Help Hatters paint the town red

EVENT

Helen’s Hatters Heaven

Saturday, May 3

Unit 5/95 Dixon Road, Rockingham

10am to 3pm

Contact: 9593 4143

Hats will fly next month as the Red Hat Ladies come together for some fun and frivolity.

Rockingham’s Red Hatters Raspberry Ripples Chapter is hosting an open day in a bid to boost its membership numbers.

Chapter leader Helen Herbert or Queen Purrfection said she wanted to invite ladies from across the region to join in on the fun.

“If you are lonely and you are looking for some happiness in your life and some fun and friendship — come and join the Red Hatters,” she said.

“There are plenty of ladies here who will help you find your way.”

Mrs Herbert said the original Red Hatters started in America about 16 years ago after discovering Jenny Joseph’s poem the warning.

“The poem says ‘when I grow older, I shall wear red and purple which does not match and I will act disgracefully’,” she said.

“So it is about going back to acting like a child again — you have raised your family, and now it is your time to enjoy yourself and that is what they did.”

Mrs Herbert said the Red Hatters held a meeting, or “hatter and natter”, once a month to organise outings and get-togethers.

“We get together and decide where we want to go and what we want to do,” she said.

“Each of us takes it in turns to organise an outing, whether it is just to the movies or a restaurant or the races.”

Member Aileen Norman, who is a widow, said the group had given her companionship and happiness.

“I don’t know what I’d do without these girls,” she said.

Rockingham’s Red Hatters Raspberry Ripples Chapter hopes to grow beyond its 25-member base.