By Callum Ludwig
The ‘fabric hugs’ of the Quilts for Orphans (QFO) group in Hoddles Creek are on display at the Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead.
The Quilt and Craft show is being held in the gallery from Saturday 4 to Sunday 12 November, with exception of a closure on Monday and Tuesday for cup weekend.
QFO Secretary Deb Woodward said there are quilts for purchase, quilts for display and quilts that will go to kids in need.
“The love and passion starts right from the beginning of the piecing because every person involved in the stage knows that it’s going to a child and the love and passion, somehow it travels with the quilt,” she said.
“We just know when we give it to kids they immediately just wrap it around themselves because everyone likes something soft and warm and when it’s bright and colourful it’s cheerful,”
Since it started back in 2007, over 5500 quilts have been given to people in Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Timor Leste, as well as in Mooroolbark, Warburton and Frankston.
QFO President Annette Stone said quilts symbolise shelter and warmth.
“It’s something that you can have for a long time, and we sat down one day and tried to work out all the ways you could use a quilt and we were getting up near the hundreds,” she said.
“It’s something a kid can call theirs and that belongs to them, especially as they might have been in a situation where all their goods and items have been washed away in a flood or where they’ve been had to leave home in a hurry because of a war situation.”
Quilts have been sent over the years to organisations like the Australian Syrian Association, Mahboba’s Promise and Change The One, as well to be used at the Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Children’s Hospital.
Ms Woodward said the group has grown exponentially in recent times.
“We now have 70 members, it’s a nice place and a nice way to spend your time and for a group our size, we’ve got every cog that’s needed to run smoothly,” she said.
New members have come from across the region, including Yarra Junction, Warburton, Powelltown and Healesville to the hall in Hoddles Creek which the group call home and which they have made upgrades to in recent times.
It’s not only quilts available at the show, with an array of Christmas crafts, clothes, craft books, magazines and fabrics available, as well as a raffle to win a Christmas-themed quilt, a quilted beanbag or a quilt from the Samsui district of China.
Entry to the gallery at the Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead to see the show is free.
