Retirees click glasses and craft accessories for Race Day

Untitled design - 2023-11-08T143804.105
The lovely TriCare fashionistas with their Cup Day headwear. [Source: Supplied]

With the Melbourne Cup over for another year, the event is known to attract unique frocks, outfits and fascinators. But the glitz and glam isn’t resided for those in attendance. 

This year, eleven fashionistas residing at TriCare’s Mt Gravatt Retirement Community participated in a Cup-inspired millinery workshop which saw them piece together some race day glam on Wednesday. 

With a variety of hats, fascinator combs, and headbands to choose from each participant, aged between 74 and 93, got to stimulate their creativity, chat, share wine and sift through a multitude of colourful feathers, lace, and flowers.

“I’m wearing red and white, what do you think would go with that?” asked one participant.

“Those emerald green feathers will go perfectly with my outfit,” said another.

Eighty-seven-year-old Dawn Lilly knew from the get-go what she wanted to create.

“That black hat, that pink feather and that black lace around it, it’ll be perfect,” she said, glueing and pressing on embellishments.

The workshop was hosted by trained milliner Gina Shaw, who has been an avid hat maker and race enthusiast for many years. She said the group exceeded her expectations in the best possible way.

“It was so much fun to see their creative juices flowing. Most of them knew what they wanted to make and what outfit it would go with, which is often half the battle,” she said.

Mt Gravatt Assistant Village Manager Carmen Seaby said the residents were excited to take part in the workshop and very grateful for the time and materials donated to them.

“Everyone was so impressed by their handiwork that the team at Mt Gravatt has decided to have the ladies parade their creations in front of their fellow residents ahead of this year’s Cup luncheon,” she said.

The ladies were thrilled to show off their hats, telling staff “You have made some old ladies very happy.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Are you ageing well? Take the five-part quiz that could help change your future

Ageing isn’t just about counting years – it’s about how we live them. Take this 5-question quiz and explore how small changes today can support a stronger tomorrow. Read More

How to grow old at home, not in one

What does it mean to grow old at home, not in one? In this episode of Grey Matters, Tracey and Ben talk about what it means to age in place and how you can make plans to choose the way you age. To listen to the podcast – press the ‘play’ button below.   Key... Read More

Body of missing elderly man found in neighbouring suburb

  The body of an elderly man who was reported missing on Friday was found in a nearby park on Sunday morning. The family of Luigi Di Sante said he had dementia, and was living at home with his wife, who was unwell. When a nurse went to check on his wife on Friday, she raised... Read More
Advertisement