ON the first and third Thursday of every month, about a dozen women get together for craft, coffee, and a chat.<\/p>\n
Meeting at the Brown Hill Uniting Church, the group was formed by congregation members with the aim of providing a social outlet for women in the region.<\/p>\n
Church treasurer Judy Wainewright established the get-togethers about six years ago following the passing of her husband.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got approval from the church council to start running these. There was definitely a need for this sort of thing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe make all sorts of things. I do some patchwork, bags, cross-stitch. A lot of us knit, and knit for fun. Put it like this, you can knit and talk at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since forming, the sessions have grown from eight to 12 regular attendees.<\/p>\n
Liz Mason is the church\u2019s secretary and also one of the founders of the group. She brought in three members of the old Brown Hill Country Women\u2019s Association, where she was also a member.<\/p>\n
Ms Mason said she always looks forward to potentially meeting new people in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a friendship group,\u201d she said. \u201cMost of us live alone. We\u2019re aware now that loneliness is an issue in the community and we feel this is something the church group can address.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI probably wouldn\u2019t meet some of the members of our community if it weren\u2019t for this. One of our newer members needed a push to join but she\u2019s really enjoying herself now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Wainewright said their get-togethers have gone beyond their initial aim.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the women knit for charity,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a couple ladies who knit scarves for the Soup Bus and that sort of thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother lady makes knitted dolls for children in hospitals.\u201d<\/p>\n
The get-togethers generally cost a gold coin which are pooled together to be donated once a year to the Brown Hill kindergarten.<\/p>\n
The coffee, craft and chat group meets fortnightly from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ON the first and third Thursday of every month, about a dozen women get together for craft, coffee, and a chat. Meeting at the Brown Hill Uniting Church, the group was formed by congregation members with the aim of providing a social outlet for women in the region. Church treasurer Judy Wainewright established the get-togethers […]<\/p>\n