A $5,000 cheque in her pocket, Rhonda Hutchinson, the president of Zonta Club of Macarthur, walked into Kmart in the Campbelltown Mall and asked to see the manager.
“I have this amount of money, and I only want to spend it in your store,’’ Ms Hutchinson told them.
“We had got $5,000 in a Clubgrant [from Wests Group Macarthur] and it was earmarked for the Campbelltown refuge for women, one of our projects,’’ she explains.
When the manager came out to see her, the Zonta president said: “I have a list of two pages, of different things the women require.
“It’s not to be used while they’re in the refuge, it’s for after the refuge finds them individual living, and it’s empty, there’s absolutely nothing in the abode.
“So I said to the Kmart manager, this is my list, from kettles to blankets, cups and saucers and nappies, and he came back with really good prices and the deal was sealed.
“It took us five weeks because the refuge couldn’t store everything that we had on the $5,000 list, but eventually we got it all,’’ Ms Hutchinson said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“But that was absolutely wonderful from Wests – we were on a high from that, and Campbelltown Catholic Club gave us $1,000 to spend on breast cushions.’’[/social_quote]
Providing practical assistance to women who are victims of domestic violence is one of the major aims of Zonta Macarthur, which turns 25 this year.
They also focus on empowering young women by encouraging them to choose careers that used to be reserved mainly for men.
Once a year Zonta Macarthur hold an awards night for local female students.
“We recognise those students who want to have a crack at what used to be considered men’s jobs, such as engineering and aeronautical sciences,’’ says Ms Hutchinson.
“Our awards are a big item on the annual calendar of Zonta.’’
Not much further down on the list of Zonta aims is assembling birthing kids to help women in developing countries have safer childbirths.
Since 2005, Zonta Macarthur has sent 6,400 birthing kits overseas.
And with the help of Macquarie Fields TAFE, Zonta have also distributed 1,200 breast care cushions to local hospitals, which help women who have undergone breast cancer surgery.
Once a year, a big birthing kit and breast cushion workshop is held and for this Zonta puts its hand up for as many extra helpers as possible.
And while the focus of what they do is women, men can join the club.
“We do allow men in – as long as you are willing to be a participant and who says, yeah, I’ll do that, well, we wouldn’t knock anyone back,’’ says Ms Hutchinson.
“There’s not a great deal of time you have to give if you become a member, but yes, it does suit those who are retired or semi retired.
“We do have members who are aged in their 40s, and one lady is in her 30s.
“You can be an online member so you don’t have to physically turn up to every meeting.’’
But it’s not all work and no play for Zonta club members – they do try to socialise and get to know each other.
“We have our combined birthdays once a year,’’ says Ms Hutchinson.
“We pick a date in June or July, and one of our members is a cake decorator, we find a venue and away we go. We also have a Christmas brunch.’’
Rhonda Hutchinson’s two year term as president has now expired and she will be handing over the reins at the next Zonta dinner meeting this Wednesday, May 23, from 7pm at West Leagues Club Leumeah.
If you’d like to join Zonta Club of Macarthur or would like to help out at the birthing kit assembly and breast cushion workshop, it’s on Saturday, July 28 at Wests Tennis Club Leumeah, 1pm-3pm.
Call Rhonda on 0412 392 714, June on 9605 7007, Yvonne on 9605 6051 or email macarthur@zontadistrict24.org
