Newspaper Articles

Here are a couple of the newspaper articles from the Yarra Ranges Journal and Lilydale and Yarra Valley Leader.

Christine Fyffe's office also sent press releases to our local papers here and I have emailed them too but have heard nothing so I'm guessing they are not at all interested which is a pity as so many people from this region contributed squares or full blankets

DELIVERY

Last weekend (9-10th August) Karen and I travelled to the Yarra Ranges region to deliver 110 blankets as well as knitted toys, scarves and childrens clothing. We left on Sunday morning and, using Karen's GPS (hereon known as Betty) we found our way without incident to Healesville (although yesterday I received a speeding fine for doing 76km in a 60 zone along the way). We had lunch in Healesville and headed straight to Marysville.

What a delight the town is. It was buzzing with tourists and the townfolk were all very friendly. We had a good buy up in the Lolly Shop, currently situated in a shipping container, and visited Bruno's sculpture garden that he has just reopened. It was sad to see the damage the fire has done to the sculptures but also heartening to hear that he intends to rebuild it all.

Unfortunately the relief centre was closed but we were lucky to find a Lions lady in the food tent who gratefully accepted one huge bag of blankets as well as some of the other items.

We returned to Healesville and stayed at the Sanctuary Resort, a lovely quiet little motel who even gave us a discount when they learnt the reason for our trip. That evening we joined Lucy and Meaghan, both fellow Ravelers, at Meaghans house for dinner - pizza, pasta, dip with corn chips and yummy cake. Not at all healthy but very tasty. Meaghan and Lucy were great and we all got on like a house on fire.

The next morning Karen and I made our way to Yarra Glen where we met with the local MP, Christine Fyffe, who has been very helpful in organising for us to be able to drop the blankets off at the relief centre, despite the fact it is closed on Mondays. She also arranged for a couple of the local papers to be there to give the project a bit of publicity. We spent an hour at the centre and were lucky enough to meet a couple of the blanket recipients, including Ron Andrews a delightful man who lost everything in the fires and was then roped into the photos for the press. He took it all in good fun though and it was lovely to see a few of the blankets find a new home while we were there. Another Raveler, Lorraine, also joined us from Riddells Creek and it was nice to meet her again, we first met at the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show.

From there we drove to Kinglake but Betty took us along the windy road through the hills (and EVERYONE knows how I am terrified of heights) instead of along the better roads. Poor Lorraine was at Kinglake waiting for us and wondering where we'd gotten to. We met a lovely nun at the relief centre who accepted our last two bags of blankets - all up about 110 blankets went to the region as well as the added extras.

It was a great trip and Karen and I had a ball. We didn't know each other very well before the trip but now we are very firm friends.

IIOIO it's off to Yarra Glen we go.

Today's the day. The car is packed to bursting with only the front seats not packed with blankets. It was a real effort and a lot of juggling but DH and I managed to get all 110 blankets into the car as well as toys and knitted clothes. We did ensure I have clear vision through my back window though, I don't need to cause an accident that's for sure.

Now as soon as Karen arrives here from Lakes Entrance we're off. Meagan, a fellow raveller, has invited us to her home for dinner tonight and we shall be joined by another raveller, Lucy, whom I was lucky enough to meet at the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show last month.

Off to the Yarra Glen Region soon

Oh wow, is this blog so out of date. Unfortunately I spent about ten days struggling with a shocking bout of my depression, which is usually very well controlled, and then last week my work colleague was on holidays so by the time I got home from work the last thing I wanted to do was look at a computer.

I was one of the many knitters to invade Bendigo last month for the Sheep and Wool show. The weather man looked after us well, it was chilly but dry and sunny - a perfect winters day. Unfortunately that was when the anxiety and depression overwhelmed me so I didn't enjoy myself which is sad because I'd been looking forward to it for so long.

Next week, on the 10th, I am off to the Yarra Glen region to deliver about 110 completed blankets as well as toys, scarves and childrens clothes. Well as much of it as I can fit in the car anyway. Karen Detering, from Stitches and Things in Lakes Entrance, will be coming with me. Karen is the one who converted Denise Sutherlands wonderful logo into an embroidered label that has been sewn onto each and every blanket. We're going on the Sunday night and booking into local accommodation there and maybe even driving around the area a bit depending on what time we arrive.

On Monday morning we are scheduled to meet with a couple of the local politicians, Christine Fyffe and Fran Bailey, for an official welcome and hand over of all the stuff. A couple of the local papers will be there too so I'm hoping they will have on-line links I can post for everyone to read the stories. Ms Fyffe's media liaison officer has been very helpful organising this for me as she feels that the people in the area are becoming a bit despondent with the slow pace of things and they could do with a cheerful story for a change. Let's hope she's right.

So if anyone is free and lives close to Yarra Glen please join us, especially if you are one of the contributors to the blankets.