads of loud voices," she says. Photo shows A man rests with his hands on the floor of a gym, with dumbbells near him and a woman walking past. Online "masculinity" content is mainstream and wide-ranging — far broader than the toxic Andrew Tate style manosphere or incel culture touched on in the hit Netflix series Adolescence. At Tuesday's session packing birthing kits, Zonta is joined by a few members of Soroptimists International, an organisation advocating for human rights and gender equality. Tracey Wicks, 62, is the president of the Soroptimists' Launceston chapter and works as an end-of-life doula and mental health social worker. "Women supporting women — that's what Zonta and that's what Soroptimists are about," she says. Housing, education, health and gender equality are some of her biggest priorities. "When we look at family violence, the thing is, if we want better men, we've got to raise better boys," she says. "I think that healthy relationships needs to be part of education. "A lot of these kids and a lot of our boys are looking at social media for influencers." Reliable health system a priority for older voters The West Launceston Bowls Club plays an important role in supporting members' mental and physical health. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) At the West Launceston Bowls Club, the members have just wrapped up a session on the green and gather at the bar. Club president Phil Waddington, 81, says health is the biggest issue for his generation. He's personally had good experiences in the system. "As far as the Tasmanian hospital system goes for me, I think it's absolutely wonderful," he says. Phil Waddington and Angus Greig say health is the most important issue for their generation. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) His friend, Angus Greig, interjects. "But Phil has private medical cover, lots of people don't and then it's not as easy," the 83-year-old says. " One of my concerns is the waste of money on this stadium in Hobart, when all that money could be put into the hospitals, because there's a long waiting time for hip replacements and things like that. " Angus Greig plays in the club's division one team. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) The AFL has said if Tasmania wants to enter a team in the competition, it needs a roofed stadium. Tasmania, supported by the federal government, plans to build a new stadium in Hobart at Macquarie Point. The issue has divided Tasmanians, but Mr Waddington agrees with Mr Greig. "We all love football, but we don't love it that much to pay that much," he says. "As Angus said, the money can be well spent in the hospital system and for housing. "We have a stadium here in York Park!" Phil Waddington says the Tasmania and federal governments should not be spending money on a new Hobart stadium. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) Mr Waddington is supportive of On May 3, he plans to vote for the sitting MP for his electorate of Bass, the Liberals' Bridget Archer. Bowls clubs are often an important social space for older members of the community. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) He referenced how she has at times crossed the floor to vote against her party. "Bridget is a politician who is true to her beliefs," he says. "She's always got time for people in the area, when we had a little concern she had time for us." Phil Waddington says a synethic bowling green would make life easier for members of the club. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) The two men say bowls plays an important role in their lives. "It's not just the exercise, you've got the social side which is important when you're retired and have got nothing else," Mr Greig says. Mr Waddington says he would love to see political funding for a new synthetic bowling green for their club, as the upkeep of the grass is difficult. "If we could get the government or someone to put a synthetic green in here, therefore we can all play easily," he says.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Five women of influence honored by Zonta Club
Five women making a difference in Johnson County were honored Friday during the Zonta Club of Johnson County's annual Women of Influence luncheon. 'We are here to recognize the remarkable Johnson County women who are making a difference in our community,' Zonta President Brooke Vaughn said. 'Every contribution made today will have a lasting impact on women and girls, locally and internationally.' All the women chosen were hand selected by the Zontians, Vaughn said. 'Since 1981, the Zonta Club of Johnson County has played an active role in Cleburne, Burleson and the surrounding areas by advocating for the empowerment of women and girls,' Zontian Barbara Yoder said. 'We find joy in doing this in a supportive community of like-minded organizations and individuals.' Young Woman Making A Difference At 19 years old, Damaris Rodriguez was the youngest honoree. The mother of a 15-month-old serves as vice president of Apos Floors, Apos Western Wear, Apos Boot Outlet, Apos Ranch and Outdoors and Apos Waste. Rodriguez volunteers with the Johnson County Food Bank and is a member of the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce board of directors. 'She says that an adversity that she's overcome is being such a young mom, and that she has used that to kind of encourage other young moms to keep going and not give up and keep pushing,' Vaughn said. 'And she wants to create an impact as a young Spanish woman.' Rodriguez credited the people in her life for helping her get where she is today. 'One thing I would like for all of y'all is to be a part of your community,' she said. 'Lead your children to be a part of the community. Force them to do it. They're not gonna like it at first, but just keep going.' Outstanding Woman in Nonprofit Victoria Rodriguez is program manager at Soldiers Point Texas, which provides transitional housing to at-risk homeless veterans. As a daughter to a Vietnam War veteran, Rodriguez said she knows exactly how much help is needed for those who fought for our country. 'His struggles and lack of resources after returning home greatly impacted our family,' she said. 'For this reason I am driven in helping veterans and actively participate in finding the right resources to help them cope and succeed after bravely serving our country. With a heart for ministry, she is also an ordained minister and marriage officiant. She partners with New Opportunity Ministry to feed the elderly and homeless in Johnson County. 'Our veterans need help, every single one of them, and whether they're at risk of becoming homeless or homeless, we're going to be there to pick them up because they fought for our country,' she said. 'Every one of them deserves to be honored, and so that's where I'm at now.' Woman of Educational Excellence A 23-year veteran teacher, Dawn Broadway said her biggest award has been the love of her students. 'Giving confidence to those without confidence is a good way to overcome adversity,' she said. She teaches math at Cleburne High School and has served as the CHS Key Club sponsor for 10 years. She is also a member of the Cleburne Kiwanis Club and is involved with Delta Kappa Gamma, who awarded her the Chapter Excellence Award. In addition to being a breast cancer survivor, Broadway runs a gardening YouTube channel to share her love of plants. Woman-owned business Heather Friermood, owner of Heather's in Rio Vista, was unable to attend the luncheon. A mother of two boys, Friermood is often hosting community fundraisers for people in need. Right now the restaurant is selling shamrock lotus and is donating portions of those sales to support the family of Wyatt Killough as the young child is battling brain cancer. 'Anybody who talks about Heather will say she's such a big thing,' Vaughn said. 'She has a heart for the community. She's always doing things like this to give back to her community and making sure that she can play her part and supporting everybody.' Community leader/volunteer The oldest — and perhaps most involved — honoree was 80-year-old Willie Baldwin, who has a passion for volunteer work. You will often find Baldwin volunteering at the East Cleburne Community Center, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne or her church. She calls bingo for seniors on Tuesdays and helps with monthly food distribution in the community. Baldwin doesn't think that adversity belongs in volunteering and she is known by all for her positive attitude. The mother of two has 15 Godchildren and loves being involved in their lives, schools and recreational activities. The Zonta Club meets at noon every third Wednesday at Edward Jones, 124 S. Ridgeway Drive in Cleburne.
CairoScene
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Egyptian Streetwear Label Zonta Debuts First-Ever Arabic Sneakers
Launching the footwear collection on the season finale of Shark Tank, Zonta walked away with quite the impressive deal. To anyone living in Cairo, the sight of Arabic word-art plastered on walls is as ubiquitous as it is beautiful. Yet what perhaps is unusual to encounter is Arabic on footwear, which is exactly the market gap Egyptian-born streetwear label Zonta sought to fill with the launch of their very first Arabic footwear collection, which debuted on the season finale of Shark Tank Egypt - and walked away with quite the impressive deal. Zonta's Drop 1.0 collection puts Arabic front and center, with sleek, minimalist sneakers. Words like Hob (love), Shaghaf (passion), and Fakhr (pride) are inscribed across the footwear—bold, unapologetic, and deeply rooted in Arab identity. Ahmed El Hefny and Sameh Radwan, Zonta's co-founders (and co-founders of e-commerce agency Amzolute), know how to scale brands. But with Zonta, they're carving out an entirely new lane. 'Not only are we pushing something new, we're creating an entirely new sub-genre of Arabic sneakers. This is not something a lot of brands can proudly claim, and that is our edge,' he tells SceneStyled. Merging his love for sneakers with a deep appreciation for Arab culture, El Hefny was clear on Zonta's direction from the start. 'When we launched a little over a year ago, I knew this is what I wanted to do, but I also knew there was going to be a big learning curve ahead of me.' That learning curve coincided with a pivotal moment—Zonta's appearance on Shark Tank Egypt. 'Shark Tank called right when we were reinventing ourselves and introducing the new Arabic line, and I said, 'It's funny you would reach out now.'' With its debut collection setting the stage, Zonta is just getting started. The goal? Merging Arab culture with premium streetwear and taking it global. 'We want to be next to Axel Arigato and all these big names at Harrods and Selfridges,' El Hefny says. 'We're not just targeting Arabs in the region, we're targeting Arab diaspora all over the world—we want to go global.' Of course, designing sneakers with Arabic script comes with cultural considerations. 'It's sensitive putting Arabic words on footwear; you can easily offend if you choose the wrong word,' he explains. 'So we went for positive and affirming words. No one is more passionate than an Arab—even habibi is the most popular word in Arabic. We chose words that represent our culture and push positive messages.' And the gamble paid off. On the Shark Tank season finale, Zonta secured a massive EGP 5 million deal for 15% equity from sharks Mohamed Farouk, Abdallah Sallam, and guest shark Noor Sweid. 'To say it went really well would be an understatement—we got five offers. It was a spicy episode,' El Hefny laughs.
CairoScene
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Egyptian Streetwear Label Zonta Debuts Arabic Calligraphy Sneakers
Launching the footwear collection on the season finale of Shark Tank, Zonta walked away with quite the impressive deal. To anyone living in Cairo, Arabic calligraphy is a sight as ubiquitous as it is beautiful. Yet what perhaps is unusual to encounter is Arabic calligraphy on footwear, which is exactly the market gap Egyptian streetwear label Zonta sought to fill with the launch of their very first Arabic calligraphy footwear collection, which debuted on the season finale of Shark Tank Egypt - and walked away with quite the impressive deal. Zonta's Drop 1.0 collection puts Arabic calligraphy front and center, blending old-school sneaker silhouettes with sleek, minimalist design. Words like Hob (love), Shaghaf (passion), and Habibi (beloved) are inscribed across the footwear—bold, unapologetic, and deeply rooted in Arab identity. Ahmed El Hefny, Zonta's founder (and co-founder of e-commerce agency Amzolute), knows how to scale brands. But with Zonta, he's carving out an entirely new lane. 'Not only are we pushing something new, we're creating an entirely new sub-genre of sneakers. This is not something a lot of brands can proudly claim, and that is our edge,' he tells SceneStyled. Merging his love for sneakers with a deep appreciation for Arabic culture, El Hefny was clear on Zonta's direction from the start. 'When we launched a little over a year ago, I knew this is what I wanted to do, but I also knew there was going to be a big learning curve ahead of me.' That learning curve coincided with a pivotal moment—Zonta's appearance on Shark Tank Egypt. 'Shark Tank called right when we were reinventing ourselves, and I said, 'It's funny you would reach out now.'' With its debut collection setting the stage, Zonta is just getting started. The goal? Merging Arabic heritage with premium streetwear and taking it global. 'We want to be next to Comme des Garçons and all these big names at Harrods and Selfridges,' El Hefny says. 'We're not just targeting Arabs in the region, we're targeting Arabs in the diaspora—we want to go global.' Of course, designing sneakers with Arabic script comes with cultural considerations. 'It's sensitive putting Arabic words on footwear; you can easily offend if you choose the wrong word,' he explains. 'So we went for positive and affirming words. No one is more passionate than an Arab—even habibi is the most popular word in Arabic. We chose words that represent our culture and push positive messages.' And the gamble paid off. On the Shark Tank season finale, Zonta secured a massive EGP 5 million deal for 15% equity from sharks Mohamed Farouk, Abdallah Sallam, and guest shark Noor Sweid. 'To say it went better than we expected would be an understatement—we got five offers. It was a spicy episode,' El Hefny laughs.
