Crafty ladies sending warmth to charities

 

When Joyce Arthur moved into Boambee Gardens Retirement Village in Sawtell nine years ago, she joined the village craft group to keep busy and meet people.
At the time, she didn’t realise just how much of a difference the group would make to disadvantaged people across Australia.
The Boambee Gardens craft group donates to many local charities in and around Coffs Harbour, and recently knitted beautiful shrugs (a combination of shawl and rug) for chemotherapy patients as well as vests and caps to keep the premature babies warm in hospital.
“When I moved into Boambee Gardens, there were so many ladies in the craft group that you had to go early to make sure you got a seat in the community centre,” Joyce says.
“Things have quietened down a bit now, but we still meet weekly to knit and have a chat about which charity to donate our woollen items to.
“When I heard about the Black Saturday bushfires, I rang a local Victorian school to ask if they needed anything.”
Sadly, 13 local families had lost their houses and all belongings in the 2009 bushfire.
The school principal mentioned to Joyce that children would appreciate anything that the craft ladies made for them.
“We knitted scarves and caps for the school children and they were delighted!”
“We rely on donations and anything that we can use to make clothes. I keep all the wool in my double garage so that we always have a good supply.