Community
15 April, 2026
Hats and high tea a hit
PORT Campbell’s inaugural Hats and High Tea event hosted to raise money for Good Friday went off without a hitch, bringing in over $6000 for the appeal.
The Hats and High Tea event was formed through ideas from local milliner Sue Younis and Port Campbell Country Fire Authority (CFA) members Sarah-Jane Walsh and Katy Millard, who thought about having a high tea on Good Friday to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Port Campbell fire brigade community engagement officer Sarah-Jane Walsh said the event was “amazing” and through ticket sales and their silent auction they were able to bring in thousands of dollars for the appeal.
“The event went swimmingly, it was amazing, we ended up raising from that event alone around $6500,” she said.
“The captain of the CFA that afternoon still went around andrattled the tin around town, so the town itself then raised another $1500 or so, so the total for the town was $8100, which is not bad for a town of about 500 people.
“We’re really pleased, it came together wonderfully – we had a lot of tea and scones.
“The hat parade went swimmingly, it was just terrific.
“Sue Younis had her models, who were also attendees of the event, walk around our tables showing her latest creations.”
Ms Walsh said the room was filled with excited attendees enjoying tea and scones while taking part in the day’s theme.
“We had on each table, courtesy of one of our locals here Tanya White, vintage hats, gloves and beads, so there was a very distinct hat theme,” she said.
“One of our other locals, Anne-Marie Harris, also decorated the room to support the theme.
“We had ladies oohing and aahing over Sue’s creations as they were walking through the room.
“We had a wonderful and very moving speech from Penne Reidl – her son has been looked after at the Royal Children’s Hospital for the last three years, he’s had leukemia.
“I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place when she was talking about her experience.”
Ms Walsh said the day was perfect for the event, which garnered a lot of community interest.
“We had lots of fun and laughter looking at the hats and had spot prizes – people looked under their chairs and some of them received a spot prize which was also good fun,” she said.
“Our silent auction also created much interest.
“It was a beautiful day looking out on the bay – it was terrific and it was a beautiful excuse for the community to get together.
“It was a lot of fun and it was for a good cause so what more could you ask.”
As part of the event, many local businesses stepped forward to donate their time and produce for the good of the cause.
“I have to do a shout out to REAL Pizza, Pasta and Salads because Kylie Treble, who runs REAL Pizza, she worked tirelessly in the kitchen and otherwise we would have just been sitting around there having a chat,” Ms Walsh said.
“The food that she helped prepare, all of it which was donated by various businesses including herself, she assembled it all.
“Everybody had a gorgeous plate of not only jam, cream and scones, but also lamingtons, calzones, sausage rolls, cheese from Saputo – just all sorts of goodies and nobody went away hungry, it was lovely.”
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