Photo: Supplied.
Soroptimist International began in America in 1921, migrated to Australia in 1937, and in 1983 a Bayside charter was founded. A worldwide women’s organisation advocating for human rights and the status of women, Soroptimist International (SI) has United Nations’ recognition – which accords it a degree of global clout.
“SI has non-government organisation consultative status within the United Nations, with 24 representatives on various UN committees involved with ageing, violence against women, forced marriage, trafficking, pollution of water, rape and torture as a weapon of war, femicide, gender inequalities, equal pay, harassment in the workplace, social media, female illiteracy, food security and Indigenous Protection and Management,” says SI Bayside Secretary and PR Convenor, Catherine Heiner.
“By reporting on our various projects to a data bank, our representatives can provide evidence to influence United Nations decisions.”
Following its mantra of ‘think globally, act locally’, SI Bayside is active on the home front as well as the world stage, and is involved with such events as the Redland City Council Walk the Talk, and Candlelight Vigil and Red Rose Rallies, both concerned with ending deaths from domestic violence.
The club supplies care packs (toiletries) and clothing packs to the local hospital for women presenting after trauma. Members are currently preparing Christmas Kindness Packs to take to aged care homes in the bayside area, too.
SI is also active in environmental and Indigenous issues and sees education as a vital part of its charter, including supplying an annual scholarship to a woman undertaking tertiary education.
“Individual members propose areas in which we can be active,” says Catherine. “Our action can include lobbying by SI and its individual members, walking in demonstrations with our SI banner, supplying members as guest speakers to other organisations and supporting organisations like Maybank Accommodation and Crisis Support Service and Night Ninjas.
“We’re also seeking to involve young people by inviting them to an annual International Women’s Day breakfast with a guest speaker and encouraging them to take the information back to their schools.”
The organisation’s name is a portmanteau word from the Latin soror meaning sister, and optima meaning best – interpreted as ‘best for women’.
As one member said, “Most women are Soroptimists – they just don’t know it yet.”
For more information go to https://siseap.org/get-involved/membership-enqiry.html
