Pink Fashion Lunch: Samantha Armytage praises the sisterhood for speaking up

In her first public role since stepping away from Sunrise, Samantha Armytage has said she is proud of the “sisterhood” as women speak out about harassment and assault.

In her first public role since stepping away from co-hosting Sunrise, Samantha Armytage has told the Pink Fashion Lunch at Rosehill Gardens she was proud of the “sisterhood” as women speak out about harassment and assault.

Speaking at the lunch on Saturday, Armtage said women supporting other women was more important than ever.

Samantha Armytage and husband Richard Lavender at Chandon Ladies Day at Rosehill Gardens. Picture: Hanna Lassen/Getty Images

“I think this is a really important time for women, this is a huge time in society and the dawning of a new era,” she said.

“There is a sisterhood out there, and that’s wonderful. I think, in general, women really do support other women.”

Oscar nominee Rachel Griffiths headlined the list of VIPs at the lunch, the first major marquee outing to be held in Sydney since the pandemic ravaged last year’s racing season and one of the first big social events for 2021.

Actress Rachel Griffiths. Pictures: David Swift

Athlete Candice Warner.

Not surprisingly, pink was the colour du jour, with Candice Warner leading the fashion pack in a bubblegum-pink frilled dress which she said was inspired by her motto: “Go bright, go bold, go big and have fun.”

Griffiths bucked the pink dress code but still turned heads in a white pant suit with a striking red and blue star-spangled shirt.

Former cricketer Glen McGrath and wife Sara Leonardi.

Cricketer Steve Smith and wife Dani Willis.

Aussie Test star Steve Smith, sans socks, teamed a dark-pink jacket with skinny pants, while wife Dani Willis rocked an impressively wide set of shoulder pads.

Griffiths, who is just about to begin filming season 2 of her Amazon series The Wilds on the Gold Coast, said the races were one of her favourite parts of Australian culture, especially since directing the film Ride Like A Girl about female Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne.

Milliner Viktoria Novak.

TV presenter Samantha Armytage.

“I was really inspired by Michelle’s story, and I didn’t know a lot about racing, but one of the gifts of that film is now how much I love this aspect of our culture,” she said.

“I particularly like Rosehill, it’s my favourite track in Australia because it’s where the country and city meet.

“I might be considered an urban elite and at the track those boundaries are open, you hear regional stories … and I think that’s really important that we have these social institutions that bring people who are very different together.”

The Pink Ladies Lunch, which raises money for the McGrath Foundation to support breastcare nurses, saw around 500 women and men from all parts of the country put their best foot forward.