Zonta Club of North Sydney seeking new members

Diana was looking for new interests when she joined the organisation eight years ago and said being part of the group had been a rewarding, but eye opening experience.

As Zonta International celebrates its 100^th anniversary, she is encouraging other women both in the north shore area and around Australia to get involved.

"I've formed a lot of friendships and also gained lots of knowledge about a number of women's issues I hadn't really thought about," Diana said.

"For example domestic abuse is a much more widespread problem than people realise and it cuts across all socio-economic groups."

Diana said domestic abuse was just one of many problems impacting women from various backgrounds all around the world she had learned more about through the group.

The North Sydney branch currently has around 12-15 members working on numerous projects to help empower women through both service and advocacy.

The group's key projects include making breast cushions for breast cancer patients in local and rural hospitals and assembling birthing kits to be dispatched to countries including Africa, Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea.

The group is also involved with the Share the Dignity organisation - providing sanitary products for homeless women in Australia and with Days for Girls - which provides reusable sanitary napkins to help girls in developing nations remain in school.

"The various educational projects Zonta is involved with are very dear to my heart. We're very lucky in this country that everyone gets a good education."

The group will host a movie night fundraiser at the Hayden Orpheum cinema in Cremorne on October 16.

The fundraiser will feature a screening of Australian filmmaker Rebecca Barry's I am a Girl, which explores what it is like to be a girl in the 21^st century by following six girls from different parts of the world.

For more information call 0410-465-303 or click here.