Mercy Place Edgewater Seniors Busy Knitting for Kids

Dozens of blankets are being handcrafted for charity, thanks to the talent and time of seniors in the knitting club at Mercy Place Edgewater.

The gifted residents, who are all in their 80s and 90s, are meeting weekly to handcraft the blankets which are then being donated to Wheelchairs for Kids, an organisation founded by a group of retired Perth-based volunteers who manufacture and distribute wheelchairs to children with severe disabilities around the world.

Residents Mary Cramp, Jean Collins, Pieternella Boys, Valryn Elshaw, Margaret Philpot and Joy Hansen have recently restarted the knitting club after a break following the passing of the club’s leader and Mercy Place Edgewater resident, Olive Hasset, an avid knitter who died in May this year.

Mercy Place Edgewater Service Manager, Helen Fullarton, said the residents concerned were both talented and caring, and the partnership with volunteers at Wheelchairs for Kids was working very well.

“This really is a fantastic initiative, not just for the children who will benefit, but also for our residents, who are really enjoying sharing their incredible talent for knitting with our Mercy Health staff,” Ms Fullarton said.

“Many of our residents have been keen to join the club and take part in the creative process of making the beautiful blankets, it’s certainly very rewarding for them and we can see that by contributing to a great initiative, their own lives are also being enriched.

“The initiative is turning into a real community affair too, with staff here at Mercy Place Edgewater booking a bus, so that residents can visit the Armchair for Kids warehouse in coming weeks to see how their handiwork is benefiting the charity.”

Find out more about Mercy Health.