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Stronger Together

Published on 03 May 2024

This year’s Neighbourhood House Week theme is Stronger Together. We’re sharing stories from the community about the positive experiences that have come from being connected.

A heartwarming story of community kindness

When Nillumbik resident Rosa lost her home after a fire, she moved in with her daughter Tina in Diamond Creek.

Tina realised that her mum – a lifelong Richmond supporter – had lost all of her precious football memorabilia.

“Mum is 90 now and she’s been a Richmond supporter almost all her life. She had posters, black and yellow blankets, everything… and it all got burnt” said Tina.

So Tina reached out to the local community via social media to ask for help with a small but significant request: could anyone crochet a small yellow and black blanket, to help her mum have something of her beloved Tigers?

“I don’t crochet but I was happy to pay for materials. I just thought it would be nice,” she said.

Cheryl, a long-time participant and volunteer at Diamond Creek Living & Learning, saw the message and took the question to her Yarn and Needle MakerSpace group.

“Four other people in our group volunteered to make squares” said Cheryl. “I bought wool, and Natalie (Living & Learning Nillumbik Neighbourhood House Coordinator) donated some money for wool too [and] so we all got together” she said.

The blanket itself is a wonderful combination of squares all with different styles and designs, making it a truly one-of-a kind piece.

When it was completed, Cheryl contacted Tina again and asked her whether she and her mother could visit Diamond Creek Living & Learning to pick up the blanket.

“Mum was overwhelmed… She was just so grateful” said Tina. [It] let her know how good the community is, that it was made especially for her”.

“Now when anyone comes she proudly shows it off” said Tina. “It was the generosity and kindness of complete strangers. They made mum a beautiful keepsake, and it’s so meaningful to me too” she said.

“I just cannot get over the generosity of the people in our community – how kindly they treated mum. They treated her with such respect” she said.

For Cheryl and the wonderful members of the MakerSpace group it was a lovely way to help someone in the community and to meet Tina and Rosa.

“Tina’s mum was so appreciative of the fact that we’d done it for her. It makes you feel good. And it was such fun to do”, said Cheryl.

Thank you to everyone involved, and to Tina and Cheryl for sharing their story with us.

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This year’s Neighbourhood House Week theme is Stronger Together. We’re sharing stories from the community about the positive experiences that have come from being connected.