Te Awamutu Altrusa fundraiser to be about friends, frocks and frivolity

Friends, Frocks and Frivolity organiser Paula Walsh sorts through some of the items that will be for sale at the Altrusa fundraiser. Photo / Dean Taylor

New Te Awamutu Altrusa member Paula Walsh is looking to make an impact on the fundraising efforts for 2024 - she is organising an event that proved successful as part of her business in the past.

Friends, Frocks and Frivolity is a predominantly girls’ night out that caters to two things many women love: socialising and shopping.

Walsh came up with the idea to hold more events for women, just for the joy of being together, when she and her husband Shane owned a homestead called the Monastery in Tamahere.

The home was a B&B and also a venue for a number of arts events, such as concerts, floristry shows and workshops, art exhibitions and workshops - and Friends, Frocks and Frivolity, which she ran with her sister-in-law.

Now the couple have moved home to Te Awamutu and Walsh will run the event from her Wallace Terrace home for Altrusa.

The concept is simple: Altrusa members are collecting a range of fashion clothing, accessories, shoes and handbags which will be displayed at Walsh’s home and available for sale.

As well as shopping, attendees will be able to enjoy a glass of wine and canapes to start the evening, and a hot drink and something sweet to end it.

“It is a completely relaxed atmosphere,” said Walsh.

“Everyone has a chance to talk, network, browse and try things on.”

The displays are in the main rooms and bedrooms and bathrooms are set aside for fitting rooms.

Walsh says the items for sale are all labelled, fashionable, classic or vintage - high-end clothes and accessories.

“We ran the event twice pre-Covid and the feedback was positive,” said Walsh.

“Part of the success was having other women, many previously unknown to each other, encouraging, helping and complimenting new friends about their look.”

The fundraising is for My Mental Health Toolbox - a pocket-sized booklet to help people struggling with their mental health, created by Ruby Gibb, who was a recent guest speaker at an Altrusa meeting.

Gibb, who has a degree in psychology, also has links to Te Awamutu - her mother was a school friend of Shane and Paula’s and a neighbour of the Walsh family.

She was compelled to create the booklet after becoming concerned about a family member’s mental health.

My Mental Health Toolbox is designed to remind people of some tips and tricks to help them through their struggles.

Tickets to Friends, Frocks and Frivolity are limited to 50, but people can also assist by making donations of fashion items.

The event is on Friday, July 19. Altrusa members are busy sorting items and will accept donations until July 15.

All details are on the Te Awamutu Altrusa Facebook page, including ticket information.

To donate, message Walsh from Facebook to arrange a meeting.

Dean Taylor is a community journalist with over 35 years experience and is editor of the Te Awamutu Courier and Waikato Herald.