2025 Woman of the Year

Zonta is an international organisation advocating for women’s rights.  To support their goal, Zonta Wangaratta offers several community awards each year.   The Woman of the Year Award is one of their most prestigious and important ones.   The winner is a woman who has done something extraordinary to benefit others in the local community.   It can involve community or volunteer service, personal assistance, academic, educational or training assistance, business assistance, welfare or as an exemplary role model.   

This year’s winner, Kerrith Bell, was announced at the recent Annual General Meeting of Zonta Wangaratta.   Kerrith is a quiet and unassuming person who has spent a great number of years helping and serving our community.  As a girl, she joined the Girl Guides and in 1957 was selected to represent N.E. Victoria at the Centenary Guide Rally in Windsor Great Park, England.  She then undertook several leadership positions over the years, including Divisional Commissioner from 1993 to 1998.   During this time, she married, had four children and still found time to assist her husband Neville with their business ventures.     Kerrith served as a volunteer of the Meals on Wheels Service for 45 years – quite amazing.   During that time, she covered 1200 rostered shifts and spent 11,700 hours in her car delivering 14,000 meals always with a smile and a kind word.

As a member of the Centre Quilters for 28 years she inspired and taught quilters of the Wangaratta district.   Kerrith also completed over 700 quilts for local hospitals and other agencies. Kerrith found time to join Zonta Wangaratta in 1988 and over her 27 years of service has been a member of the Board several times and held the position of Treasurer.   She undertook the role as the co-ordinator of the Breast Cushions program from its inception 13 years ago.   

Kerrith Bell (winner of the Woman of the Year Award 2025) 2^nd from right with Zonta members Elizabeth Wilson (President), Alison Grant and Lorna Williamson

Elizabeth Wilson, President of Zonta Wangaratta, said that it is an honour to  award this year’s Woman of the Year Award to Kerrith Bell – a most worthy recipient and community member for many years.

Zonta Wangaratta always welcomes enquiries from people living in the community who may like to know more about membership. Further enquiries are welcome through email zontawangaratta@gmail.com