Co-ordinator calls time on knitting

JARED NICOLL

Last updated 06:51 04/09/2012

JARED NICOLL

Standing down: Sally Overton in her garden in Picton

Relevant offers

The Picton branch of Operation Cover Up needs fresh leadership, after co-ordinator Sally Overton decided to call it a day after five years.

Ms Overtone has overseen the production of thousands of items of knitwear as head of the Picton branch of the nationwide project, which encourages people to donate, knit and unwind wool for warm clothing and blankets for orphans in Eastern Europe.

Operation Cover-Up started in 2001 and is popular in resthomes in Marlborough, with more than 1600 items sent to orphans this year and 277 of these came from Picton.

Ms Overton said she had enjoyed co-ordinating the branch and knitting for a good cause, but arthritis in her hands was starting to become a factor.

"It's something to do with your hands when you're sitting watching TV.

"I'm getting a bit older now, but it has been good."

She enjoyed the social side of the group, which involved branch and regional members coming together and getting to know each other.

August was a busy month for the operation as they gathered all their items in Blenheim, to be sent to Eastern European countries such as Romania and Ukraine.

Marlborough co-ordinator Ruth Buckley said the region was part of a big national network, with more than 8000 blankets sent this year.

A lot of older people were very competent knitters because it was a common past-time.

"When we were young and learning it was a necessary thing to do, because it was cheap and it kept us warm."

Picton branch member Marie Higgs said there was a sense of satisfaction in knitting, because people were able to create things.

"Knitting and embroidery were things you learned to do at your mother's knee."

Picton branch member Lois Gledhill is a keen knitter who delivers the branch's work to Blenheim.

"It's a community thing that helps me and helps them.

"I don't know if it's just for the restless type, but we don't like to have idle hands."

To get involved contact Marlborough co-ordinator Ruth Buckley on 0064 3 578 3550.

A BIG CONTRIBUTION

Operation Cover Up Marlborough branch's 2012 contribution to Eastern Europe:

Six bales of wool