One local group of women have taken their love for knitting and crocheting and found a way to provide comfort to children in distress.
Hooked On Yarn, as they are affectionately known, are doing this by making trauma teddies for small boys and girls — soft toys reminding them to remain strong.
The group based at Riverstone Neighbourhood Centre recently donated nearly 30 teddies to Windsor police who say they will give some to Richmond’s The Women’s Cottage — a community based support and resource centre, run by women, for women and their children who live, work or study in the Hawkesbury local government area and its immediate surrounds.
Inspector Peter Jenkins, a duty officer whose roles include customer service and mental health at Hawkesbury local area command, said: ‘‘I’ve spoken to Imelda, one of the caseworkers at the Women’s Cottage, so when the ladies come in with domestic issues and they have children with them they’ll be given a trauma teddy.
‘‘A precious gift for any child who is distressed’
- Diane Fairweather
‘‘We’ll also keep some here [at Windsor Police Station] for children who, unfortunately, come into our care.
‘‘The ladies have done a magnificent job.
‘‘It’s all for the kids. Anything we can do to reduce their trauma, that’s what we’re here for.
Lorraine West, the coordinator of aged care - social support at Riverstone Neighbourhood Centre, said: ‘‘One of the ladies in our group had a connection with the police and that’s when they said they actually need some trauma teddies.
‘‘It’s the first time we’ve done this. They started making them about August.’’
The group’s handiwork has not gone unnoticed, with many a resident singing their praises on the Hawkebury LAC Facebook page.
‘‘What beautiful kind-hearted ladies; your hard work is appreciated dearly,’’ Rochelle Norman posted.
‘‘. . . kindness and love in action — well done ladies and police officers’’
- Heather Burrough
‘‘We own one of these teddies and it is much loved by my little man, who hugged it tightly when he had his trampoline scare!’’
Diane Fairweather said, ‘‘My son called his Hospital Ted when he was in hospital and had to be sent to another one’’.
‘‘A precious gift for any child who is distressed,’’ Ms Fairweather said.
Roxanne Anderson said she still had her son’s trauma teddy, ‘‘from when we were in a car accident in ‘09’’.
Rebecca Hobbs said her son has three and he loves them all.
Said Cheryl Widders: ‘‘I love the way ladies get together and help children in need.’’
Heather Burrough described it as ‘‘kindness and love in action — well done ladies and police officers’’.
■ Hooked On Yarn meets fortnightly Thursdays, 1pm-4pm at Riverstone Neighbourhood Centre in Park Street, Riverstone, for knitting and crocheting. Beginners welcome. Details: http://riverstone.org.au
■ Globally, White Ribbon is the world’s largest male-led movement to end men’s violence against women. White Ribbon Australia observes the International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women, also known as White Ribbon Day, annually on November 25. White Ribbon Day signals the start of the 16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence against Women, which ends on Human Rights Day (December 10).
