By Jamie Furness
The Forest Lake Crochet and Knitting Group have spent the past 11 years creating quality handmade items to donate to people in need and raise funds for charitable causes.
Every Thursday from 9 am – 12 pm, more than 40 dedicated volunteers enjoy great company and conversation over their crochet and knitting projects at the Durack-Inala Bowls Club.
In 2024, the group donated funds from the sale of handmade items to the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), as well as giving much-needed items to Let’s Give for babies affected by domestic violence.
Group coordinator Sue Gibbens said the club kept themselves very busy this year by creating a huge variety of items for charity.
“We made knee rugs for Aveo, and we gave them gloves and twiddle balls that we make for dementia patients,” Sue said.
“Then went to Street Life and we gave them beanies and scarves, rugs, baby clothes, toys and things like that.”
They recently also made red poppies for the RSL to sell and raise funds at their stalls.
They also extended their support to a smaller charity crochet group located in Casino, NSW, by completing their unfinished projects when the coordinator retired and the group suddenly closed down.
Over the past 11 years, group members have created a huge variety of items to sell and donate, including rugs and clothes for children up to age 12 for Baby Give Back, RSL poppies, possum pods and pouches for wild animals needing rehabilitation, animal rugs for the Animal Welfare League, trauma teddies for the police, mittens, rugs and scarves for Bikers Making a Difference, and items for palliative care patients in hospital.
Sue said the Forest Lake community had shown great support by donating yarn in the donation box located outside Woolworths at the Forest Lake Shopping Centre.
“All community donations of yarn provided in the donation box outside Woolworths have been and will continue to be greatly appreciated,” Sue said.
Group members also attended several Forest Lake market events, where the community supported them by purchasing items for sale.
For more information about joining or supporting the Forest Lake Crochet and Knitting Group, contact Sue Gibbens on 07 3279 9561.
