Approximately 40-50 students meet each Thursday lunch to knit squares which become blankets for the less fortunate in our local community. 

In 2020, the Knitting Group has had to change its regular practices. We would normally have a host of ex-staff and friends of the College come and work with the girls each week. This year our knitting helpers have been supporting us from home knitting and assembling blankets together. Most of the girls at school have been working on joining the squares together and sewing the 'Handmade With Love by St Patrick's College Knitting Group' labels onto the blankets and scarves.

Each year the group holds an annual mid winter presentation of blankets to the St Vincent de Paul Society and we often have guest speakers from the organisation. Due to Covid we were unable to have our normal speakers from St Vincent de Paul and Ms Lennox generously came and spoke to the group. She was impressed by the array of blankets and thanked the girls for their dedication and for living out true Benedictine values.We also thank Mr Julian Nash for taking photos of our presentation, something that he has done for many years. 

Our representative from St Vincent de Paul, Jane Willoughby, sent the following note of thanks to the group:

"Lately we have not had many requests from our welfare due to the covid and extra payments being received.  So we are taking a different approach.  There are people who do not ask for any help but may be lonely or struggling in some way. So, the other day we decided that Betty (name changed) would greatly  benefit from the kindness given from you and your wonderful team’s special blankets.

Betty shops with us several times a week, walks with the aid of a stick, not too well and struggles to get in and out of her car.  Her family rarely visit her and she lives with her cat, so Betty is a very lonely lady.  Her trips to our shop are a big part of the week for her.  She chats and laughs with us and buys bits n bobs. Betty was so touched by the gift that she gave us all a card of thanks and gratitude.  This gesture of kindness and thoughtfulness has touched her heart.

There is no greater feeling to know that you have helped put a smile on faces that have been hardened by sadness.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share special moments with people in need and offering comfort in somewhat difficult times.’’

Our knitting champion for 2020 was Olivia L in Year 10 who produced two whole blankets and countless numbers of squares with Layla E as runner up. Special effort awards were awarded to Charlotte D, Georgia D, Yuhan W, Laura Z, Bronwyn Z, Cora W, Ava R, Annabelle L, Isabelle S and Yukiko W.

We wish to thank the 30 knitting ‘ladies’ who are either staff, ex-staff, ex-students, parents, grandmothers or friends of the College who continue to send in squares, blankets or complete edging for the group: Judith Andrews, Carol Best, Lynn Carlin,  Leonie Corlett, Nola Cornhill, Delwyn Costa, Margaret Cutler, Maxine Evans, Glenda Gaskell, Sarah Hilder, Cathay Johnson, Chanlina Lam, Evelyn Loh, Marian Martin, Maureen McCann, Janine McLeod, Jean Mills, Shirley Mills, Diane O’Brien, Maureen O’Brien, Sue Ollis, Pam Poole, Jenny Slade, Betty Small, Lorraine St John, Lisa Tacca, Jan Vacchini, Annalisa Winarczyk, Lucette Zapirain and Sandra Zapirain.

Fran Musico Rullo - HSIE Teacher