Ipswich Red Hatters

The Red Hat Society was founded in the United States in 1998 for women over 50. "The Red Hat Society" is a worldwide membership society that encourages women in their quest to get the most out of life." The Society supports women "in the pursuit of Fun, Friendship, Freedom, Fitness and the Fulfillment of lifelong dreams." Ladies over 50 wear red hats and purple clothes except on their birthdays when they reverse the colours, ladies under 50 wear pink hats and lilac clothes.

In Australia, it all started with a spark from across the sea! When Florence Slattery's friend from the United States, told her about the Red Hat Society, she decided that she had to bring the fabulous fun to her own country and her home town. Florence Slattery founded the Rose City Red Hatters in Warwick in 2001. With that first official chapter, she laid the groundwork for Red Hat Society's vibrant growth throughout Australia. Her passion ignited a ripple of friendship and fun among women from all walks of life.

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.

In June 2016, over 150 Red Hatter's travelled to Warwick for Supreme Matriach Florence Slattery's 100th birthday. The much-loved Queen Mother of Red Hatting Australia passed away in 2017.

The Ipswich Irresistables formed on 7th July 2007. Queen Ann and her chapter met twice a week for coffee and outings to the movies.

The Roving Red Hat Adventurers started in February 2008, as an off-shoot of the Ipswich Irresistables, whose membership was full. Guided by Queen Joyous Jan, this Chapter planned fun activities for their group including a kite-flying expedition.

Have you ever seen the ladies in Purple Clothes & Red Hats who are enjoying life?

Have you wondered who these ladies are & what is their story?

These ladies are Red Hatters who enjoy Fun, Frivolity & Friendship.

Just like each lady is an individual, so is each Chapter, as the Queen guides the Chapter in the direction of Growing Old Disgracefully. Each Chapter is different in activities and events, as well as how regularly the ladies get together. Most Chapters get together twice a month, but some are more often, which means there is always Red Hatter FUN to be had. Red Hatters try to support their local area but are also happy to travel to enjoy their Red Hatting fun.

Ipswich is steeped in Red Hatter history with the first Red Hatter Group starting in 2007 which was Ipswich Irresistables.

Ipswich is very lucky that there have been multiple Chapters in the area over the years, but of course, Chapters have closed and new ones started for various reasons. Yes there have been a number of different Chapters, but the one thing has stayed the same - there has been Fun, Frivolity & Friendship for many years. How great to see interaction between Chapters, who support each other any way possible.

2026 is a special year for Red Hatters,  celebrating 25 years of Red Hatting in Australia. From 1 Chapter in 2001 to 347 in Australia is quite something.
       

Queensland has the most Chapters with 118 Chapters and in Ipswich there are 4 Red Hatter Chapters:

• Ipswich Irresistables started in 2007 now has Queen Denise guiding them after a recent change of Queen
• Diamonds & Pearls started in 2016 now has Queen Chrissy guiding them after a recent change of Queen
• Sapphire Ladies started in 2016, guided by Queen Marilynn
• Bewitching Belles started in 2018, guided by Queen Dee

Ipswich is very lucky to have a Red Hatter Shop called Red Hats Down Under where all things Red Hatter can be purchased, which is owned by Sharmaine Kilpatrick. Sharmaine hosts a Gala each year here in Ipswich so ladies in the area can enjoy a Red Hatter Get Together, where they don't have to travel to enjoy each others company. The theme each year is different with the original Gala happening on International Women's Day on 8 March in 2019.

They have worn" Pearls & Lace", then celebrated "Lunch at Tiffanys" followed by "Moulin Rouge". The "Grease" theme was interrupted in 2025 by Cyclone Alfred, so it had to be rescheduled but "Grease was the word" just a little bit later than originally planned.

They are celebrating 2026 in a very big way as 25 Years of Red Hatters in Australia is indeed very special. How great that ladies will continue to "Grow Old Disgracefully" with us for many years to come.

Bewitching Belles

Bewitching Belles is the most recent Chapter to start (2018) but the fun is still the same. The Chapter started so ladies who are still in the workforce or are not available to enjoy Red Hatters during the week, could do things on the weekends, which can be the loneliest time for many. The activities and events are varied as we enjoy many different things.

There is usually an activity or a game for the ladies to enjoy which always results in lots of laughter. People see them having fun and ask about the ladies, who share the story and invite them to enjoy the fun.

The most popular event is the annual Teddy Bears Picnic, where the young (kids) & the Young at Heart  (Red Hatters) interact and share Fun, Frivolity & Friendship. The most popular game is definitely the Teddies being placed on a blanket and being thrown into the air to see which Teddy will be the last one left. Yes we all love that activity.

Bewitching Belles enjoys supporting different venues including Miners Right Restaurant at Bundamba TAFE to help the students with their course while we enjoy amazing meals. The Incinerator Theatre operated by Ipswich Little Theatre is a favourite place to watch accomplished actors and be thoroughly entertained in a very historic venue which is actually an Incinerator that was designed by Walter Burley Griffin.  

Red & Purple can be seen at many Fund Raising Events that are held locally, or further afield, as there are so many good causes that benefit from the Red Hatters attendance and support. The ladies in Red and Purple do get noticed, but they like to wear other colours for other special reasons, whether it is Yellow for Daffodil Day for Cancer Awareness or Pink for Breast Cancer awareness. There is a Lunch en Blanc where ladies wear White or Friday 13th, where wearing Black & Bling also makes them stand out. The colour worn doesn't matter as Fun, Frivolity & Friendship are the important things each and every day.