Life membership rewards long service
Quilter’s creations labours of love
“Whilst this last year has again presented us with many challenges to deal with, it has also confirmed the amazing fellowship, positivity, strength, resilience, cohesiveness and dedication of our group of Cottage Quilters.”
This beginning in outgoing president Barbara Christian’s Annual Report sums up the atmosphere in the club as she handed over the mantle to Felicity Ellison on May 3 after four years at the helm.
For nearly all the club’s existence, Anne Ingram has been a member and leading light, joining in 1998 and fulfilling the roles of president (2008-10), secretary (2002-6) and other temporary roles while setting the standard of excellence with her wonderful quilts which still win competitions like the 2018 Wine Country Quilt show in Central Hawke’s Bay.
It was a huge surprise to Anne when she was made a life member on Tuesday, saying she just loved being with such a nice bunch of ladies and gets great pleasure creating quilts which people enjoy and can benefit from. Her champion quilt at the Wine Country Quilt Show took her four years to make but it was a labour of love.
She said she could not have been so active without husband Bill’s encouragement and she continues to enjoy the club’s variety of challenges which “keep her alive”.
These include the creation of quilts for all sorts of groups, particularly under Barbara Christian’s leadership.
The club has donated 219 quilts since the programme started in 2019 firstly for newborns at the Dannevirke Community Hospital Maternity Annex, then to the Elske Centre followed by Foster Hope to help children being moved from their homes to foster care and finally Woven Earth. These totalled 85 in the last year!
Barbara says, “Despite the impact of Covid and its evolving strains, and whatever the future holds in store for us, I truly believe our club will continue to thrive, and to be a vibrant and valued part of our Dannevirke and hopefully the wider community.”