Wrapped with love

For a group of caring Newtown volunteers, delivering the gift of compassion and warmth to those in need is as simple as knitting one loving square at a time.

Two knitting groups hosted by Newtown Neighbourhood Centre are part of the Australian-based Wrap With Love project.  This not for profit organisation provides warm blanket wraps to people around the world suffering trauma and extreme cold.

Since 1992 Wrap With Love volunteers around Australia have handcrafted over 157,000 wraps, distributing them to the disadvantaged in more than 30 countries.

The Newtown Wrap With Love groups kicked off in 2004 when a $200 Council grant for Seniors Week was spent on knitting supplies.

Newtown volunteer Gerri said the experience has been very rewarding for her.  “It is amazing to see a refugee draped in the wraps we have made right here.  I never thought I would enjoy knitting so much!” she said.

Fellow volunteer Pat said she had become obsessive about knitting the squares.  “I try and knit a square a day whenever I can because this really is positively affecting people’s lives,” she said.

Each wrap consists of 28, ten-inch squares sewn together following a standard garter stitch pattern.  In 2006 the Newtown ladies, and one gentleman, completed 106 wraps.  That’s about 15,000 volunteer hours!

Newtown Neighbourhood Centre knitting groups rely on donations of wool to produce wraps and jumpers for newborns with AIDS. They also encourage home-based volunteer knitters who are unable to attend the centre in person. 

If you cannot knit, don’t despair - the patient volunteers are well versed in assisting beginners!

So grab your knitting needles and yarn and join Newtown Neighbourhood Centre’s inspiring volunteers as they wrap the world with love.

To volunteer or donate wool visit the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre website for details or call 02 9516 4755.

Join some of the Newtown volunteers on Friday August 1^st for the 2008 Knit In hosted by ABC Radio 702 at their Ultimo studio.  Last year the Knit In produced 147,000 knitted squares!

It's victory....for now

Erskineville residents’ celebratory champagne has been put on hold this week following Woolworths decision to appeal a defeated development application for a supermarket complex on Erskineville Road.

The developer Harold Finger and Woolworths, Australia’s largest supermarket operator, lodged the Class 1 appeal in the Land and Environment Court on Monday after City of Sydney Council rejected their proposed multi-level supermarket at the “Hive” site.

Council rejected the $6.7 million development in May, stating it did not comply with the city’s planning controls and the village character of the area.

Community action group Village Friends ran a nine-month grassroots campaign opposing the supermarket development application.  They collected in excess of 4000 signatures petitioning the development and held community events to encourage consultation.

Local residents opposed the development fearing increased traffic congestion and the impact on local businesses on the Erskineville Village shopping strip.

Erskineville resident and local business owner Mark Ambrose said the new supermarket would ruin the village atmosphere of the suburb and negatively impact those who make their living in Erskineville and Newtown.  “People live in this area because they love the community village we have here and a big Woolworths complex would take much of that away,” he said.

Village Friends supports a commercially viable redevelopment of the Erskineville Road site, but opposes any plans that do not enhance the village life of Erskineville residents.

Due to the intense public concern over the case, Woolworth’s appeal has been referred for preliminary case management before a Commissioner of the Land and Environment Court.  This process will commence on August 8.

Woolworths declined to comment on the appeal.

Residents can voice their concerns and support by signing up to Village friends website.

For now, our Erskineville neighbours will have to keep their champagne victory on ice.

Hub festival turns 30

Dust off those pearls and polish up that community spirit, applications are now open for the 30^th Annual Newtown Festival this spring.

To celebrate the festival’s “pearl” anniversary in November, organisers are calling for expressions of interest from performing artists, creative artists, kids entertainers, food and market stallholders, and sponsors to support the day-long festivities.

With the event attracting upwards of 80,000 visitors, Festival Director Tina Demetriou said it was a prime opportunity for artists and local businesses to gain exposure while helping the community. “For 30 years the festival has been celebrating the eclectic nature of the community in Newtown.  This is an awesome day out with loads of character, spunk and a feel good vibe,” she said.

Newtown Festival is Sydney’s largest and longest running free community music festival. The festival boasts four music stages, 280 stalls, the popular Writer’s Tent, an Eco Zone and the famous Newtown Dog Show.

The event is the premier annual fundraiser for the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. 100% of all gold coin donations on the day will go to the centre’s services for the disadvantaged in the local community.  In previous years the proceeds have funded computers, a Community Development worker position and the purchase of a car for the shopping service.

Artists performing at the festival will follow in the tradition of The Whitlams, Sarah Blasko and author Thomas Keneally who supported the festival last year. The festival’s full line up will be announced in October.

For those of us who are musically or artistically-challenged, the festival relies on a dedicated team of volunteers to marshal the event and collect donations.  There is no excuse not to get involved!

The 2008 Newtown Festival will be held Sunday November 9 at Camperdown Memorial Park.

For further information and application forms contact the Newtown Festival or email festival@newtowncentre.org.