By KATH GANNAWAY
THE work of more than 40 Country Women’s Association members, along with contributions from other community craft groups from around the Yarra Valley feature in Home Comforts to the Front, a patchwork and textile exhibition that opened at The Memo in Healesville on Friday night.
Presented by the CWA’s Wanallock Branch, it’s a WWI Centenary exhibition that looks at a very different aspect of the war, focusing on the work and the role of the women back home.
It’s a little-known story presented through contemporary pieces and treasured family WWI mementos.
Co-ordinator, Wanda McPherson, said thousands of items of clothing, including socks and sheepskin vests were sent overseas on the troop ships.
The exhibition includes contemporary textiles and original hand-made items that were sent to husbands and family members to provide comfort while they were overseas.
Original WWI knitting patterns will be presented as well as reproductions of these items that demonstrate the skills of the artists.
Mrs McPherson said many of the exhibits have personal stories attached to them and added that researching and making the items had been an emotional undertaking for many of the women.
She said the exhibition was an eclectic collection that would appeal to people of different ages and interests.
“A lot of exhibitions and events throughout the early part of this year have focused on the major role the men played and the conflict and I think now we can step back and reflect on the contributions women made,” she said.
The exhibition was funded by the Federal Government ANZAC Centenary Local Grants Program and was officially opened by Casey MP, Tony Smith.
Mrs McPherson thanked both the Federal Government and Yarra Ranges Council for supporting the project, which she said had enabled it to be presented as a free exhibition.
Home Comforts to the Front will be on show until Tuesday, 17 November. Visit www.culturetracks.info for more information.
