General News
17 April, 2023
Hats off to Pauline
If Dimboola Probus Club is planning to have lunch in Halls Gap during its outing next month it should also visit James McMurtrie's glass blowing studio, guest speaker and hat designer Pauline Thomson says. Ms Thomson shared the tip with club members...
If Dimboola Probus Club is planning to have lunch in Halls Gap during its outing next month it should also visit James McMurtrie's glass blowing studio, guest speaker and hat designer Pauline Thomson says.
Ms Thomson shared the tip with club members at their April meeting as they prepared for their upcoming activity trip in May.
She suggested her own club, East Horsham Ladies Probus, had previously visited and thoroughly enjoyed the studio.
Ms Thomson retired two years ago and now dedicates her time to making hats, which is her passion.
She is undoubtedly stylish, as proven by the new collection of hats she showcased to members of the Dimboola club.
Members agreed that the glass blowing studio might be a great addition to their trip.
Ms Thomson, who had two hats featured at Royal Ascot last year and has outlets for her hats in Port Arlington and Hamilton, among other towns, calls herself a "hat stylist".
She is self-trained and has a passion for color, and what she enjoyed most was making people look great, she said.
Ms Thomson attributes her love of style to her mother.
"I like nothing better than to dream away the time in bed devising new hats," she said.
She sources her fabrics and nets online.
Preparations for the Wimmera Steampunk Festival in Dimboola were currently her top priority, she said.
"What I like about Steampunk is that there are no rules to what you can do.
"Men are moving to hats for Steampunk, too.
"Sometimes the finished product can be a surprise."
Ms Thomson awarded president Joy Nelson first prize for "Best Easter Bonnet".
Ms Nelson's bonnet was adorned with tiny bunnies "dancing on her head".
In other news, Ms Nelson thanked Ian Lehmann for opening up his Music Museum to a select group of Dimboola Probus Club members.
Members, all in bonnets themselves, enjoyed tea with hot cross buns and received chocolate eggs.