For about seven years the 94-year-old has knitted Trauma Teddies for the Red Cross, which are then given to sick children or those going through a difficult experience.

She has knitted more than 300 of the comforting bears for children in need across the south-west.

Sadly, failing eyesight is forcing her to hang up the knitting needles.

The Warrnambool Gardens resident joined a social knitting group at the aged care facility that knitted more than 700 Trauma Teddies. After about four years Mrs Marr was the only member left still knitting and went on to make more than 300 teddies on her own.

“It’s something useful. Altogether we supplied 712 teddies, so that was over 700 children that we’ve helped,” she said.

“Sometimes I would knit two or three a week, depending on what else was on.”

Knitting is a craft Mrs Marr has grown to love over time and a skill that has provided many gifts for her three children, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

“I hated knitting as a child. But I started knitting again and found I was good at it and I suppose when I had children I got into it,” she said.

After hanging up the yarn, Mrs Marr now fears children will go without and is hoping others will pick up the knitting needles in her place.

“Towards the end I was the only one doing it (at Warrnambool Gardens),” she said.

“Now there’s nobody doing it, we need somebody to carry on, because the children need them.”

Red Cross zone chairman and Trauma Teddies co-ordinator Linda Carr said more volunteers were always welcome.

Volunteers supply their own wool for the teddies and the Red Cross supplies patterns and special fire-retardant stuffing.

“They are given out locally to the base hospital and some to ambulance and police,” Mrs Carr said.

“They are for children in trauma situations, they may not necessarily be hurt.”

The Red Cross greatly appreciate Mrs Marr’s efforts over her years of service.

“She was averaging about three a week, it’s a fantastic effort,” Mrs Carr said.

Anyone wanting to get involved in knitting Trauma Teddies can contact Mrs Carr on 5565 1518.

Mrs Marr has now turned to the more forgiving craft of crochet.

“I can still crochet because if I drop a stitch I’ve only got one to pick up,” she said.

Her pace has not slowed, however, and she is averaging a handmade blanket every 10 days.