By MELISSA MEEHAN
IT’S NOT a patch on her short life, but this quilt brings together the memories of Gillian Conrad’s caring and vibrant personality.
Gill, a vet nurse and clinic manager, died suddenly two years ago from an asthma attack, aged just 31.
Born and bred in Healesville, Gill was living in Woori Yallock when she passed away and her bubbly personality touched all those she came across, according to her mum, Annette.
She even started her own foundation to help children and animals with challenging lives called Gillian’s Rainbow Bridge.
“We wanted to celebrate her life as well as help her foundation,” Annette said.
“She just loved animals and children.
“And the response has been touching.”
A memory quilt in honour of Ms Conrad now hangs in the corridors of the Badger Creek Primary School before it’s taken to the Quilt Showcase at the Victorian Quilters Show in Melbourne in the last week of July.
“The quilt is made from 105 blocks, all telling a story about Gill,” Annette said.
“We had people as young as five and as old as 90 making their own patch in honour of Gill, even someone from Denmark.”
Annette said Gillian’s death was sudden and unexpected.
“She saved her house on Black Saturday and then died three years later on the exact date, the seventh of February,” Annette said.
“It was a fatal asthma attack, but she’d never been an asthmatic.”
Annette said it was lovely to see the community come together to share their stories about Gill and while the idea was to get each patch sponsored, the more it came together everyone hated the idea of parting with the quilt.
She said the patches not only showed how Gill touched people’s lives, but there was also room on the back for people to write messages.
“We’re going to make a book with the messages and, hopefully, can raise some money for the foundation that way.”
