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We’ll give it a go!

When we first indicated that we were going to become involved in teaching our students to knit granny squares for the AIDS orphans of Africa there were many “disciples” who just said, “Sorry, but I can’t see it working.” 

These disciples were good teachers at Mater Christi (a Good Sam school, in Belgrave, Melbourne) and so they said, “But we’ll give it a go, anyway.”

We made contact with the local CWA (Belgrave and District Country Women’s Association) who were excited by the idea of coming to Mater Christi to teach the girls to knit. They had been thinking along similar lines and the hand of God clearly put us in touch with each other at the right moment.

Other folk from the local St Thomas More’s Parish also came to assist. 

It was inspiring and deeply moving to see the older women who had struggled up Mater Christi hill, some on their walking sticks, sit down with our Year 8 girls and knit together.

The women were patient and encouraging; the students immediately at ease with them. It was the ancient gift of grandmother to granddaughter, on a much larger scale.

The girls were eager to learn and the teaching women eager to share their knowledge. 

It was over too soon and everyone requested more time.  Schools though, are time poor and we thanked the CWA women and went on with the planned activities for the day. 

Teachers noted, however, that the knitting remained with the students throughout the day and at every opportunity the girls took to their needles again. 

Many girls came and stood by a teacher or a friend to say, “I think I did it wrong. Can you fix it?” then “Show me how you did that.”

At the end of the day I sat down, pretty tired but replete with a real sense that our teachers and students had formed important bonds with the community. 

Then I opened the box of materials that had been put back in my office.

I had put some of the squares I had knitted in there, just to get it started.  Many of the CWA women had also brought some “they had prepared earlier” and there were small bundles of knitted squares that had been sent along by several mums because they said they would like to knit too. “Was that all right?”

.I counted the pile of squares and we had already gathered 164 colourful squares, enough to make seven blankets for teenager AIDS orphans or 14 blankets for children who had lost their parents.

The girls had only just started and already we had a large box full.

We intend, over the year, to teach 700 students to knit a square. Some will struggle and some will do well -- and we will meet our target. We aim to make 1000 squares before the year is out. I feel confident about meeting that end.

p.s. I went to the basket of balls of yarn wondering how many more balls of wool I would need to purchase for the next group.

We had asked students to bring along a ball if they could and we handed out a great many balls at the start, but how was it possible that we had more wool than when we started?

The answer was obvious, people gave more than they took.  Such was the day that this statement works at many levels.

I feel a great sense of pride in the community of Mater Christi -- the students, teachers and parents -- and the fine women of the CWA who embraced this “clothing of the thousands”.

Overwhelmingly, every participant left feeling full of the joy of community and service.

Everyone had been fed and there was much left over.

* Helen Smith is the Middle Years Program Coordinator at Mater Christi and a Good Samaritan Oblate

In writing this article, she also wished to thank particuarly:

  • Cressida McDonald from Knit-A-Square organisation for her talk and the connection to the orphans of South Africa;
  • the women of the Belgrave and District Country Women’s Association;
  • the parishioners of St Thomas More’s Parish Belgrave;
  • Vicky Godfrey, the Year 8 Learning Leader who was tireless in her organisation and involvement;
  • the teachers of Mater Christi who supervised and who came along to join in as learners and teachers of knitting;
  • her daughter for introducing her to KAS and the students who were the epitome of “informed and compassionate women of faith”.