By Linda Nash, Inner Wheel Club of Pakenham
The James Bathe Community and Sports Hub came alive on Saturday 24 April with ladies from the Inner Wheel Club of Pakenham and their guests.
A milliner was present and all proceeds from the afternoon tea were directed to multiple sclerosis research.
Inner Wheel Clubs show women in action, working together to make a difference and improve lives.
One way of showing this is the raising of funds for worthwhile causes.
MS Research is one of these causes.
Marlene Burhop, the president of the Inner Wheel Club of Pakenham, welcomed Kim Fletcher, a milliner, as the guest presenter for the afternoon.
Kim has been a milliner for over 28 years and she made the interesting statement: “I have been travelling the world for the fact that I make a hat”. Yes, milliners make hats!
Kim went on to explain that she grew up in Maffra, a rural town in East Gippsland.
At age 11 her family moved to Melbourne.
When she left school she became a paymaster but the job did not nurture her creativity which she claims to have ‘learnt’ from her mother, Lyn.
In 1993, Kim did a part-time millinery course which sparked her enduring interest in hat making; she did more study in millinery and began selling her hats at markets in and around the city.
As Kim has been a longtime member of the VRC, the Victorian Racing Club, she naturally combined her hat making skills with the fashions seen at the Melbourne Cup.
The eye-catching hats led Kim to being asked to take her hats and designs to Dubai and to the city of London where her hats were soon spotted at Ascot.
Kim proudly explained that she has been to 20 World Cups, in Dubai, in a row.
These World Cups are horse races and Kim’s hats feature there. Not bad for a country girl from Maffra!
Marlene has known Kim for years. Marlene would take any new outfit she had to Kim so Kim could make a hat to go with the outfit.
The day’s proceedings included a silent auction of pre-loved, donated hats.
Ladies were able to try on as many hats as they wished, and also, Kim showed the ladies how they could make their own ‘fancy’ headbands.
The afternoon tea was catered for by members of the Inner Wheel Club of Pakenham.
The high tea crockery was supplied by a local Pakenham business named,”High Tea To Home”.
Their vintage tableware can be hired and will be delivered to your door. Debra and Peter Holden can be contacted on 0477 630 430 or emailed on highteatohome@gmail.com
All in all, an exceptional spread was served for the guests and members of the Club.
The month of May also includes “The May 50K” Challenge to raise funds in support of MS Research Australia. To support this or make enquiries, please contact the Inner Wheel Club of Pakenham by email on iiw.au.pakenham@gmail.com
