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27th Governor of Queensland Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM

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Zonta International Convention Official Opening

The 25th Governor-General of Australia and the 24th Governor of Queensland, Honorary Zontian, the Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO; the 22nd Governor of Queensland and Zonta International Past President, the Honourable Leneen Forde; Zonta International President Ute Scholz, Past Presidents and Honorary Zontians; representing the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services, Member for Cooper, Jonty Bush MP; keynote speaker, Rabia Siddique; Zonta International directors; Convention Chair Judy Gorton; Zonta District 22 Governor, Lyn Agnew; Zonta International Executive Director, Megan Radavich; Zontians and guests.

I begin by thanking Mr Oram-Sandy for his Welcome to Country. I too, would like to acknowledge the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people and extend my respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people from Australia and elsewhere in the world who are with us today.

As Governor of Queensland, I am privileged to speak for all Queenslanders and on their behalf, I am delighted to welcome Zontians and their guests to Brisbane, to Queensland and to Australia.

You have come here from all over the world (and from every corner of Australia) and I hope you will take the opportunity to explore our wonderful city and other parts of this wonderful country before you return home.

In just over four months’ time, Zonta will mark the 105th anniversary of the very first Zonta convention was held in Buffalo, New York. Looking back to that event, it’s only now that we realise just how remarkable it was.

The women who attended that convention in November 1919 were part of a generation who had found their independence and their voice during World War I and they were ready to stand up for women’s rights, so it was both a gesture of defiance and a declaration of independence when that determined band, led by the formidable Marian de Forest, came together and decided to establish the Confederation of Zonta Clubs.

The event itself was noteworthy enough, but the truly remarkable thing is that, 65 conventions later, that flame of defiance and that commitment to improving the status of women is as strong as ever, sustained by Zontians everywhere.

Irrespective of which of Zonta’s 64 member countries you live in, you are committed to Zonta’s mission and vision, and determined to make a difference to the lives of women and girls both in your communities and around the world.

Over the next three days you will learn more about Zonta’s programs and projects; you will engage in robust debate; you will make new friends and establish new networks; and you will be motivated by exciting new ideas that you can take home to your clubs and districts.

I wish you all well for a stimulating, entertaining, and inspiring time together and thank you, on behalf of women and girls everywhere, for the work that you do, every day, to help build a better, kinder, safer world.

It is now my pleasure to declare open the 66th Zonta International Convention.