Croydon photographer Linda Willmott is Maroondah’s unofficial socialite

If there’s an event happening in the outer east, chances are Linda Willmott will be there. Ms Willmott, who suffered personal heartbreak a decade ago, has reinvented herself as Maroondah’s unofficial socialite.

Croydon's Linda Willmott with state MPs James Merlino and David Hodgett.

A happy-snapping Croydon woman who loves supporting events is having another big year as Maroondah’s unofficial socialite.

Linda Willmott is a regular at the Maroondah Business Group’s meetings and other events around Maroondah and Melbourne.

She often whips out her camera to take pictures of attendees and special guests and puts them on her Facebook page.

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“I’m not a professional photographer; I’m the fun photographer,” Ms Willmott said.

“I just love to go out, be social and enjoy people’s company and promote what people are doing.

“It makes me happy to make people happy.”

Linda Willmott with music mogul Michael Gudinski.

Ms Willmott morphed into a social butterfly after enduring personal heartache nine years ago, when her husband Terry died.

She sold their hobby farm in the Yarra Valley and moved to Croydon to start a new life.

“All my children had left home, and I thought, I need to get out there and do things,” Ms Willmott said.
“Everyone became welcoming, and it progressed from there.”

“It’s always taking that first one (photo) that’s an icebreaker, and then I can’t stop.

Linda Willmott with former Australian Of The Year Rosie Batty.

Ms Willmott said she liked bringing people together through her event photography and making those who don’t know anyone feel welcome.

She said attending community events also helped boost her social and professional networks.

Ms Willmott said she knew the challenges of putting on a successful event and wanted to support people.

“I know how important it is to get people there to attend and make the wheels turn at functions,” she said.

“I’ll go to lunches, sporting events, music events, everything … and I’m always supporting the local MPs and the council.

“People need to know what’s going on, and I like to show people what’s going on and what they can be doing in the community.”

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