The Sunshine Sirens Members Profile: Princess Pammie (Pamela)

Princess Pammie (Pamela)

Princess Pammie (on the left) with her sister Barb (Dame Billie T)

 

Princess Pammie ( a princess in a former life) had no trouble choosing a red hat name, however she does struggle with the red hat colour palette....she's NOT fond of purple! Consequently you will notice that Princess Pammie seems to celebrate an awful lot of birthdays so she can reverse the colours and wear mainly red ,a more acceptable colour to her. (Orange would be more to her liking still!)

Princess Pammie grew up in Yeppoon on the Central Queensland Coast, where she happily ate lots of pineapples and prawns and loved to go bodysurfing during big storms.
In the early 80's she moved to live in New York and continued to live in the Big Apple until 2012. Her only son still resides there, so the NY connection continues despite Pamela moving back to Australia to live at Cotton Tree which was an old family-favourite camping area during her childhood.

Pamela enjoys the relaxed Queensland lifestyle. She spends many happy hours walking with Lily (her beautiful by somewhat precious King Charles Cavalier) in the park and along Maroochydore Beach. Lily joins her mistress in bike rides or kayaking on the Maroochy river, but to date has not learned to play tennis!!

Pamela was drawn  in to red hatting by her sister, VQ Dame Billie T (Barb) and shares Barb's love of travel, books and meeting people.

The Sunshine Sirens Members profile: Duchess of Craft (Hazel)

Duchess of  Craft (Hazel)

Duchess of Craft, Hazel

As her chosen red hat name implies, Hazel enjoys many forms of craft. Sewing, crochet, beadwork and making cloth dolls are among her repertoire of craft based activities.

With a large extended family of three children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren, Hazel is kept pretty busy, but still manages to find time to follow her passion for music and she plays with a band (not a rock band!)

When Hazel was young she dreamed of being a domestic science teacher. She started work as a pharmacy assistant at fifteen.

Hazel enjoys reading novels across a variety of genres. A special interest is researching family history.

Her favourite tipple is...ginger beer! And since her aim is to continue to enjoy good health...maybe she's onto something.
Travel features high on Hazel's bucket list. She'd especially like to do some more travel in Europe , but closer to home, Fraser Island is also high on her wish list. She really enjoyed our red hat outing on the Brisbane River paddle steamer and city cat last year.

The Sunshine Sirens members profile: Lady Burlesque (Judith MacK)

Lady Burlesque (Judith MacK)

Lady Burlesque (Judith)

Lady Burlesque may seem a risqué name (but not for a Siren!!) and it comes about from Judith's experience at line dancing, trying to conquer a difficult dance routine called "Burlesque".

Judith is in fact a refined lady; mother of five and grandmother of six with a very active life both socially and giving her time to the community (she works at Nambour General Hospital as a volunteer in the canteen).

Judith's early dream was to become a hair dresser. She started work at fourteen as a waitress. Somewhere along the way she got into ballroom dancing, and dancing and music continue to be a passion of Judith's. Her fantasy would be to win lotto and learn to play her keyboard really well and become a musician!

Judith enjoys reading historical novels and "Gone with the Wind" is a long time favourite. (She's still waiting for someone to do the sequel!)

Judith enjoys the company of good friends, good food, good fun and fellowship. Sipping a crisp dry white wine accompanied by Thai or Indian food surrounded by a whole lot of cheerful friends would be her ideal night out.

Interests such as gardening, especially her beloved pot plants and fancy work, (she'd love to learn to crochet too) keep her busy. She'd secretly love to be a computer nerd also.
Tasmania is her favourite travel destination, and with her motto "Where there's a will there's a way" I'm sure she'll achieve whatever she really wants to.

The Sunshine Sirens members profile: Lady Laughalot (TC)

Lady Laughalot (TC)

Lady Laughalot smiling and happy

It's not difficult to understand why TC chose Lady Laughalot as her red hat name....she does laugh. A lot!
She is also always very chic and elegant and sports some amazingly creative hats to various outings. These hats she makes herself, and they are literally prize-winners, and very eye-catching. As a lady of such style, it's no surprise really to also learn that TC started her working life in modelling. Her daughter has also followed this path.

TC's favourite colours are pastel lemon and pink. With a fair complexion and blonde hair, this colour palette suits her, but she's learning to love red and purple (or at least trying to embrace it). She already has lots of hats in her wardrobe and she keeps adding to them or re-modelling them to suit the occasion.

TC is into cooking, with a special passion for French cuisine. Her teenage dream was to become a chef and it's still her fantasy to one day become a chef.  I guess it's never too late to realise a dream. Her other creative outlet is woodworking.

This year will see the birth of TC's first grandson, and she'd dearly love to visit him in London in the near future, but in the mean time she'd settle for a holiday on a gorgeous island anywhere in the world.

With her personal motto of "Be happy", TC is just happy to be anywhere with a bunch of similarly happy people. I think we fit the bill quite nicely!

The Sunshine Sirens members profile: Lady No Work (Marilyn)

Lady No Work  (Marilyn)

our fun loving Marilyn, Lady No Work

Marilyn loves bright colours and hates housework....hence her chosen red hat name.

As a teenager, Marilyn always wanted to be a beautician, but at sixteen she started work as a Bank Officer instead. I'm unsure if she ever achieved her secret fantasy ambition to be a fan dancer, but it does go some way to explain her friendship with Countess Sunshine Heather (would-be pole dancer). Shared interests..... of course I mean crafts, such as felting etc. and a similar interest in books (murder/mysteries), not to mention a shared love of travel are a great basis for friendship and fun.

Talk of travel can definitely spark Marilyn's interest. She has done quite a lot of overseas travel herself and would like to do a lot more in the future. Italy was a real winner for Marilyn. She loves to cook, and her favourite drink is champagne. Italy is a good place to indulge in both. I just hope she doesn't decide to jump out of a plane on her next trip (well not without a parachute anyway) Skydiving is on her bucket list. She's the adventurous kind.

Marilyn has two children, David and Tasha and four grandchildren to keep her busy between jaunts away and all her craft activities. Her motto in life is "Be kind to everyone" and "Be kind to your mum".

The Sunshine Sirens members profile: Countess Sunshine (Heather)

Countess Sunshine (Heather)

Marilyn (left) with Heather on her first red hat outing last year

It seems appropriate that Heather has chosen Countess Sunshine for her red hat name, given that her favourite colour is yellow gold and her motto is "You always find someone worse off than yourself".
It is this kind of positivity that just radiates sunshine!

Heather started work at fifteen as an office worker, but always wanted to be a nurse. Somewhere along the way she managed to fit in having a daughter.

 Her fantasy activity would be pole dancing....or maybe flying to the moon. Heather dreams big.

Her favourite holiday destination is England or Italy and a trip to Scotland in 2015 may be on the cards. (Perhaps to drink Drambuie .... her favourite wee drop?)

Heather is very creative and enjoys crafts such as pottery, and anything involving fibres & fabrics. In her spare time she enjoys reading murder/mystery novels or autobiographies. The movie "Shirley Valentine" especially appeals to Heather.

Heather is relatively new to red hatting, being first introduced to us by her friend (and ours) Marilyn last year at Noosaville. She only admits to having one hat/fascinator at present, but I'm sure she'll be led astray by the rest of us and soon have more.

Queens of the North "Wearing of the Green" Hosted by Red'n'Purple Ragers 15/03/14

A little bit Irish......Queens of the North

A swarm of green bedecked Queens and Vice Queens descended on Horton Park Golf Club, Maroochydore to attend an Irish-themed lunch hosted by Queen KoolJools and the Red'n'Purple Ragers of Caloundra.
It was a very happy and convivial affair, as one would expect with good food, good company, goblets of bubbles in hand, and some Irish songs sung to the accompaniment of a Kazoo.
Queen Sandi and VQ Dame Billie T both came home with a raffle prize each

Queen Sandi and Vice Queen Dame Billie T(Barb) of The Sunshine Sirens

Queen KoolJools (Julie) Red'n'Purple Ragers

Empress  Redpepper  (Jeanette) of the Glorious Red Peppers of Moreton  and Queen Dawn

Queen Gabrielle (SSH) Queen Sandi, VQ Lady Golden Oldie & Queen Guinevere (Sugartown Sweet Hearts)

Queen De Chardy (Dorothy)and the Bling Babes

Queen Sam and Queen Glennis (Sunshine Sistas)

VQ and Queen Doesalot (Marsha) of the Ruby Dolls

Queen Michelle and VQ  of  Magnificent Mesmerising M'Ladies

Grand Empress Glo of Glo Hatters and Vice Queen Kath of the Woodford Karma Karmelions

Red'n'Purple Ragers ladies

Queens Lyn and Denise of Sugar and Spice

Jeanette (Glo Hatters) and Queen Rhonda of Woodford Karma Karmelions

Queen Robyn of the Scarlet Ladies of the Night

Red'n'Purple Ragers Deputy Doll

Queen Margaret

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Queen Marlene (Gadabout Queens) and Queen Glee (Sunshine Sistas)

 Queen Sam, Deputy Doll and Queen Michelle (MMMs)

Queen Susan (Gadabout Queens)

Queens and Vice Queens wearing the Green

Queen Julie present VQ Barb with prize for Irish costume

Singing Irish songs

Lunch At Elelments Restaurant, Fairhill Nursery, Ninderry 13th March 2014

Lunch at "Elements"

Ten Sirens gathered at "Elements" Restaurant at Fairhill Gardens Nursery (Ninderry) for a beautiful relaxed lunch and catchup. The weather was very kind to us, being not too hot, yet sunny and clear to enjoy the gorgeous garden setting.
We met Linda, a new potential member for the first time. Linda tracked us down after seeing our photos in the paper after our first meeting.She did a lot of ringing around and finally found Sandi.....welcome Linda!
There was lots of chatter around the table about holidays that we're looking forward to, or holidays we've enjoyed in the past. Happy times!


Judith McD, Yvonne, Lesley, Linda, Barb, Carmen, Brenda, Jan, Marilyn and Sandi pose with one of the Restaurant staff

Yvonne, Marchionness of Mirth

VQ Judith McD Contessa of Bordeaux

VQ Jan, Lady Jazz'n'Shiraz



Carmen, Empress of Fun & Frivolity

Brenda, Lady Lunchalot

Marilyn, Lady No Work

Linda (potential new member)

Lesley, Baroness of Bohemia

Queen Sandi

VQ Barb, Dame Billie T

The ladies in beautiful garden setting

The Sunshine Sirens members profile : VQ Contessa of Bordeaux (Judith McD)

 

VQ Contessa of Bordeaux, Judith McD

 

 

 

Judith was the very spoilt first Grandchild on her  Father’s side.  However she soon had that knocked out of her as her parents continued to produce and she became the eldest of six!!

Born in a small country NSW town, she went to boarding school for her secondary education and then proceeded to join the Bank of NSW.

She moved to Sydney where she spent the majority of her life, apart from six years overseas.

She has now been living on  the Sunshine Coast for 7 years.

She loves reading, especially early Australian novels, and also murder mysteries, and the odd romantic yarn.

She loves good food, and wine –  especially Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, though  her favourite tipples are Sparkling wine and a good Margarita.

She loves going on holidays – anywhere – and also spending time with friends.

Red Hatters has been a wonderful discovery for Judith and she enjoys our gatherings immensely.

 

The Sunshine Sirens members profile: VQ Lady Jazz'n'Shiraz (Jan H)

LADY JAZZ'N'SHIRAZ

 

For someone who likes jazz and wine the name Lady Jazz n' Shiraz came easily to Vice Queen Jan Holmes.  This love of wine is taking her on a trip soon to one of NSW wine growing areas, Orange,

for a week of food and wine experiences.

 

In April Jan will be travelling to Europe and beyond with Judith, we wish them both a wonderful trip filled with great experiences and look forward to hearing all about it when they return.

 

Jan's love of travel see her wanting to travel more in 2015.  Maybe she will go to Thailand and  attend a cooking class for her favourite cuisine “Thai”.  In Australia,  Broome and the Kimberleys are the favourite places to holiday. Riding a camel along Cable Beach at sunset is the most wonderful experience.

 

Jan's love of fashion developed as a young 15 year old working on the scarf and hankie counter in David Jones in Brisbane.  It was the next year at 16 that Jan learnt to drive and her first car came soon after a “Berlette”

 

Reading Australian History by Australian authors is a favourite pastime and even better if she can sip on a Sav Blanc or Bacardi Lime & Dry while she is doing it.

 

Four children and four grandchildren make up Jan's family., and she has taught them to live by her motto “Make the most of every day."

 

Jan owns 5 hats and 7 fascinators and is looking forward to us having a hat making day in the near future, to revamp some of these and help others with theirs.  Jan is a great knitter and talker which helps when she is volunteering at the Kiosk at Nambour hospital.

To be a millionaire is Jan's fantasy.

 

That"s our Vice Queen Jan.

 

 

The Sunshine Sirens members profile: VQ Dame Billie T (Barb)

 VQ DAME BILLIE T  (Barb)

 

Barb has had several Red Hat incarnations . Just before her 50th birthday, she spotted a group of red hatters, the Bulimba Bubbles, on the City Cat where she worked at the time. They looked magnificent in their red and purple and were having SOOO much fun. She knew she'd found her tribe!

She joined them as "Countess Colourful", and when she moved to Maleny(2010) she first joined the Blackall Beauties, but sadly, their Queen died shortly afterwards and the group folded.

She then joined the Sugartown Sweet Hearts, and as "Queen B" led them for two years through hosting the 2012 Giggle and  the rapid expansion of the group that followed.

Today she is Vice Queen, Dame Billie T of The Sunshine Sirens. Her sister (Princess Pammie) is also a member. Her sisters and brothers all used to call her "Billy" when she was little (after a cowboy!)....hence the name Billie T.

Barb has two adult children from her first marriage, and one grandchild, Bronte (aged two) and a wonderful husband, John whose cooking is listed as her favourite cuisine.

Her first job was as a hostess on the "Fiesta", a tourist boat operating from Yeppoon (where she grew up)to Great Keppel Island, but then she decided to train as a nurse. She is still working as a registered nurse in the Operating Theatre at Nambour Hospital today.

Barb loves bright colours, so wearing purple and red came naturally to her. She has so many hats, fascinators feathers furs & bling she has a dedicated Red Hat room in her house!

Her favourite books are "Pride & Predjudice" and "The Scarlet Pimpernel", but she really enjoys reading anything that can make her cry because she cares about the characters (she's in two Book Clubs)

Her passion is her family, but she loves to travel. Paris & New York are favourite destinations. She actually always wanted to be an international air hostess when growing up....just so she could travel.

 

 

The Sunshine Sirens members profile: Susie, Lady of Glitz and Glamour: (Sue A)

Some people just have to be different don’t they.  Not one motto but two:

“I like nonsense – it wakes up the brain cells” (I wonder where she got that one from)

“Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living: (I like that one)

As a child her favourite fantasy was to be a mermaid – I guess that is why she wishes she could dive.

A delicate child she was the last daughter in a family of   ??   .  No doubt she was very indulged and the favourite of the family!!

Sweet sixteen was a big year – learnt to drive her first car – a Chrysler Royal – (I bet it was in her favourite colour – magenta )-and started her first job as a telephonist.’

She is a great bull-shitter – tells us her favourite drink is a lemon drink – ha ha!!

Although she likes to read mystery novels, her favourite movies are “Lord of the Rings” 1,2,3

She doesn’t like flying – not even when she self hypnothyses – and doesn’t like aeroplanes either, so guess she will never get to visit the country of her favourite cuisine -  Thailand.

She has led a varied life and had many vocations, but her love is creativity – hats, quits, clothes, bags – name the craft she can do it – and is also practising “witch”craft.

Like the rest of us when she was young she wanted to be “older” but now she just wants to enjoy wearing her hats and fascinators – at least ten of them, showing off her names “lady of Glitz and Glamour” and ‘Special Adviser to the Queen”(given to her by a higher Power).

She also loves looking after her three children (although they are all adults) and her brood of grandchildren and great grand children.

Her name is SUSANNE CHRISTINE ANDREW

 

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The Sunshine Sirens members profile: The Empress of Fun & Frivolity (Carmen)

EMPRESS OF FUN & FRIVOLITY

 

Carmen (on the right) with her friend Brenda

Carmen"s  Red Hat name was chosen after a phone call from Sandi when they tossed a few things around with the word "FUN" in them.

 

Two quite different movies are Carmen's favourites: " Gone with the Wind "and "Grease the Musical".

She also like to read mysteries and court dramas, anything with a bit of “bite”

 

Carmen is the matriarch of a family of 3 children, 12 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.WOW! What a family. When she was a teenager she wanted to be good at whatever she achieved and has passed that onto all in her family.

 

“You've got to be joking” is her favourite saying...

 

Of course her favourite colour is purple and Carmen has 7 Red Hats and 4 Fascinators. As well as being a member of The Sunshine Sirens, Carmen is also a member of the Classic Ladies.

 

To be a great singer or musican would be her greatest fantasy.

 

In 2014 and 2015 Carmen would like to be able to travel and indulge in her favourite seafood,

maybe at  “the Spit" at Mooloolaba or in The Greek Islands.

Thats our Carmen.