COTA Corner: fun with Red Hatters

YOU may have seen women on the street dressed in eye catching red hats and purple outfits. Have you ever wondered what red hatting is all about? Our partners at the seniors advocacy group COTA spoke with Annette Minehan from Red Hatters Australia about her involvement.

Red hatting is all about women who choose to become involved in a social organisation where ladies meet up and share time and take part in a variety of activities.

The movement has been in Australia for over 11 years. The first group was formed in Queensland and is still functioning under the reign of Queen Florence – now aged 95. Around Australia there are many thousands of women, generally over the age of 50, enjoying what red hatting has to offer. There are over 320 groups around the states with new groups forming all the time.

Each group runs independently and functions differently, with all of them finding fun in their involvement of a variety of events. The common factor is that women while participating in activities wear purple outfits, adorned with a red hat. This is what makes them stand out in a crowd and the reason so many members of the public make enquires about what the women are doing and why they are so dressed.

How did you get involved?

I guess the answer to that is purely as other women do – by word of mouth. I have been involved since December 2004 and my need to make contact with other ladies involved with red hatting resulted in the creation of my Australian red hat website (www.matildarose2.com). The site has grown over the years, spreading news and information to anyone that may be inquiring about the Australian red hatters and what they are doing or planning.

In as much as groups are run independently, multi-group functions are often organised and there can be a resulting gathering of hundreds of ladies. I also host my own group, The M’Ladies of the Lake, at Lake Macquarie in NSW.

Red hatting is solely about women enjoying time in a social arena. There are no committees, charity, business or officialdom involved. Time spent together is for fun and companionship and usually equates to the sharing of coffee or a meal, but can also advance to a multitude of other activities and events such as the theatre, movies, travel, cruises, picnics, dress-up themed parties, car rallies, and visits to cultural venues.

What do you have to do to become a member of the Red Hatters?

Women aged 50 years and over are welcomed as red hatters. Those under that age are classed as pink hatters, wearing a lighter shade of lavender for clothing and a pink hat, until they reach the matured age.

Women need to have a sense of fun and frivolity and a willingness to become involved with the group activities and share their own expertise, which all goes into making the very unique memberships.

Everyone brings something unique to share with others within the group. Life’s rewards come in many guises, sometimes not readily recognised. There is an acknowledgment of the simple pleasures and blessings that come with being involved and such blessings manifest in greater measure.

To become involved, make enquiries either directly to another Red Hatter, the founder (Queen) of the group, or via other connections. One online connection point is the website at: www.matildarose2.com  Or you can obtain details of groups around Australia by emailing: mmrose@ozemail.com.au.

This article was provided by the Council on the Ageing (COTA), the peak body which for more than 50 years has been representing the interests and views of older Australians. Visit www.cotamembership.org.au or call 1300 1400 50 to learn more and to become a member.