Knitters rally to help Australia
An Ardrishaig-based business woman has been recruiting Argyll crafters to get involved with a global movement to create vital emergency animal care items.
Shocked by the devastating bushfires in Australia, Corrina Charlwood, owner of The Flower Shop and a keen crafter, was inspired to get involved and do what she could to help the rescued animals after seeing posts from the UK Crafters for Australia Animal Rescue Effort group on Facebook.
Corrina explained: ‘My dad has been living in Australia for around 25 years and my step-sister Mandy has lost her house in Talbingo, on the edge of the Snowy Mountains, as a result of the fires, so it’s all very close to me and I’ve seen how devastating it is.’
The Facebook group, which is working to help the Animal Rescue Collective – a joint project of rescue groups around Australia – and Animal Rescue Craft Guild, only formed on January 4 with more than 21,000 members joining in just four days.
The volunteers have set up hubs across the UK for the handmade donations and Corrina is offering to be a collection point for Argyll crafters before taking all donations to one of these national hubs.
‘It’s amazing to see how far out this is reaching people,' added Corrina. ‘It’s global. People worldwide are knitting, sewing and crocheting just to do what they can. It’s just taken off and it’s incredible.’
Knocking on the door of the Castaways, Corrina approached the Lochgilphead-based knitting group to encourage them to get on board with the making of joey pouches, bird nests, bat wraps and animal sweaters.
The knitting group, which has been running for around 10 years, meets every Tuesday from 2pm at the Multiple Sclerosis Centre Argyll, Lochgilphead.
A member of the group said: ‘We meet for the social aspect. It’s two hours of sanity in my week.
‘We knit for fun and it’s interesting to have something a bit different to be making.’
Animal Rescue Craft Guild has had such a positive reaction and an overwhelming amount of donations it is asking crafters to put production on pause until a global stocktake is carried out on January 25.
Following this, they will be informed by the link groups in Australia what items, if any, are still required.
For further information, patterns and to have any donations already made transported to a hub, visit www. ukcrafters.co.uk or contact Corrina via The Flower Shop Facebook page or on 01546 602056.