Coralie Van Straaten-Peretz

Zonta Club of Brisbane Inc. (Club No. 680 – Area 3 – District 24 – Charter Date 21.10.1971) Advancing the Status of Women Worldwide ABN 47 885 713610 Newsletter – OCTOBER 2004

President: Secretary Treasurer Iris Scott Jill Reeves Margaret Ferguson [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Editor Coralie van Straaten-Peretz [email protected] DATES TO REMEMBER

As of August, 2003, Zonta International has 1,254 clubs in 67 countries and geographic areas.

 WED – OCTOBER 4 DINNER MEETING – United Service Club 6.30 FOR 7.00 pm

 WED – OCTOBER 25 BOARD MEETING – Qld. Ballet Board Room, Cnr. Drake St. & Montague Rd, West End. 7.00 pm sharp

 SUN – NOV 7 ZONTA GIFT FAIR – Forest Place, Sandgate Road, Clayfield – 9 am to 3 pm

 THUR – NOV 18 BALLET EVENING – Thomas Dixon Centre, Cnr. Drake St. & Montague Rd, West End. $30 includes admission and a glass of wine. A light supper will be provided.

 SUN – APRIL 10, 2005 AREA 3/5 COMBINED WORKSHOP Details yet to be advised.

 JUNE 24 – 29, 2005 58 TH ZONTA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION – Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre

APOLOGIES If you are unable to attend the Dinner Meeting please advise Judy S. Anderson by the Monday evening of the meeting week or you will be billed for the cost of the Dinner. Telephone number 3357 6007(H) or 3391 8588(W). Email: [email protected]

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED TODAY?

I’ve learned that Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the hell1 happened. FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Zontians,

September has been another eventful month of highs and lows, with the disastrous bombing of our Embassy in Jakarta reminding us of the diminishing size of our World and the ever-present risk of terrorism.

Next of course, we have been inundated with political rhetoric, promises, promises and all the hoop-la which accompanies a Federal Election. Let's hope that whichever Government we elect, we as a country can continue to work for the advancement of women and the betterment of all citizens. Most importantly, let's be grateful that we live in a country where we can openly discuss politics and criticise and comment freely.

The Opening of the Art Exhibition "Liz and Friends" went off extremely well, with a successful financial outcome (full report at the Dinner Meeting). At the same time, the Fellowship of the evening was excellent. "Workers" were members both long-term and comparatively new and the combination of members, "Hon- Zons" and guests provided a fun evening. The raffle was drawn by Tony Luttrell of the Art Factory, and all winners have been notified.

Another successful evening was the launch of "Never Upstaged" by Jay McKee, the book of the Life and Times of Babette Stephens. This was not specifically a Zonta event but we received an honourable mention. Dina Browne, Ann Shevill, Lea Greenaway and I attended on your behalf.

We are now into the busiest time of the year from a social and fund-raising point of view. Let's try to spread the load, both from cost and work points of view. We have our Raffle to be drawn in November, Salmon Sale, Wine Offer, Gift Fair and Ballet Evening between now and Christmas.

From a Service point of view, the donation and distribution of gifts for disadvantaged women is high on our list. Let's also celebrate the 25th Anniversary of providing small gifts for the residents of St.Lukes. Quite an achievement (another one!) for Ann Shevill who's been prime mover of this activity.

There'll be lots more to hear and discuss at the Dinner Meeting, so I'll leave you with some excerpts from an interview with the Audrey Hepburn who was asked to provide beauty tips:

 For attractive lips : Speak words of kindness

 For lovely eyes : Seek out the good in people

 For a slim figure : Share your food with the hungry

 For beautiful Hair : Let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day

 Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find them at the end of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and one for helping others.

 The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, or the figure she carries. It must be seen from her eyes, the doorway to her heart.

I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday

2 Iris MEMBERSHIP: Please change Barbara Murray’s email address to: [email protected] and Margaret Wilson’s email address to: [email protected] You may also delete the phone number for Sallyanne Atkinson as the number in your list is incorrect.

We are about to update and send out our latest member listing so, if your details have changed PLEASE advise either Coralie van Straaten-Peretz or Judith (Ballet) Anderson.

FUNDRAISING: Art Exhibition. "Liz and Friends'. It appears that this event will have raised in excess of $5000. Many thanks to all members and especially to Lea Greenaway, Co-coordinator, Meryl Ducat (EXCELLENT food) and Jill Pozzi of roster fame. Everyone who attended helped in one way or another.

Salmon and Wine Order forms have been distributed to members and to other local Zonta Clubs. Tasting notes for the Wines are now available, so these will help to encourage sales. If you need more order forms, they are available by e-mail from Annette McFarlane on [email protected] or ask at the Dinner Meeting. Please take it easy on requests to Annette; she has been working day and night on all sorts of Zonta projects.

The Wine Raffle will be drawn at the November Meeting. Ticket stubs can be brought to the October meeting, or if still selling, to the November meeting, but if there is any wine donation outstanding, definitely it is needed in October.

The Gift Fair (November 7) organization, masterminded by Fran Morrison, is well under way. Forms will be available at the Dinner Meeting so that you may offer your assistance for an appropriate activity. This is expected to be our major fund-raiser for the year.

The Ballet Evening is a 'go" for November 18. Everyone who attended last year will remember what a delight it was. Remember also, that the patron of the Queensland Ballet is our own Leneen Forde. Tickets will be available at the Dinner Meeting in October ( and November), but numbers are required ASAP. $30 included admission and a glass of wine. A light supper will be our responsibility. Fund Raising will look after this.

Sally Watson, Chair of the Fund Raising Committee is now back in town after a fabulous trip through U.K. with side trips to Paris and Egypt, so the administration of the above functions will revert to her now. Ask her how she feels about galahs who eat insulation off power lines and provide an electricity free welcome home!

Other News We've received a generous donation from Avon Products. This part of their philosophy of providing assistance and encouragement to disadvantaged women, especially those who have suffered from domestic violence. The gift includes 150 units each of shampoos, conditioners, talcs, body lotions, lipsticks and cosmetic bags. These will come to us in late October, in good time for distribution for Christmas.

TELSTRA QLD. BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR: Yet another Zontian has won the Telstra Queensland Business Woman of the Year award. Our congratulations to Marisa Vecchio of the Brisbane Breakfast Club.

OUR SPORTING NATION:

3 We are, as we all know, a nation of sport lovers. Having said that it is sad to hear that Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service director Rhonda Cumberland said calls on the service increased by 10 per cent around significant sporting events such as the AFL grand final, the Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup. Alcohol consumption had a lot to do with it, she said, but so did the “celebration of masculinity” inherent in such events.

“It should be a great celebration but often it does nothing to reinforce positive family values,” she said. “We know it’s an issue that is reasonating with football followers, many of whom want women to be safe in the home.”

GIFT FAIR: As pointed out by Fran Morrison in her email to members, the gift fair is the next event on our fund raising calendar. Everything is pretty well in place and not too much is required from members. There are just a couple of areas where extra help is needed prior to the gift fair.

 Flyers will be available soon, and it would be appreciate if anyone who lives or works or visits in the area could drop some off at the various cafes, hairdressers, shops etc so we spread the word. They will be available at the October meeting. (no letterbox drops!)  Is someone prepared to co ordinate a Zonta stall. This is all profit if we can think of something to sell! The breakfast club is running a cake stall, but perhaps we could run one with a donation from each member of something saleable.....GOOD quality bric-a-brac like pretty china, teapots, small silverware, ornaments etc - as well as needlework, preserves and the like. Bring any suitable donations to the October or November meetings please.

There are 33 stalls confirmed, many old favourites as well as a lot of new stalls including estate jewellery, fine linen shirts, organic beauty products, shoes and accessories, garden sculptures, and a card reader. It should be a lovely day, and an easy way to do your Christmas shopping.

So be sure to come along, and bring as many non Zontians as possible to spend THEIR money. We will circulate a volunteer list at the next meeting so you can help for an hour or so on the day.

A NIGHT AT THE BALLET: Queensland Ballet last year provided a great night out for Zontians and their friends at the Company’s Thomas Dixon Centre in West End.

This year, the Company has agreed to add an extra performance of their final studio season for the year especially to allow up to 140 of us to repeat the experience.

Studio performances give the audience a different perspective on dance and dancers – there’ll be explanations and commentary from the Artistic Director, Francois Klaus; you’ll see the dancers warming up beforehand and see those amazing bodies at work in performance at close quarters; and you’ll be able to meet them after the performance at supper. It’s a fascinating experience, and if you thought ballet stopped with Nureyev, Swan Lake, and tutus, it will give you a whole new appreciation of the art form as it is today. A bonus is that the evening’s program will include two new 20-minute works by guest choreographers, Leanne Ringelstein and Kim McCarthy.

The dress code is casual, the atmosphere relaxed, and you’ll receive a complementary glass of wine on arrival (there’s also a cash bar that operates before the performance and at interval).

Cost: $30 including supper and Tickets will be available at the October and November meetings.

4 ART AUCTIONS: As you may have noticed in our “Dates to Remember”. the Gold Coast Zonta Club held an Art Auction at the same time as our recent club exhibition. Proceeds of $23,000 raised by the Gold Coast Zonta Club Art Auction will go to the QIMR. The Art Auction included some of Liz Heber's items.

EASTER IN THE OUTBACK – MARCH 2005: Next Easter is really just around the corner now. If you are interested in the proposed visit by Zontians at Easter time to Winton and Longreach, have you begun to plan seriously - particularly about travel and accommodation?

If you need more information phone Ann Shevill 3878 9789 or e-mail [email protected].

AN IDEA WORTH CONSIDERING? It has been reported that men in Bihar, India, will face up to three years in jail if caught drinking without written permission from their wives, under a law to be put to the state legislature.

The proposal is part of a women’s empowerment campaign in the eastern state. The Bihar Women’s Commission said in a report the move would liberate women from being ‘bodily and mentally tortured’ when their men return home after drinking sessions.

‘Women must be empowered to save themselves from their drunk men. A three-year jail term would be an ideal threat perception for wine zealots,’ the report said.

NO HONOUR IN VIOLENCE: Despite the fabrications about honour killings by “now-disgraced” author Norma Khouri, it was time Jordan acknowledged it still had a problem with violence against women, demanded the Jordan Times.

The Human Rights Watch identified “honour crimes” as being a serious problem in Jordan and “cannot be dismissed lightly”. By the Ministry of Justice’s own admission, 27 cases of honour crimes out of 30 that were appealed at the country’s highest court resulted in prison sentences of less than one year for those convicted.

“This is not justice ….. The justice system must do more by applying stiffer punishments for perpetrators. In themeantime, the issue must be brought out in the open and the violation of women’s rights in the name of religion and customs should not be tolerated”.

BABETTE – THE BOOK: Author Jay McKee, friend of the former first lady of Brisbane theatre, Babette Stephens, has publish a book about her life. Babette AM MBE (1910 - 2001) was not only our Club's Charter President, but one of Brisbanes most loved and distinguished actresses with a career that included accomplishments in theatre, film, television, and radio.

The official launch was held on Tuesday 28 September as part of the Brisbane Writers Festival. The book was be launched by Hugh Cornish (QTQ 9's first on-air television star) and Jane Atkins (Actor, Director, and now Producer with Queensland Arts Council) read a couple of short sections. The first copies arrived hot off the press on mid-September.

AND FINALLY:

5 A Romanian man who requested a fixed phone line in 1976 finally received a reply 28 years later from the state-run Romtelecom.

More astounding than the delay, however, was the message “We inform you that we still do not have any lines available,” the letter said, “but if you maintain your request,” it continued, offering a glimmer of hope, “please fill out the attached form.”

The long-suffering customer replied: “I am honoured that you have not forgotten me after 28 years, but in the meantime I have got married, had two children and have even got a phone line in my new home.”

Undaunted, Romtelecom took the incident in its stride. “A lot of people who request lines die, which is why we like to confirm that a request is still current,” a representative said.

Seems the public service is alive and well in Romania!!

Pat’s saying for the month……. Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.

Please Note: All articles or reports for the Zonta Club of Brisbane Newsletter to be forwarded to Coralie van Straaten-Peretz: email : [email protected] These must be received by the Thursday evening prior to the Dinner meeting to be included.