Another successful year has passed since our last winter newsletter. And what a year it has been – the huge volume of beautiful knitting that you all do for the project has been phenomenal. Your continued support is so valued by the mothers and babies of Timor-Leste, where the need remains. The large amount of knitting that has gone through our shed (affectionately known as the Ranch) this year, has enabled us to extend our program to include 6 other clinics within Timor-Leste, where is gets very cold (see attached map), and the need is great. This is in addition to the knitting that we send to Maubisse.

The container carrying our knitting (packed into wool bales), left for Timor-Leste in April. Unloading and distribution will be supervised by Rotarians, Judite and Mario (located in Timor-Leste), along with a Bendigo Sandhurst Rotarian, Graeme Lynas. With this distribution process in place you can be assured that your precious knitting will reach the appropriate destinations, where it is most needed. Imagine the joy this will bring as the mothers see the bales arriving.

The dedicated Bendigo Sandhurst Rotary Club members have worked so hard with the transporting of the knitting, the baling process and loading the container. Without this incredible support it would be very difficult for us to get our knitting to the mothers and babies of Timor-Leste. We thank them most sincerely.

We hope you have enjoyed knitting from our pattern book.  The dolls and teddies will bring much pleasure to the little children. However, we emphasize that the basic set of jumper, socks (RIBBED) and beanie (in both sizes) are our “core” purpose, as are knitted or crocheted rugs (75 – 85 cm square). 

We are considering knitted jumpers/cardigans for toddlers (1-2 year olds), and will now accept these.  If you have a simple and nicely shaped pattern suitable for this sized child, pop a copy in with the knitted article to help us with our decision making.

In addition to the knitting, we sent over a large striped bag of generously donated craft items for Sr Julietta’s recently established craft group. As this group hand sews only, we welcome donations of lace, ribbon, trim and cotton thread.

We still rely on donations of small cotton singlets (from the op shop). Size 00000 to size 1 - no larger than size 1, please. Good quality bunny rugs are also gratefully received. Donations of these can be included with your knitting.

We enjoy our knitters visiting us at the Ranch, but please call me first. As it is far too cold for us to work in the Ranch over the winter months, we will be having our usual break as follows:

Our winter break will be from June 16 to August 30. Contacts during this time will be:

Patti Cotton                       0401 900 223

                                                Email address:      pdcotton9@gmail.com

Ray Carrington 0417 502 349

Thank you so much for your continued support of this very worthy project.

Kind regards,