Queen of the Month: Queen Bollinger

I am Queen Bollinger, born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland. I hold a Certificate IV (Graduate Degree) in Business Management from the Australian Institute of Management.

I am married, and my love story with Jim began when I was working weekends in a bar. One Sunday night, he came into the pub and asked if he could take me out for a drink. Instead, we went back to my place and stayed up talking all night until morning. Before he left, Jim took my phone number and said he would call, and we agreed to meet again on the Thursday night.

What I didn’t realise at the time was that he spent the entire Monday trying to call me—but he had accidentally swapped the last two digits of my phone number, so he couldn’t get through. On Tuesday, he phoned my workplace hoping to reach me, but I happened to be on leave that day. Then, on Wednesday, a huge bouquet of flowers arrived at my work with a message asking me to call him. I did, and that night he came over—and he never left. We were engaged just a few weeks later, and this August marks 29 years together.

Professionally, I am a Business Development Manager in the Energy Sector. My most wacky and memorable role was with Powerledger, a blockchain energy trading company, where I developed the world’s first “Peer to Beer” VB Solar Exchange program. This initiative allowed Australian homeowners with excess solar energy to trade it for VB beer by tracking and tracing every kilowatt-hour of energy from generation through to consumption.

Beyond Red Hatting, I am involved in two committees. I am an affiliate member of the Returned Services League (RSL) and the Secretary for the Australian Institute of Energy, a role in which I previously served as Chair. I absolutely love socialising and spending time with my friends.

My journey into the Red Hat Society began thanks to my best friend, Sherrill Wallis. She had seen an advertisement in the local paper looking for new members for a new chapter that had started near where we lived. A few months later, she told me she thought I would enjoy it and invited me along. I was only 41 when I joined the Red Hot Rambling Rubies, and she was absolutely right. I dove in head first, and by the time the chapter arranged the Queen’s Coronation, I was “dubbed” Vice Queen. The rest is history. Sherrill and I are still best friends, and she remains one of my trusted “Vice Squad.”

For me, the best thing about being a RHS Queen is the privilege of creating a space where women feel celebrated, connected, and free to be completely themselves. I am a natural leader who loves bringing ideas to life, so starting my own chapter and becoming Queen felt like the perfect fit. As the Scottish saying goes, “Whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye.”

My first International Convention was in New Orleans in 2011, the “Big Easy Bash.” I had never seen so many Red Hatters in one place. I went on my own as a “Gutsy Gal,” and I wasn’t even alone at the airport. While waiting during a flight delay, that was the first time I met and spoke with Sue Ellen. It was at that convention that I earned the nickname “The Thunder from Down Under.”

I keep it simple: sparkle, silliness, and sisterhood. I remind my Chapterettes that life tastes better when seasoned with laughter, a dash of mischief, and a whole lot of purple pride. We say yes to joy and no to nonsense. My pearl of wisdom is this—surround yourself with women who lift you higher, and don’t forget to adjust each other’s hats while you’re at it.

I am so grateful to be part of a group of women who bring so much joy, laughter, and sparkle wherever we go. Every gathering reminds me how important friendship, fun, and a little fabulousness truly are. Here’s to more adventures, more smiles, and many more unforgettable Red Hat moments together.