THE atmosphere in the room was one of success, solidarity and stamina as women from all corners of the community came together for the Zonta International Women's Day breakfast.

There was a murmur of agreement throughout the room as guest speaker Zonta District 22 governor-elect Sandy Venn-Brown named Caroline Chisholm as "Australia's first feminist”, for her compassion shown to the first women of the Australian penal colony in the 1800s.

After petitioning an ignorant government for 10 years, Ms Chisholm established the first women's shelter to house the large number of single, unemployed women who were arriving by boat to Australia.

For many women, it was an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a community, but also look at where we have to go.

Former Zonta president Jacinta Fromm spoke about the group's international aid work.

Mayor Tracy Dobie was among the women in the room, and expressed her sense of joy being surrounded by confident and inspiring women from the community.

"Having a group of women together is fun, it's just a lot of fun,” she said.

Assumption College Year 12 student Mary Higgins was announced as the winner of the Zonta 2018 Young Women in Public Affairs award.

Unfortunately Miss Higgins was away on a school excursion, and was unable to attend the breakfast.

Mrs Fromm said Miss Higgins had demonstrated a deep commitment to community service through her work with Days For Girls Allora and her fundraising efforts for Caritas Australia.