by Janice Challinor, Community Development Subcommittee, 25 February 2021 (from Bulletin 1 of 2021)

The Sewing for Good (SFG) group continued to produce sewn, knitted and crocheted items during 2020, despite losing access to the original venue at Glebe Town Hall in January when the management protocols for the space were changed by GCDP and its interim University of Sydney acting manager.  Then lock-down happened. The four women members who continued to produce items have variously sewed at home while keeping in communication through WhatsApp, then reconvened fortnightly at the home of one to continue this activity after lock-down was lifted.

As well as tote bags, the original products, created from recycled donated material and given to the Asylum Seekers Centre (ASC) at Newtown, the range of items has increased significantly. Items made by the group this year have included scarves, tea-towels given to the Kitchen Starter Pack Project, knitted beanies, doorstop owls, teapot cosies, and masks. At Christmas 2020 this was supplemented with Christmas wreaths and Christmas bunting. So prolific has the production of tote bags etc been that several stalls have been held to raise money for the ASC where the number of bags exceeded their needs. The first of these was for Christmas 2019, then one at 92 Glebe Point Rd with the support of owner Angela, and another for Christmas 2020 at 158 GPR with the support of kindly neighbours with a big front yard.