Zonta Club of Bowen

28/10/2026

Bowen's Reclaim the Night March is on Thursday, October 29, at 6 pm in the Town Square. Walk to Soundshell to honour those lives lost due to sexual violence and stand together to make our community a safer place.

27/10/2026

Let's stand together for the elimination of sexual violence on Thurs Oct 29th. Wear orange in support of the Zonta Says No Campaign.

23/10/2026

New Zonta Club of Bowen STEM Awards were added to the BSHS Awards Night. Molly Beck, a Year 8 student, received the Junior STEM Award, and Keelah Ross, a Year 12 student, received the Senior STEM Award.
Club President Karen Smith and Secretary Hortense Ingram, along with BSHS Principal Bob Harris, presented the awards on October 20th.

Congratulations to Molly and Keelah who won the Zonta Stem Female Awards.

13/10/2026

The Zonta Club of Bowen celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child on Oct 8 at Hansen Park by presenting suitcases to Hope in a Suitcase Bowen volunteers. The suitcases go to children entering foster or out-of-home care, ensuring each child receives new essential items and feels valued, supported, and embraced by the community during a difficult transition.

05/09/2026

Zonta Says Yes to Gender Equality and supports local women in business. Join us at the Larrikin Hotel on Tues Sept 8, at 5:30 pm to hear their inspirational stories behind their success.

31/08/2026

💛 For Charmaine Rabino, the Zonta Club Of Marikina Foundation Inc., Philippines, meant finding a community of inspiring women who continue to make time for service, leadership and one another through every stage of life.

“I want to be one of them,” Charmaine shared. “To show up. To serve. To learn. To grow. And, in my own way, to leave a little light wherever I go. Read more here: https://zonta.org/Web/Programs/Mission_in_Action/Share_Your_Story/Why_Zonta

29/08/2026

🚨 NEWS ALERT: Legal services must be at the heart of Australia’s plan to end violence against women.

Women’s Legal Services Australia (WLSA) has released its submission to the Second Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032 - with WLSQ contributing our frontline experience.

The message is clear: women and children continue to be harmed and killed while the services they turn to for help are at capacity.

As WLSA Chair Elena Rosenman says:
“Legal services are prevention. Every safe parenting order, every intervention order, every woman supported to leave a violent relationship safely is violence prevented from escalating, a child kept safe, and crisis costs avoided downstream.”

Our submission calls for:
🟣 An audit of systems abuse in the family law system, where perpetrators can weaponise court processes
🟣 A new family violence visa, so no woman is forced to choose violence
🟣 The rights, culture and self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victim-survivors to be central to the Plan
🟣 Long-term funding for specialist sexual violence legal services, with current funding due to expire in December 2027
🟣 Legal systems that are ready to respond to AI and technology-facilitated abuse

As WLSA Executive Director Adrianne Walters says:
“When a woman finds the courage to reach out for help, the door she walks through must be open, resourced and safe.”

Legal assistance isn’t separate from ending violence against women. It is part of how we prevent violence, protect children and help women reach safety.

We need a Second Action Plan that is ambitious about reform - and properly resourced to deliver it.

Read the WLSA submission here: https://wlsa.org.au/the-second-action-plan-submission-by-womens-legal-services-australia/

If you or someone you know needs support:
🚨In immediate danger? Call 000
📱DVConnect (24/7): 1800 811 811
📱1800RESPECT (24/7): 1800 737 732
📱13YARN (24/7): 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

⚖️Free DFV legal help – WLSQ’s Statewide Helpline: 1800 957 957 (Mon–Fri 9 AM–4:30 PM)

18/08/2026

The study brings to light disturbing attitudes amongst the youth of our country.

Young people more likely to hold hostile attitudes towards women, study finds

01/08/2026

💙 100 Emergency Care Bags Completed! 💙

What a wonderful morning of community spirit! A huge thank you to everyone who gave their time to help the Zonta Club of Bowen assemble 100 Emergency Care Bags.

Together we packed essential toiletries and personal care items that will provide comfort, dignity and practical support to people in our community facing crisis. This year we also created handmade affirmation cards, each filled with encouraging words to remind recipients that they are valued, supported and not alone.

These care bags will be distributed through the Bowen Community Centre, Whitsunday Counselling & Support, Bowen Hospital and Bowen Police Station.

We finished the morning by sharing a delicious morning tea, giving everyone the chance to relax, chat and celebrate what we had achieved together.

Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered and helped make this project possible. Every bag represents kindness, hope and a community that cares. 💙

17/07/2026

🎓 Applications are now OPEN for the Zonta Club of Bowen 2026 Tertiary Bursary! 💙

Are you a female student from the Bowen district continuing your tertiary studies?

The Zonta Club of Bowen is proud to offer a $1,500 Tertiary Bursary to support women as they work towards their educational goals.

You may be eligible if you:
✅ Attended school in the Bowen district
✅ Are undertaking tertiary study
✅ Are currently in your second or subsequent year of your course

📅 Applications close: 30 September 2026

👉 To apply, simply click the application link below this post or scan the QR code on the flyer.
https://forms.gle/cpwGxT5piECjdpQGA

For more information, contact us at [email protected].

Please share this post with family, friends, schools, and anyone who may know an eligible student. Together we can help support the next generation of women to achieve their educational dreams. 💛💙