Cobram Quilters club members have rolled up their sleeves to lend a hand to the people of Rochester and surrounding areas who were affected by last year’s floods.
The group, which meets up every fourth Sunday of every month from February to November at the Yarroweyah Hall and the Cobram Community House every second Friday of the month from February to November, has approximately 25 members.
Group president Margaret Andrew said group members came from all walks of life.
“The group has a fantastic atmosphere. We are very supportive, we are a very social group, we learn from each other and share ideas.”
The members all have a range of skills and include two who have won awards at the Numurkah Rotary Art and Craft Show and the Royal Melbourne Show respectively.
Mrs Andrew said when the floods hit Rochester, group members knew that they had to help.
“We love making quilts and felt that it was the best way to help people who have lost all their possessions. We wanted to let them know that we care”.
“We’ve made roughly 75 quilts for the people affected by the floods in the Rochester area.”
Mrs Andrew said the group would continue to help those in Rochester affected by the floods and thanked those who had assisted the group.
“We appreciate all those who helped by sewing, donated fabric, blocks, partly made quilts and completed quilts. This project will be ongoing until the cooler weather when quilts will be distributed,” she said.
The Rochester floods are far from the first disaster the Cobram Quilters have helped respond to.
The group donated 68 quilts to the Corryong community after bushfires devastated the area.
The Cobram Quilters also regularly donate quilts to GV Family Care and the Snuggly Quilts Program which distributes them to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Mrs Andrew said the group welcomed all donations of supplies to make the quilts donated.
The group president said the group also made quilts for themselves using the club’s own supplies.
“We also make quilts for ourselves and to extend our skills.”
As for people contemplating joining the group, Mrs Andrew said they should give it a go.
“We invite them to come along and join us. They don’t have to commit to joining us prior to meeting us.”
The Cobram Quilters will be exhibiting at the upcoming Cobram Rotary Expo in April.