The Golden Girls

   Happiness is good company, a nice bottle of white and something delicious to eat.

Gamma (me) & Jay                    Steven, Lauren and Peter

  Taylor tries on one of my hats

Former Co-Queen of Birds of a Feather, I decided it was time for me to start my own smaller group and so, with a dedicated group of wonderful friends, The Golden Girls was formed.  I feel truly blessed to have such a supportive chapter and we have some lovely ladies wating in the wings who will be a real asset to the chapter.  I was born in Liverpool, England in 1953 and spent the first 12 years of my life living between England and South Africa.  Then in 1964 my family moved to Rhodesia where I spent the most idyllic 7 years - an absolutely wonderful place to grow up.  It is there that I developed my lifelong love of elephants.  When you have seen them in the wild, in their natural habitat, you cannot help but be awed.  I have elephants in every room in my house in one form or another (yes, every room).

I moved back to South Africa when I was 18 and then moved out here to Australia in 1987.  It was here I met my wonderful husband Peter, where my children grew up, married and my daughter Lauren and her husband Dave, gave me my two delightful grandchildren, Jay (three and a half) and Taylor (21 months).  My son, Steven is now living in London and while I miss him dearly I am pleased he is pursuing all the dreams I had when I was young, of travelling and seeing the world.  He is doing it with the aid of a wonderful career too.   My days now are divided between outings with Red Hatters, planning them, spending time in my sewing room, quilting, sewing and generally crafting and looking after my grandchildren while my daughter completes her Master of Midwifery degree.    They really are the stars in my universe.

My birthday is July 21st so I am cuspid Cancer/Leo.  Favourite food is seafood, seafood and seafood.  I love to read, lots of different books and have developed a love of classical pop music thanks to such singers as Russell Watson, Il Divo, The Ten Tenors, Andrea Bocelli etc etc.  The list goes on.  Of course I am a product of the 60s as I had a brother 6 years older and I am sure I know the words to every song written during those wonderful years.  My ipod is full of 60s music.  so I guess I am a real "mixed bag" but hopefully one worth knowing.  I love to travel and if I won Lotto that's what I would spend my winnings on.  My favourite destination would have to be the Cook Islands.  I just loved the place.  Places I would still like to see - the rest of the world!  Things I dislike - people who tell lies, people who backstab others and people who can never apologise.  Thankfully, there are very few of these people in my life now - thanks to my wonderful group of Red Hatters who are amongst the loveliest people I have ever met.

Hi,  I'm Kaye - Crown Princess Sunshine of the Golden Girls - the newest chapter on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. 

I have been a Red Hatter for a few years, in a couple of other chapters and am proud to now be one of the original Golden Girls and was thrilled when Queen Lin asked me to be her vice Queen.  My Golden Girl Red Hat Sisters are a big part of my life and we have so much fun together and enjoy everything we do.   

I was born and grew up in Sydney and have one sister, and was lucky enough to be a teenager in the good old Rock 'n' Roll days.  After I married, my husband and I and our three sons moved to Melbourne, where I then lived for 25 years and learned to like AFL.  I have had various secretarial jobs, including being School Secretary of a Primary School, which was quite an advantage when my children were in school.

Then I had a change of heart and decided to do a Nursing Course and worked in a Psyche Hospital for War Veterans.  This was a really rewarding job but eventually the hospital closed.  My sons were by then pursuing their own lives and I was on my own, so I headed north in 1995, to find some sunshine. I have moved around between Woolgoolga (near Coffs Harbour) Ipswich, Brisbane and Caboolture and finally to the Gold Coast.  I'm still here and I'm staying!!!! And at last, I have met a wonderful, loving man, to share my life with.  So between my partner, my kids, my 5 grandchildren and my Red Hat sisters, life is wonderful.   I am also lucky to be mother to a gorgeous red poodle named Koko and have a great job as a Personal Care Giver.

Added info: Star Sign is Pisces;  Favourite food – seafood;  Favourite drink - iced coffee;  I just love Country Music and I'm a great fan of Aussie singers, as well as the old 50's and 60's music, but my very favourite song is 'Unchained Melody'.  My two favourite movies are 'Grease' and 'E.T.'

I like to read,  if I have any spare time and my favourite authors are Maeve Binchy and Ken Follett.  I have enjoyed many craft interests in the past, like ceramics, folk art, glass painting, t-shirt painting,  knitting / crocheting, but I don't have time or interest in them now.  I also used to enjoy Line Dancing but no longer have time for that.  I do have fun on my computer and another favourite pastime is, of course, Op Shopping, especially with my Red Hat Sisters. 

I have been lucky enough to have travelled around Australia twice, plus had a plane trip to Cape York, but of course I still haven't see all of our great country and I would enjoy doing it all again.  I have never had a trip overseas, but I wouldn't mind going somewhere but perhaps a round the world ticket would be best as there is so much to see.  If I had the chance, I would love to go see the orangutans or  chimpanzees.

So I have love, friendship and sunshine ... What more could I want!!!!! 

My title is Sassy Snapalot, aka Jeanette, and I'm a Pink Hatter, a kiwi, born and bred in Taranaki in 1961.  Murray and I shifted to the Gold Coast in 2006 and love this beautiful country, lifestyle and the gorgeous people who have become our circle of friends.  This is home!

After leaving school, I trained as an enrolled nurse, married and the townie became a dairy farmer.  After many years of working long hours, Murray and I are enjoying life as self-funded retirees.  Murray and I became a couple at age 15 and this year we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.  He is my world, my best friend, my rock.  We have three beautiful daughters, Danica, Ashley and Haylee and I am very proud of them.

I became a Pink Hatter at 45.  After some life-changing health issues, it was time to do something for myself and make new friends. My "Golden Girl" Red Hat friends have become my life-long sisters (I've got three brothers) and my life is filled with fun and laughter.  I treasure their friendship.  I go by the name Sassy Snapalot as yes, I do like taking photos, BUT I can also be snappy.  Murray greets me with "Good morning Sassy, or is it Snappy today?"  I went shopping recently and came home with pink bras, pink and lavender nickers and Murray is a bit worried.  Pink and lavender are good but I will embrace turning 50 so I too can wear purple and red.

At a glance: I love spending time with family and friends.;  Favourite food - seafood;  Favourite drinks - red wine or rum;  Favourite music - Beach Boys, Rod Stewart;  Favourite film - Grease;  Hobbies - I enjoy having a go at any crafts;  I love reading - autobiographies, fiction and non-fiction;  Shopping - I'm learning the art of Op Shopping;  Talking - I'm good at this (thanks mum);  I volunteer - I spend my Mondays supporting a special needs young woman.

We recently took a cruise on the Pacific Sun, stopping at Noumea, Loyalty Island and Vanuatu and had a wonderful time, including meeting up with Queen Joan from Bribie Island.  What a small world. 

We would love to explore Australia, do an overseas trip and I would love to go on Safari.

  My life journey began in the beautiful Nepean Valley of NSW where I was born the 5th and youngest daughter of two wonderful parents.  Our house was always full.  You never knew if you would be in your own bed or sleeping head to toe with one of your sisters.  Mum and Dad never turned away anyone in need.  I still remain friends with one girl who stayed with us for some time after her mum died.  She became my extra sister and is a member of a Red Hat chapter in NSW. 

Dressing up was always a favourite pasttime, sometimes as a bride with my sister's net petticoat on my head as a bridal veil and another tucked under the arms as my dress.  On one of my dress ups, I had my 3rd sister chasing me up the street, crying out to mum to stop me.  I couldn't understand what the fuss was about - all I was doing was wearing my sister's bra as bunny ears and hopping around the yard and waving to people as they tooted their horn.  So you see being a member of the RHS is made for me.  I made friendships from kindergarten and they are still friends today.  When I think about my life, I treasure my friends and think of them as special charms on my bracelet of life, with always room to add one more.

I flirted with the idea of being a nun but after several years schooling at the Juniorate, changed my mind.  I joined the CYO (Catholic Youth Organisation) and enjoyed many group outings to beach picnics, ballroom dancing and more.  It was at ballroom dancing that I met my husband Michael.  At 18 I contracted meningitis and spent some time at the Prince Henry Hospital.  Several years passed, Michael and I  married and renovated our first home.  We started our own businesses and finally moved onto an acreage where the fun really began. Cashmere goats who would go jogging with the neighbours, or launch themselves off our two-story high verandah like Superman,  day old calves who grew so large I had to hide behind trees as they would run to greet "Mum", chooks who had a very short life as the dogs next door enjoyed a chicken dinner every second day - and so it went on.

We sold the acreage and business and moved into the mountains where I became involved in the arts and started pottery classes. I managed 60 volunteers for three charity shops, did courses in palliative care, pastoral care, Spiritual healing, massage and pressure point balancing, became a Seichim and Reiki master and funeral organiser.  Michael built me my own pottery studio. I have won several awards for pottery and sculpting, especially raku.  I taught at the Blue Mountains Creative Art Centre for some years.

Dad died at 88 and mum managed well until 92 when she came to live with us.  She passed away at 95 but will never be forgotten nor with the special times we shared.

Two years later, Michael took ill.  It was a wake up call so we sold the business and house, bought a caravan and started around Australia.  the van does get around a little bit but Michael fell in love with the Gold Coast.  I am still working at it but feel more at home now that I have joined the Golden Girls (more charms).  Next year we are heading around Australia by ship, so at least I will have toured the outside of Oz.  Keep your eyes open for a white troopy and a Phoenix caravan, as you may meet the Countess of Caravanning. 

  I was born in Sydney, my parents also Australian born.  My great grandparents on my mother's side came from Britain and Norway, my father's grandparents came from Ireland.

I grew up on a dairy and spent my childhood amongst animals.  I have a great concern for the welfare of animals, birds and sea creatures and contribute to various animal charities, including one which concentrates on rescuing and re-settling bears from cruelty.

I have been extremely fortunate to have travelled with my husband extensively throughout the world, having visited all five continents, many islands and have sailed the seven seas.

My interests are archaeology, history, environment, international compatibility, world health, politics and finding ways to improve living standards throughout the world.

I grew up in Catholic education and intended to become a doctor.  My school studies were geared towards entering the medical faculty at Sydney University.  I matriculated but then found that I could not overcome my aversion to blood, vomit, pain and violence.  It soon became obvious that I would have to choose a different career path, something in which I could contribute, to try to make a difference and so I became involved in politics.

I became secretary to the Hon Neville Wran MP, who was then Leader of the NSW Labor Party.  A few months later, Mr Wran became the State's Premier, a position he retained for 10 years.  When Mr Wran resigned from office, I became secretary to The Hon Paul Keating MP, who at that time, was Federal Treasurer, then also Deputy Leader and later Prime Minister.  I remained as Mr Keating's secretary until his retirement from politics twelve years later.  I then stayed on as secretary to Mr Michael Hatton MP, who replaced Mr Keating in his electorate, as Member for Blaxland, for the next twelve years.

I met my husband when I was sixteen years of age and we married when I turned eighteen.  We had a son and a daughter with whom I have always been very close.  My daughter married and eventually moved to live on the Gold Coast.  My son, who had broken off with his lady partner, had returned to live with my husband and me and we were a very loving and happy family.  Sadly, my son contracted incurable cancer and lost his twelve month battle with it.  A few weeks later my husband died whilst undergoing minor surgery.

In July last year, I moved to the Gold Coast but continued with my career in Sydney, flying down each Monday morning and returning here Friday evening for the weekends.  I did this because it was an election year and I could not leave my employer at such a stressful time.

I resigned, following the Federal Election in December and am living happily on the Gold Coast with my daughter, her husband and my two grandsons.

Fate is strange - sometimes - out of something bad, something good comes.  In my case, after my life changed so tragically, dramatically and radically with the death of both my son and my husband, the move to the Gold Coast brought me into contact with the Red Hat Society's Golden Girls.  I deeply treasure the wonderful sisterhood and friendship that they provide and consider myself very fortunate to be one of "The Golden Girls".