THE achievements of Riverland women were celebrated at a local community organisation’s dinner event recently.
Members of the Zonta Club of the Riverland gathered at the Berri Hotel earlier this month for a dinner celebrating International Women’s Day.
Zonta Club of the Riverland president Arunika Hamden said the event was attended by both new and founding members of the group.
“My mum is 91 and she was probably the oldest there,” Ms Hamden said.
“There was a range of women celebrating our achievements and celebrating each other.
“We have some younger members now who will continue the work.
“We’ve been going over 35 years at our club and some of our charter members were at the event.”
Reynell Labor MP Katrine Hildyard – who was also guest speaker at the event – said highlighting the need for improved women’s safety and equality was a focus of the event.
“For more than 100 years Zonta’s enduring advocacy and service has improved the lives of girls and women locally and across the globe,” Ms Hildyard said.
“I was honoured to share a little about my journey and my passion for engendering other women’s leadership.
“This International Women’s Day found many women rightly demanding change – change that will mean every girl and every woman is safe and able to live her life free from violence, discrimination and harassment.
“We spoke about this need for change at the dinner and I was inspired by the willingness of women at the dinner to work together to achieve it.”
Ms Hamden said education and health support for women in regional areas generated benefits for the wider community.
“If everybody just does a little bit, the whole world changes,” Ms Hamden said.
“As we improve, other women improve (and) we’re standing on the shoulders of the women who came before us.
“When (women) thrive, society thrives… we lift up the community.”