Hillman Primary School provide comfort one stitch at a time

Hillman Primary School students are knitting trauma teddies to donate to the Rockingham Hospital and St John of God Ambulance Service in support of children in crisis situations.

Hillman Primary School volunteer Nancy Brandhoff, also known to the children as Grandma Nancy, has been running knitting lessons at the school at lunchtime on Thursdays.

Ms Brandhoff said while knitting was a“dying art”, an overwhelming number of students had shown interest. “When they walk in the room they have huge smiles on their faces,” she said.

“Some of the kids are taking their knitting home to show their parents and grandparents.

“It’s good for them and is for a good cause.”

Ms Bandhoff said knitting also acted as a pastoral care program for the children and gave them a chance to bond and debrief in a calming environment.

Among the group are volunteers Linda Armstrong and her mother Irene Bridges, whose grand-daughter and great-granddaughter also knit in the program.

Mrs Armstrong said the program brought back memories from her own childhood and was as much fun for the volunteers as it was for the kids.