Our Craft Group spent lockdown knitting teddy bears for a charity that provides the soft toys to traumatised children. They are called trauma teddies. The batch pictured were collected by Leanne Wilson, Social Connections Officer from Nillumbik Council, when lockdown ended.

As Leanne said, “It was lovely to meet you the other week when I collected the trauma teddies. I believe the last batch of teddies were distributed to children arriving from Afghanistan, so definitely a good cause. Please pass on our thanks to all the wonderful people knitting these teddies.“

Each Friday afternoon, members of the Craft Group meet at the Hurstbridge Bowling club for a few hours of industrious and convivial activity during which craft skills, techniques and handy hints are shared and practised. The members create beautifully crafted articles, most of which are donated to local charities. The group makes cushions and crochets or knits outfits for babies – bootees, bonnets and cardigans – which are sold at the Austin Hospital Gift shop to raise money for the purchase of hospital equipment. Small, brightly coloured knitted sets of caps and jumpers are made and donated to a charity that works in Myanmar.

Apart from the donated articles, the group members regularly add spare change to a collection tin and the contents are forwarded to the Children’s Hospital. Members also share patterns and ideas to make; for example: oven mitts, delightful stuffed toy bears (hanging bears), intricate embroidery work, and handy carry bags made from recycling jeans.

The warm and welcoming atmosphere of this group is enhanced by the afternoon cuppa and cake during which the members claim they ‘knit, stitch and chat’. They claim they don’t do anything that rhymes with ‘stitch’!