Generous hearts of the Ladies Craft Group have been busy sewing 40 flags for the 40th folk festival in Port Fairy.
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Judy Roberts, a member since 1990, said the group had offered to make the flags to save the Folk Festival from having to purchase them individually.
“We knew it would be cheaper for us to make them, so we said we would,” she said.
“As you can see they’re quite large. We had to temporarily move into the folk festival shed just for the space.”
We love talking. We do lots of talking. We’re a social lot.
- Judy Roberts
The Port Fairy Ladies Craft Group have been coming together for more than six years to knit, crochet, sew and quilt.
Donating everything they create, the lively ladies meet every Thursday to craft various projects and to socialise.
“We do all sorts of things,” Ms Roberts said.
“A while ago someone gave us a whole bunch of material and we made quilts.
“We gave one or two to the Men’s Shed for a raffle and we sent others down to a hospital in Melbourne.”
Multiple patterns, colours and materials lined the tables in the ladies work space coupled by the hum of sewing machines and friendly banter.
“We love talking. We do lots of talking. We’re a social lot,” Ms Roberts said.
Putting aside $2 a week each for membership, the ladies choose a local charity to donate to at the end of each year.
Past years have seen donations go towards the State Emergency Service, Surf Club, Lelia Rose Foundation, the Moyneyana Festival and the Country Fire Authority.
“We sit down and discuss who we’re going to donate to each year. We like it to stay in the town,” Ms Roberts said.
“Sometimes it’s only $100 or $200 but it’s the little bits that count.”
Last year the Ladies Craft Group donated a framed wreath of more than 100 hand-crafted poppies to the Port Fairy RSL.
The ladies all agreed that it was the company and companionship that kept them coming back each week.
Jan Petersen, a member for more than five years, said it was the friendships that was her most favourite aspect of the group.
“All the ladies are lovely,” Ms Petersen said.
“And we always welcome new people.”
Sharing a space, the Ladies Craft Group have been part of the Port Fairy Men’s Shed for six years.