The purpose of The Zonta Club of Stanthorpe Inc “Remarkable Women of The Granite Belt” project, is to preserve the history and acknowledge the contribution of women in the formation of our community, in a permanent memorial, as part of Stanthorpe 150 years celebration.
Women chosen were nominated by community members and have shown commitment to Stanthorpe and district, demonstrated through their chosen career or extensive involvement with community organisations spanning many decades of Stanthorpe’s history between 1872 to 2021. All those chosen in this initial stage are deceased.
Zonta Stanthorpe acknowledge all the women who have, as members of our community, part of a family, committed to a group or a project in our town and surrounds.
Every committee and working group for any event was helped by their labours and when the men were away fighting wars these everyday women kept Stanthorpe growing and functioning. The groups are replicated across the whole of the Granite Belt and the result is our thriving community today.
On the opening night, 8th July, The Zonta Club of Stanthorpe will announce the 12 finalists of the Remarkable Women of The Granite Belt.
The ZONTA CLUB of STANTHORPE REMARKABLE WOMEN of THE GRANITE BELT -FULL LIST OF NOMINATIONS
Women were nominated by community members and have shown commitment to Stanthorpe and district, demonstrated through their chosen career or extensive involvement with community organisations spanning many decades of Stanthorpe’s history between 1872 - 2022.
1. Mrs O’Mahoney – 1839-1920 - First Post Mistress
2. Mrs Margaret Allison – 1843-1926 – Businesswoman, Kyoomba Sanatorium
3. Kate Johnson – 1845-1928 – Midwifery
4. Mrs Isabella Pettiford 1864-1947 - Midwifery
5. Mary Jane Gleeson – 1869-1963 – Businesswoman Community Service
6. Mrs Clara Anne Elwell 1869 – 1948 -Nursing Red Cross Community Service
7. Mrs Rose Denyer – 1871-1969 – Boarding House Operator CWA Music Community
8. Mary Evangeline Scully – 1902 – Education, Manager of the Border Post 1940
9. Mrs Helena Grace White MBE-1870-1953- Service to RSL Red Cross Community
10. Sisters of Mercy -9th Feb 1875 -Education, Catholic Church, Community
11. Edith Elizabeth Harslett - 1888-1945–Agriculture, CWA, Community
12. Jean Chauvel – 1910-2004 – Established Girl Guides and first Kindergarten
13. Constance (Connie) Florence Esplin -1913 -2000 – Businesswoman, Community
14. Lorna Mary McMahon - 1921-2003 – Nursing, Agriculture, Community
15. Weipa Scott 1922-2012 – Service to Community and Church
16. Morwenna (Jean) Harslett 1925-2015 -Historian, Photographer, Agriculture, Entomologist, Author, Service to community
17. Millie Marsden – 1928 -2021 CWA Girl Guides Service to the community
18. Joan Smith – 1929 -2014, Music, Arts, Education
19. Linda Torrisi Vinciguerra -1929 -2017 – Agriculture, Business, Community Service,
20. Women’s Land Army - 1942-1945– Service to Community Agriculture
21. The Sheahan Sisters – Businesswomen
22. Mally McMurtrie – Businesswoman, Councillor/Deputy Mayor, Service to Community
23. Enid Hamilton- Journalist, Historian, Service to Community
24. MUMMS- Mothers United for Maternity Services Stanthorpe group - Melinda Toms, Sarah Reeves, Anita Campbell, Rebecca Telfer and Michelle Conkas. Obtained funding for refurbished birthing suites at Stanthorpe Hospital, which opened in 2014
25. Kirstin Widderick – Veterinarian, Training and Mentoring female veterinarians
26. Cathy Halliday – Service to Community
The final 12 will be announced, in conjunction with the opening of SRAG Exhibition "Remarkable Women" featuring female artists from 6pm on Friday 8th July @ Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery. On display from 7th JULY -14th August 2022