Real Housewives bring Bellarine women together

THE Real Housewives of the Bellarine are bringing women in the local community together and supporting the area’s small businesses at the same time.

Group members come together around four to six times a month, meeting at businesses around the region and enjoying each other’s company.

Inspired by a friend’s book club in London, Diane Chan Connell started the social group last year when she was feeling isolated after moving to the area with her husband.

“We found ourselves on the 13th Beach Golf Course in Barwon Heads, living there, and it was really hard to meet people from the golf course,” she said.

“When it started, I was just trying to make friends in the Bellarine and then all of a sudden there just became hundreds of us.”

In July 2023, the group held their first event – four people for drinks in Barwon Heads – and the group has grown in size to about 900 members almost a year later.

Using her e-commerce background, Ms Chan Connell made a website for tickets as members continued to grow, with some venues requiring group deposits.

Most event attendees are aged between 30 and 75, attending a range of gatherings from lunches and dinners through to fitness and wellness events and everything in between.

What started out as a way to connect local women has evolved into supporting small businesses, and in particular female small businesses.

“I love supporting the business and being like we’re going to bring 20 people to your business on a day when they are going to have two,” Ms Chan Connell said.

“If we can help someone, a new young business, or an older business that’s struggling, that’s what we’ll try to do.”

Their most recent gathering was held at Na Zdravi on Friday last week, where nine members came together for pizza and wine.

Ms Chan Connell said one of her favourite things about the group was knowing she always had a group of friends to get together and witnessing other members making connections.

“Even better, when I see contacts being exchanged to meet up again. Bringing people together is incredibly satisfying.

She also enjoys exploring the venues around the Bellarine with others who are new to region, while supporting small businesses.

“That night at Na Zdravi, for example, we injected $500 into a restaurant that many not have seen it otherwise.”

For more information and to check out their coming events, head to rhobp.com