Anna Henderson
A FORMER Manilla woman and Tamworth journalist will return to the city as the guest speaker for Zonta International Women’s Day celebrations tomorrow.
Anna Henderson grew up in Manilla, attended McCarthy Catholic College, went to university in Sydney then returned to Tamworth as a cadet at The Northern Daily Leader.
She is now a political reporter for the ABC in the Canberra Press Gallery in Parliament House.
Anna will return to Tamworth on Friday as the guest speaker for Zonta’s International Women’s Day cocktail party at Tamworth Regional Gallery.
The event begins at 6pm with finger food and drinks, which gives people the chance to mingle, followed by an awards ceremony at 7.30pm for Women of Achievement in Business and Women of Achievement in Community, recognising women who have done well in business or volunteered in their community.
Tamworth Zonta president Vicki Lane said Anna was chosen as she grew up in the region and had achieved in her career.
“One of our members lived in Manilla and knew of Anna, so it came about through word-of-mouth,” she said.
“We also choose women who can speak reasonably confidently.”
Organisers of the event have 120 women interested at the moment, but expect many more before tomorrow.
“It’s an opportunity for women to get together, have a chat, have a talk about local and overseas problems that we can help with and how lucky we are to live in Australia and celebrate the achievements of women, because in third world countries, women are treated as second-class citizens,” Mrs Lane said.
The proceeds of the night go to midwifery scholarships that Zonta offers in Tamworth hospital and surrounding regions.