By Stephanie Holliday
ONCE a month, Brad Doherty kindly donates space in his store, Shepparton Sewing Centre, to a group working towards a brilliant cause.
Access to sanitary items is something that many of us take for granted, but a group of locals are tackling this issue head-on by picking up a sewing machine and making a range of women’s sanitary items that are being donated to women both locally, around Australia and across the globe.
So far, Days for Girls internationally has impacted the lives of 2.8M women and girls in 150 countries – and counting. The Goulburn Valley branch of ‘Days For Girls’ consists of 15 women who kindly donate their time and sewing expertise to the important cause.
The specialised kits include homemade shields with a waterproof inside, liners and bags as well as underwear, a face cloth, travel soap and instructions on how to use the items. The materials used to make these items are imperative to how they function, with stringent requirements. Therefore, monetary donations rather than fabric is required to help these kits reach those who need them most.
Goulburn Valley Days for Girls Team Leader, Mary Connelly-Gale explained how important the correct materials are.
“There are many factors to consider. The fabric can’t be light as it will show staining, it can’t have animals or faces on it as it may offend some cultures, it has to be 100 percent cotton. There’s a lot of thought that goes into the production of these items,” she said.
“It’s not just third world countries that need these items. We have provided kits to homeless and refugee women locally, and other teams provide kits in remote communities. The 25 kits we are currently working on at the Shepparton Sewing Centre are destined for Papua New Guinea, unless we identify there’s local need. It’s an extremely rewarding thing to be able to be involved in. We are always seeking more volunteers.”
The group meets on the third Saturday of the month at St Mary’s Hall, 74 Hogan Street, Tatura and the third Monday of the Month at Shepparton Sewing Centre.
“Brad’s initiative of offering community sewing days is a fantastic way for people who like to sew to get involved with a cause without having to become a formal member of a club.”
There are also other community sewing projects to get involved with and people can check with their local community centres.
To get involved, call Mary on 0484 332 397 or email her at goulburnvalleyvic@daysforgirls.org.
