By Luke Voogt
When Curlewis quilter Zoe Clifton heard what Kids Plus did for a Geelong mother she immediately wanted to support the local charity.
The woman told her Kids Plus had changed her life with provision of equipment that allowed her daughter to communicate through eye movements.
“She’d just been able to have a conversation with her 23-year-old daughter for the first time,” Zoe said.
“(Kids Plus) do such an amazing job.“
So the mother-of-four set out to make 100 quilts in 100 days to raise money for children with developmental disabilities.
“We’re very lucky. Our children … don’t have any disabilities at all,” she said.
“We just wanted to give something back.”
Zoe has made patchwork quilts for 28 years and published four books on the subject.
She gathered about 30 women last August and together, with partner John Thorpe, they have sown 107 quilts.
“The volunteers that we’ve had have been so amazing – they just want to make life better for other people,” she said.
The group has sold about 20 quilts, and Zoe recently donated a cheque for $3110 to Kids Plus.
She was thrilled to learn the money had gone towards palates equipment to rehabilitate children.
“Our aim is to get to $10,000,” she said.
“The ladies have all enjoyed this process so much that we have decided we are not going to stop.
“We hope to make 100 quilts each year and continue selling them for fundraising.”
Locals had bought the quilts for new babies, family members in retirement villages or hospital and as wedding presents, Zoe said.
The quilts are available at Bellarine Sewing Centre.
