On Saturday evening about 400 people attended the Zonta International Women's Day dinner held at Buchanan Park to celebrate resilience and strength of women in the Outback.
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The winners at this years dinner were two inspirational community members who aspire to goals that create balance and equality.
The Young Woman of Achievement Award was presented to Naomi Spitzner-Lewis from Spinifex State College.
Ms Spitzner-Lewis is involved with various community groups including Girl's Brigade, Karate and the Mount Isa Community Ensemble.
In her thank-you speech Ms Spitzner-Lewis said she was surprised and happy to receive the award.
"I intend to live up to everything that this award means and more."
The Woman of Achievement award went to Erin Dean who runs the not-for-profit Irish Dancing School in the City. Her school supports the community by performing at school fetes and other events for free.
"I intend to live up to everything that this award means and more."
- IWD Young Woman of Achievement Naomi Spitzner-Lewis
Ms Dean runs an outreach program for students who cannot afford to dance, by providing them with a scholarship for twelve months.
In the last year, Ms Dean has overcome a crippling back injury while still managing to run the dance school, work full-time, study and raise her two daughters with her husband Alan.
During the evening Leonie Farriday was presented with the 2019 Zontian of the Year award.
Ms Farriday will take over the reins as President of the Mount Isa Zonta Club from Lyn White in May.
She said she was excited about coming in as President fort he Club.
"We are going to concentrate on a few things, but the main one is building up Club numbers."
SEE GALLERY: Zonta International Women of the Year 2019
"Lyn has done a magnificent job, so I'm just stepping into what she has already accomplished."
Ms Farriday said each year it's amazing to read through the nominations and see the calibre of women coming through.
"The nominations this year were amazing, the passion and drive these women exhibit is inspiring."
Special guest speakers were Bronwyn Blake, the editor of the well-known book Gulf Women and Cath Walker from the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
Storytellers Polly Kim, Tess Arnold, Kylie Camp and Sue Clarke shared their stories of surviving and thriving in the remote Gulf country.
The women spoke about how they coped with almost everything life and the environment threw at them including floods, drought, sickness and emergencies.
The Zonta Club of Mount Isa Facebook page provides contact details for anyone interested in inquiring about the Club.
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