Making new friends can sometimes be a challenge, but the New Settlers Group in Penola is here to help make that a bit easier.

A New Settlers Group barbecue event will be held on Saturday, March 26 at the Memorial Garden on Church Street in Penola.

Local resident Anne Miller created the New Settlers Group last year to give people an opportunity to socialise and meet new friends.

Ms Miller hosted a house party and – after the success of this first event – has organised two social gatherings since, including a Christmas party.

The events are not exclusive to people who have just moved to Penola and are open to anyone who wants to meet new people and make friends in the town.

“It has been very nice, we have had people come from Mount Gambier and Millicent,” Ms Miller said.

“I think it is just a different way of meeting people.”

The barbecue will run from 1pm until 3:30pm and attendees just need to bring meat, salad to share, drinks and a chair.

“(The name) ‘New Settlers’ implies that we are here to stay, but we are new and we want to settle into being a part of the community,” Ms Miller said.

The New Settlers Group events will be held every four to six weeks and Ms Miller said they were a good opportunity to start socialising again after COVID prevented this for some time.

“It has been fun,” she said.

“I really do look forward to it.”