Ruby anniversary for quilters

By Lachlan Ellis

A local quilters group has marked the 40th anniversary of its founding, with the President hoping to attract more young people and textiles students in the future.

The Bacchus Marsh Friendship Quilters (BMFQ) celebrated 40 years on ’Ruby’ Tuesday 12 July, with around 20 members gathering at The Laurels on Main Street.

A competition was also held, with the best ruby red design winning a bundle of red fabrics, as ruby is the gemstone for a 40th anniversary.

BMFQ President Lyn Hendry is one of the three remaining founding members, along with Christine Hallet and Barbara Day, who were unable to attend the anniversary event.

Ms Hendry said it was incredible to be marking 40 years of the group’s existence, thanking its committed members for keeping the group going.

“It’s the older generation that are the stayers and keep coming. It’s a learning group, a nurturing group…if you don’t know what to do, members will sit with you and help you to get started,” she told the Moorabool News.

“I don’t think many other groups get to this stage, we’re pretty lucky. But we haven’t had an exhibition in a while due to COVID…I’d like for us to hold one soon, and get younger people involved. We’d love to engage with schools, kids doing textiles, and get their work on display.”

BMFQ Secretary Tineke Carr said the social aspect of the group was just as important as the quilting workshops themselves.

“The learning and the camaraderie for everybody is really important. It’s not just a quilting group, it’s a place for people to connect and chat. You don’t have to make quilts while you’re here, you can just come to chat…we have a few members that come here just to talk,” Ms Carr said.

“There’s a lot of work involved in running a group…you need people to step up and help, and we’re really fortunate that we have good people here.”

With the Quilters’ decades of existence has come dozens of donations, with quilts given to aged care residents, and proceeds from quilt sales going to worthy causes including, but certainly not limited to, the McGrath Foundation, Meals on Wheels, and the Leukemia Foundation.

The BMFQ also make breast care bags for women who have had mastectomies, to keep drainage tubes out of sight.

“Last month we also had the Biggest Morning Tea, we raised $600 for them. We continuously have raffles, and over Christmas we usually give our money to the neighbourhood house. We’re giving to the community quite often,” Ms Hendry added.

The first official meeting held by the group was on 23 November 1982 – though it had unofficial meetings and workshops prior to that date.

For more information on the BMFQ, visit www.bacchusquilters.org.au, email [email protected], or pop into one of the group’s meetings held every second Tuesday of the month.