UPPER LANSDOWNE SOCIAL CRAFT GROUP INC
On Friday 21 August 1981, 6 women met at Dorothy Green’s house at 1005 Upper Lansdowne Road. This was the beginning of the Upper Lansdowne Social Craft Group. The founding members were Kathy Tetu, Christine Lashley, Vivienne Scott, Barbara Fewtrell, Virginia De Wright and Dorothy Green.
Back then they were all knitters and sewers with spinning wheels and machines so it started getting quite cramped. Over the next 12 months the group increased in numbers and on Friday 6 August 1982 the Craft Group moved to the Upper Lansdowne Memorial Hall where it has been meeting once per week ever since.
As the premises changed so did the craft with beading, patchwork and illustration added to the traditional sewing and tapestry work.
By 1993 numbers began to fluctuate with only 8 active members. They decided to get more active and organized a membership drive. Numbers never dwindled again with some members coming from as far as Taree, Wingham, Tinonee, Mitchells Island and Wauchope.
Membership swelled to as high as 70 at times and the club is still going strong.
Over the years the craft group has assisted in numerous charitable endeavours including knitting blankets for babies living in poverty throughout Africa; the annual WorldVision Guardian Angel Appeal; raising $520 for Taree City SES; providing 18 mother and baby packs for Papua New Guinea and providing pamper packs to Deniliquin CWA to distribute to women doing it tough in the region.
The group has also helped the Upper Lansdowne Memorial Hall to either purchase items or provide financial aid. The craft group purchased a small fridge for the kitchen and in 1997, 2 lock up cupboards were installed for storing equipment in the store room.
On 18 October 1997 a raffle was held which raised $394 to help finance the upgrade to the kitchen.
New crockery was purchased for the hall in 2000 at a cost of $518.56 and $994.00 was donated to the hall to purchase new fluorescent lighting.
In 2001, the craft group purchased saucepans, cutlery, food processor and a large electric frypan for the hall’s kitchen.
In 2002 funds were donated to the hall for improved lighting over the 2 sinks and ceiling fan for the kitchen.
In 2003 the craft group donated approximately $800 so ceiling fans could be installed in the main section of the hall. Over the years, the group has also purchased a microwave oven, kettles etc. for the hall.
The Craft Group has held many Biggest Morning Teas, Share a Craft Day, Display Days, Open Days for community to attend and Craft with Children from school for Mother’s Day etc.
They have catered for play nights and matinees and helped on many occasions when either the hall committee or church ladies were catering.
The Craft Group has also helped when special days were held for community gatherings.
In 2010, Helen Coombe, one of our craft members, bequeathed $10,000 in her will to the hall which allowed the hall to purchase 120 chairs and folding tables as well as a refrigerator and food warmer.
On 25 August 2011 the Craft Group held a 30 year reunion at the Hall. Approximately 60 past and present members enjoyed a wonderful day with one past member travelling from Queensland to attend. There were numerous displays of items of spinning and weaving from the early days, tatting, hardanger, chicken scratching, Tunisian work and embroidery as well as needle felt bears.
Everyone enjoyed morning tea and lunch provided by the current members. The oldest member Marie Vandermeer had the honour of cutting the birthday cake. After lunch all enjoyed a couple of games of Hoy.
The group couldn’t celebrate their 40year reunion due to COVID-19 which hit hard earlier in the year, cancelling all group meetings as of 26 March 2020 and all Halls closed.
In May 2020 during the time the Hall was closed, 2 members were given the OK to move the craft storeroom to the front room of the Hall. The Hall Committee had purchased 3 double metal cupboards, so the move was made. The old storeroom is now home to the Hall’s tables and chairs which is more accessible.
21 May 2020 the craft group started having group meetings in town at 2 members homes with COVID safe numbers and in the valley at 2 members homes. These were fun weeks as everyone was craving company, so it worked really well. These home get-togethers lasted 4 weeks 21 May 2020 to 11 June 2020.
18 June 2020 was the first day back at Craft in the Upper Lansdowne Memorial Hall, limited numbers allowed, but the group was okay in the Hall.
The craft group currently has 23 members. New members are always welcome. Members are only too happy to show you how to begin some wonderful creations. They currently meet Thursday mornings between 10am and 1pm.
Compiled June 1925