Bunbury, WA, 17^th April 2012… Anais Rosher of Dunsborough (pictured on the left) was named the recipient of the 2012 Zonta Club of Bunbury’s Young Women in Public Affairs Award (YWPA). Ms Rosher is in her final year at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School. Federal Member for Forrest, Nola Marino MHR, (pictured on right) presented finalists Lauren Tucci of Harvey Agricultural College (2nd from left), Samantha Shaw of Harvey Senior High School (3rd from left) and Anais with YWPA finalist certificates at the Zonta awards night, before announcing Anais as the award recipient. She received an award of $500 and will now compete for the District YWPA award and if successful, will go on to International level, where five recipients will be named.

The goal of the Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs Program is to encourage more young women to participate in public affairs by recognizing a young woman’s commitment to the volunteer sector, evidence of volunteer leadership achievements and a dedication to the advancement of the status of women. Bunbury Zonta President Jo Wittorff said, “All three young women fulfilled these goals admirably, making selection of the award recipient a difficult task. Anais is a member of her school’s student executive, Lauren is school captain and Samantha is co-school captain and each has been heavily involved in school and community volunteering. They are all outstanding young women who give a lot to others.” 

Applicants are asked to reflect on their voluntary commitment to their school and their community and the problems limiting the advancement of the status of women in their own country and worldwide. The Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs program looks to the young women of today for the leaders of tomorrow.

Award recipient Ms. Rosher intends to take a year off after completing year 12, to travel and volunteer, then will continue her studies at UWA focusing on science and eventually pursue further studies in medicine or medical research. She believes that lack of education, war and poverty hinder the advancement of women, and that improvement in any one of these areas would result in the improvement of the status of women.

Applications for the 2013 Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs Award will be available from bunburyzonta.mysouthwest.com.au  in August 2012. Applicants must be of age 16-19 and living or studying in a Zonta district/region at the time of application.

Zonta Club of Bunbury members were delighted to learn that charter member Josephine Spaull was honoured with an Order of Australia medal on Australia Day 2012. Below is Mrs Spaull's citation.

Mrs Josephine Helen SPAULL OAM  (pictured (left) with Zonta International District 23 Governor, Jane Smith.)

For service to the performing arts, particularly dance, as a teacher and administrator.

·    Former Board Member, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

·    Former Leading Soloist, Ballet Rambert Company; a touring contemporary dance company based in Chiswick, London, UK.

·    Major Examiner and Adjudicator (International), Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing; brought the Society’s Performing Arts Syllabus to Western    Australia, 1966, and personally introduced this program to New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

·    Senior Examiner, Cecchetti Society of Australia.

·    Founding Member, Ausdance WA.

·    Ballet Teacher, Bridgetown WA, for many years.

Taught dance in over 20 Western Australia country schools, country towns and colleges, for over 40 years; taking dance and music to outlying country areas for the first time in Western Australia.

Member, Zonta International, since 1984.
Charter Member, Zonta Club of Bunbury, since 1998.
Charter Member, Zonta Club of Darling Range, for many years.
Fellow, Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.

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