Social club salutes good times and calls it a day

After 58 years, a women’s social group has gathered for the last time in Geraldton.

Since 1960 members have met to celebrate each other’s birthdays, but some are now struggling to make the effort.

“Everyone’s starting to get a bit old, and a lot are suffering health problems,” spokesman Jill Chester said.

“A lot of us are on frames and walking sticks.”

The 80-year-old said throughout the years the informal group had grown from “eight or nine” members to nearly 20.

“We were a group of close neighbours living in Beachlands — that’s how it started,” she said.

Recently the group held their last get-together to celebrate Christmas, as well as the birthdays of members Betty Gammi, who also turned 80, along with Jill Chester.

Mrs Chester said while she was sad to call it a day, the time was right. “We’ve made a lot of friends over the years and a lot of the kids became friends too,” she said.