Red Hat Ladies celebrate friendship milestone

The Kyabram group will celebrate 19 years this September, with its group holding 39 members.

The Echuca group's queen, Sue Hawkings, who was recovering from surgery, but still managed to be there to celebrate, was pleased with the group reaching its second birthday.

“It’s really good that we are all here,” she said.

“People come and go for various reasons, we went down to eight members, but we gained a few more. We're at 13 now.”

Ms Hawkings said the group was based on friendship, companionship, getting to know people and to not feel so invisible.

“We wear red hats and purple dresses so they can’t miss us. We stand out,” she said.

Jane Charles started the group in Echuca, but has recently been unwell, and has given the title of queen and main organiser to Ms Hawkings.

Ms Hawkings said one of the main reasons the group started was because many people around their age often felt dismissed.

“But overall it’s a group about friendship,” she said.

“Most of the ladies have lost a husband and are on their own. Basically we just have a lot of fun together.”

The group meets twice a month, going out for lunch together and often going to places like the Lockington Museum.

It will also meet up to celebrate a member’s birthday, donning its purple hats instead of the usual red ones.

“It’s our day out,” Ms Hawking said.

“We make sure always to get out of the house to meet.”

The Red Hat Ladies would like to thank their community lead sponsors, Blue Illusion, Taking Shape and Whimsy Meow Meow for helping them celebrate.