MercyCare / News / Knitting together friendships at Rockingham

Knitting together friendships at Rockingham

Volunteer Junell picked up a pair of knitting needles at age 4 and went on to pursue a career as a dressmaker together with her mother. While she made clothes for her children, it wasn’t until her retirement and when her mother became a resident at Rockingham Residential Aged Care that she properly picked up knitting again.

“Mum came here in 2012 and I used to come and sit and knit with Mum. In March 2013 I started up the knitting group here and I’ve been doing it ever since,” Junell said.

Junell visits MercyCare Rockingham Residential Aged Care Home every week for a two to three hour knitting group session.

“The group is really for the friendship and chit chat. The residents learn different things and I learn new things off them,” she said.

“Knitting is also great for helping keep the hands active and for dexterity.”

During the session the beautiful products produced, including toys, blankets, scarves, mittens, beanies and baby blankets, are on display and sold to visitors, fellow-residents and staff who love to gift them to babies and grandchildren.

The profits are then donated to the Home and used to purchase materials for the group and therapy items for residents, including large piece jigsaws, resident Christmas gifts and much more.