It’s been 13 years since the Purple Power Surge Girls first donned the red and purple, but they don’t feel a year older than when they first met in Wodonga.
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The group of ladies form one of five Border chapters of the Red Hat Society, a social organisation that was founded in America in 1998 promoting “living life to the fullest and not acting your age”.
“Queen” Pam Bleasdale and her Red Hatters considered Wodonga Council’s Senior Celebrations the perfect opportunity to recruit new members and held a meet-and-greet at Cafe Grove.
“It’s like being an actress; as soon as you put on the outfit, you can muck up as much as you like,” she said.
“We’ve all got problems and things going on, and it’s just a way of getting away from life.
“We do all sorts of things and every now and then we have a regional function and once a year we have a queens’ council to chat about issues.
“At most functions we have people coming up and asking what it’s all about.”
Ms Bleasdale said women under 50 were welcome to join – they just had to wear lavender and pink until they hit the milestone.
“Instead of graduate we “red-uate” and have an induction,” she said. “Op-shopping is our national sport.”
For other Senior Celebrations events visit www.wodonga.vic.gov.au/community-services/seniors/snr-celebrations-event.asp.
