Zonta is an amazing organisation that empowers women through service and advocacy. The Whitsundays Zonta Club embodies this and last Saturday they hosted for the 17th Whitsundays Zonta Club annual International Women's Day event, which I quite proudly attended. You could not feel anything but empowerment to be amongst those fabulous and resilient women of the Whitsundays.

I would like to highlight two young leaders in our community who were past recipients of the Zonta Young Women in Public Affairs Award and who came and gave us an update some years after receiving that bursary. Cassidy Heywood, who attended university starting with engineering before changing to become an environmental scientist, has a passion for conservation and natural resource management. There is no better place to work than our Whitsundays, looking after our islands, coastlines and waterways. She currently works for Reef Catchments and has developed a leadership program where school students come together to engage and undertake environmental conservation projects and initiatives that aim to showcase opportunities and career pathways through experience. Cassidy is committed to sharing her passion and showcasing her leadership through this initiative and I commend her for her effort.

Tia Gibbs has almost completed a diploma. She has been accepted into RMIT to next year undertake a Bachelor of Fashion. Tia showcased her inspiring wearable art, which can be seen at our annual Great Barrier Reef Festival. Her passion, creativity and innovation amazed us all. My favourite, which was an absolute highlight of her presentation, was the recycling of a trampoline as a dress after Cyclone Debbie. It was extraordinary and the most amazing couture.

Mez Bowen, who is the president of Zonta Whitsundays, inspired us all with a presentation of the amazing women who hold political leadership roles all around the world. Given that it was International Women's Day yesterday and the celebrations continue this week, I think it is timely for us all to be encouraged to choose to challenge, no matter our political persuasion or the level of government we represent.

In total they raised $14,000 on the day with the support of our amazing local business community made up of many tourism operators who are doing it very tough but still donated so kindly to our local club. This club contributes to our local community with the funds raised as outlined. It continues to deliver bursaries to support our next generation of women leaders. Zonta Whitsundays needs to be congratulated on its effort in improving the lives of women each and every day across our community.