VALENTINE’S Day won’t be lonely any more for a Hoppers Crossing couple who met through a singles club aimed at residents in the West.
Debbie Pooles, 33, and Justin Reschky, 40, both divorced, met less than a year ago through the agency, Party Approach.
They are now engaged.
Both say it was important any new partner they found was from the West.
“I’m based here, my kids are here and it wouldn’t make sense for me to start seeing someone from the other side of the city,” said Debbie, a retail worker.
Werribee businesswoman Sharon Arnold set up Party Approach in 2005, when she became frustrated trying to meet single men in the West after she divorced.
“The more well-known groups get together on the other side of Melbourne, and then you end up meeting someone from Mulgrave,” she said.
Ms Arnold, who has since found a new partner who helps with the club, said there was also a social stigma associated with singles from the West.
“People from the south east suburbs still don’t get that we chose to live here and we want to live here,” she said.
“There’s still an expectation that you’ll meet them on their side, or in the city.”
About 100 singles in the West are now Party Approach members.
They meet for weekly outings ranging from dances in Williamstown, karaoke in Footscray or a barbecue at a member’s home in Maribyrnong.
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The cost to join is $65, and for each outing there is an $8.50 attendance fee.
“I tried to keep the costs down to make it as accessible to as many people as possible,” Ms Arnold said.
Members are aged from 29 to 62, but typically in their late 30s to early 50s.
Many are divorced with children and have few opportunities to meet new people.
“The traditional ways don’t work any more,” Ms Arnold said.
“In newer suburbs, people don’t even know their neighbours these days.”
Since the agency started, Party Approach has made 10 successful matches and forged countless friendships.
“Even if they don’t get dates, our members meet some good friends, get their confidence back and establish new networks,” Ms Arnold said.
Mr Reschky, a father of three boys, said after his marriage of 12 years broke up it took him several years to “get back out there”.
“I noticed Debbie straightaway at the first event, but it took a few functions until I had the confidence to really sit down and talk to her,” he said.
As for Ms Pooles, a mother of two, she has a girlfriend and a cousin to thank for bringing her to the first meeting.
“I had given up and thought that this was it,” she said.
“I knew it would be very difficult to get the right guy and someone who would be accepting of someone else’s kids, but I got lucky.”
For more informtion on Party Approach, contact Sharon Arnold on 0417 055 445 or visit www.partyapproach.com.au.
