Mount Gambier group Chat ‘N’ Craft celebrated 35 years of gathering with a morning tea and cake cut by original members of the organisation.
The group was started in 1987 by Parish Priest Father Brian Angus after a group of people affiliated with St Paul’s felt there was a need to meet for a weekly get together.
The first sessions were held in the classrooms of St Mary’s School on Boandik Terrace due to the old school being unoccupied.
After outgrowing St Mary’s School, the group moved to St Paul’s Church for their morning craft, where the group remains to this day.
The not-for-profit has supported many charities and organisations in its time including St Paul’s, St Vincent De Paul, Royal Flying Doctors and primarily the Mt Gambier Cancer Support Group.
Chat ‘N’ Craft coordinator Sharen Sutherland said she felt the celebration marked a real success for the organisation.
“To have this many people still come, week in and week out, means we must be doing something right,” she said.
“People are still happy to come, they have new crafts to learn, and they are willing to pass on their skills which is important.
“It is mainly social, and it gives people a purpose to get out.”
Mrs Sutherland said the group had not been immune to the effects of COVID-19.
“Pre COVID we were having anywhere up to 90 members a year, with 60 of those members showing up each week,” she said.
“We are now getting between 40-50 members a week.
“I think some people are still concerned about COVID-19 and when you take something away and they stop doing it, it takes a long time for them to come back to do it again.
“We just want people to know we are back, and we are not going anywhere.”
The group is open to men and women participating in any craft including, but not limited to, card making, scrapbooking, folk art, crocheting, knitting, quilting, embroidery, cross stich and macrame.
Chat ‘N’ Craft takes place in the St Paul’s Hall every Tuesday during the school term from 10am-12pm.
For more information or to get involved contact Ms Sutherland on 0429 476 859 or visit the Chat n Craft Mount Gambier Facebook Page.
