1,000 KITS, 53 VOLUNTEERS, ONE LIFE-SAVING MISSION

Zonta Club Burdekin has assembled more than 1,000 birthing kits in a single morning, with 53 volunteers taking part in a community effort aimed at improving maternal health in underserved regions.

‍

The assembly day, held at the Samaritan Centre at St Francis Catholic School last week, brought together local community groups, schools and service clubs to prepare the kits, which will be distributed to women in remote, displaced or post-conflict settings where access to trained medical care is limited.

‍

“These have the potential to save two lives—mother and baby—so it’s really gratifying,” Zonta Burdekin Correspondence Secretary Inez Larsen said.

‍

Each kit includes plastic sheeting, gauze, string, gloves, soap and a razor, providing basic sterile equipment to support safer childbirth in low-resource environments.

‍

Community groups involved included the Ayr–Home Hill Lions, Rotary, Burdekin Shire Council, as well as students and staff from Ayr State High School, Home Hill State High School and Burdekin Christian College.

‍

Ms Larsen said Zonta members were “proud” of the strong community support for the project.

‍

“We were over the moon. The atmosphere was just so nice,” she said.

“People stayed on for morning tea, there were a lot of laughs—it was a lovely morning.”

‍

Burdekin Shire Councillor John Furnell described it as an “honour” to take part, praising Zonta members for the organisation behind the event.

‍

The Zonta Birthing Kit Project began in 1999 and has since distributed more than three million kits across 30 countries. Australian Zonta clubs account for approximately 65 per cent of global kit production.

‍

Burdekin Zonta contributed about $5 per kit, covering materials and distribution costs. The kits are set to be transported to Birthing Kits Australia in Adelaide before being dispersed overseas.

‍