LOCAL LIFE
MAKE A DIFFERENCE: The Hills Socialites
by Lorna Gordon
You could be forgiven for thinking The Hills Socialites sounds like a reality TV show like the Real Housewives, but you would be disappointed if you were hoping for name calling or other kinds of drama on a night out with these women.
The Hills Socialites began as a way for a Mother’ s group to stay in touch and have the occasional night out and from these humble beginnings more and more women were invited to join the group until it now stands at over 1,700 members on Facebook.
When I spoke to Michelle Walker, one of the women behind the group, she
The Hills Socialites team with Mayor Michelle Byrne. explained why an informal social group is not only a fun thing to have in the Hills, but an essential service for many women.“ We have seen the group grow in last few months and I think it’ s because women are lonely and seeking friendship. As mums and women, we look after everyone in our lives and often lose contact with friends, The Hills Socialites provides a way for women to meet new people and make new friends.”
The events that are organised can be big or small, they have regular coffee catch ups for those women who work from home or have their own business as well as dinners, high tea’ s or going to community events, like fashion shows.
Michelle explained they are a very inclusive group, and any one is welcome to attend.
“ We are open to all women and don’ t discriminate against anyone. The group is a way to get out and do fun things or find people to join you if you want to go to something, for example a trip to the movies. We encourage our members to bring their mothers, sisters work mates and neighbours, it’ s really about creating a community.”
She told me that many newcomers are anxious about coming to an event on their own but assured me there is always someone to meet them and make sure they feel comfortable by introducing them to other people and helping them find their feet.
The Hills Socialites goes beyond
Get out and about instead of staying home with The Hills Socialites.
helping women make friends, one of it’ s core principles is to support local business as well. This is done with monthly business catch ups for women, so they can network and exchange ideas, but they also ensure they are going to locally owned restaurants for nights out, keeping the money they spend within the local community.
Michelle doesn’ t do all the work herself, joining her are a group of volunteers who help monitor the group and organise the events, Sandy Maldon, Naomi Stockman, Christine Johnson, Tania Kanaan, Berenice Walker, Martha Mok and Mayor Michelle Byrne. None of them get paid for their work, it’ s all done because they believe in the group and what it stands for in our community.
The group has been so successful that it has expanded into other areas, there is now a group in Penrith and the Eastern Suburbs as well. To join the Hills Socialites, you can simply look it up on Facebook and ask to join. There is no charge for becoming a member, all you do is pay for yourself at any event you go to, so you don’ t have to worry about membership fees surprising you.
So why not get out and about, meet new people and try new things? The fun awaits you with The Hills Socialites.
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 120 // JUNE 2025 11