Townsville mum makes toys for kids when they really need one A crafty way to help out

A TOWNSVILLE mother has picked up her crochet needles to help children cope through traumatic events, making toys to comfort them through their struggles.

Marion Gough founded Trauma Toys Townsville in June, an operation where she creates plush toys for local children involved in car crashes, domestic violence situations and other traumatic events.

Ms Gough said Trauma Toys Townsville was born out of a twist of fate when the police knocked on her door.

“I have bad panic attacks and they can last up to 12 minutes,” she said. “I was on the phone to my son in Charters Towers when I had one.

“They didn’t know what was happening and they called the police because they thought it might have been a suicide attempt.’’

Ms Gough said one of the officers who came around to do a welfare check noticed all the toys around my place.

“She said you should make trauma toys and it took off from there. All from a phone call which was an over-reaction,” she said.

After three months, Ms Gough’s efforts have made waves through the community as children receive a comforting item as they deal with

Marion Gough founder of Trauma Toys Townsville with some of her crochet toys.

potentially horrific tragedies.

“They’re not just for kids, they’ve been given to dementia patients and mental health patients,” Ms Gough said.

“It hasn’t been going too bad, I’m quite happy to sit at home and crochet.

“It’s become such a passion now, all I want to do is sit and

crochet. I sat for five days straight and just crocheted at one stage.”

She said it was great to have her work being embraced by others.

“Recently a 13-year-old girl asked her friends for money for her birthday instead of presents and she donated the

$160 she received to us. It’s incredible a girl that age can be so generous. I’ve made a jellyfish toy in rose gold and cream in her honour and named it Jennajelly.

“A worker from Evolution Mine also collected cans and with the recycle money bought us 140 balls of wool.”

Picture: SHAE BEPLATE.

Ms Gough is calling on more people to help make toys or donate material.

“The demand for them is huge, absolutely huge,” she said. “We really need more crafters, whether it’s sewing or whatever. We just need more toys; I’m only one person and can only do so much.”