A new friendship group has started in Penola to bring the community together.
Anne Miller has created the Penola Friendship group as a way for anyone and everyone in the Limestone Coast community to meet new friends especially in times of isolation.
“During COVID-19 there have been less things on and less opportunities for people to make friends,” Ms Miller said.
“It is going to be a very flexible group.
“It does not matter who you are; you can be of any age, have kids or no kids, you can be single or married.
“The only criteria are that you want to meet new people.
“This is a format where people can quite blatantly exchange phone numbers, organise to meet up and make new friends in a comfortable setting.”
Ms Miller said the first gathering of the Penola Friendship Group was a turnout of 10 people that took place around her kitchen table on a Monday night.
“It gave me the idea to open the group up to a 100km radius around Penola rather than just for Penola people, because often new friendships are a bit more spread out, especially here in the country,” she said.
“We are all prepared to drive the distance if we meet the right people so I did not want people to feel as if they cannot come because they do not live in Penola especially those who may feel isolated.”
The next event for the Penola Friendship group will be on the Sunday, October 31 from 1-3pm at the Brands Laira Winery.
“The weather should be nice and the food there is wonderful so people can buy some lunch, do a wine tasting or buy a glass of wine, whatever they would like,” Ms Miller said.
People can register for this event by joining the Penola Friendship Group on Facebook and putting their name down.
Ms Miller said she would love if friendship groups were something that took off in other towns.
“I think it is an especially great idea because often friendship groups are associated with a church, business, club etc. whereas this has no obligations or affiliation at all, it is purely to meet other people,” she said.
“I am excited about it and looking forward to meeting more people and for other individuals to make connections and potentially new friendships.”
