Members regularly support the community by using their patchwork and embroidery skills to make beautiful quilts which are then donated to people in need or raffled or auctioned to help raise funds for charities. 

The group recently presented a donation of $1046.70 to local women’s refuge Jodie’s Place, from funds raised at its exhibition at Cessnock Toyota Stadium in April.

Jodie’s Place manager Paula Mudd said the refuge was grateful for the donation.

“The feeling we have is our fantastic community owns our service – we only manage it, and the reason for this, is that all our funding comes from our community,” she said.

Ronald McDonald House Newcastle and the Hunter Medical Research Institute have also benefited from the quilters and embroiderers’ support in recent weeks.

Members attended Ronald McDonald House on May 31 to present a number of quilts to the charity (which provides a home-away-from-home for families of sick children undergoing treatment at John Hunter Children’s Hospital).

Some of the quilts will be given to children, while others may be raffled or auctioned, with all proceeds to Ronald McDonald House.

On June 13, the quilters and embroiderers donned beanies, berets and bonnets and held a morning tea in aid of the HMRI, raising $200 for the Newcastle-based organisation.

Cessnock Quilters and Embroiderers on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Cessnock Toyota Stadium from 9am to 1pm, while machine embroiderers meet on the last Monday of the month.

New members are welcome; contact Sue on 4991 1671 or Chris on 4990 8560 for more information.