The group meet every Wednesday morning at Rochester Community House to socialise and share their love of knitting and crocheting.
Rochester Rotary Club president Heather Watson came to the club, asking if they would be interested in creating teddy bears for the Rochester branch of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The ‘trauma bears’ are designed as a source of comfort for children who use the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and are hand-knitted and stuffed.
Member Kathy Williams said the group embraced the initiative and has found joy in creating the bears.
“A couple of ladies have taken on the project very passionately,” she said.
“One lady, each time she knits a teddy, she gets her little granddaughter, and she gives the teddy a little goodbye hug.”
Since beginning the project around three months ago, the knitters have filled two large tubs with teddies, totalling about 70 bears.
This has been more than enough for the Rochester branch, with some of the teddies being sent to soothe children further afield.
Royal Flying Doctor Service volunteers Robyn Lucas and Greg Laurie met with the group, where they picked up the bears ready for service.
The club usually work on individual craft projects at their weekly catchups, but share yarn, needles, patterns and stories together. They also collaborate for the annual Rochester Shire Hall Christmas tree, which they are already knitting squares for.
Before the floods, around five or six knitters would come regularly. Since then, there are about 15 or 16 who join each week.
“Since the floods, I think people just need that support,” Mrs Williams said.
“I think just generally knitting and crocheting gives comfort to people.”
New members are always welcome to join the group, who meet on Wednesday mornings from 10am to 12pm at Rochester Community House.
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