Wodonga Primary School students gathered with “knitting nannas” to learn how to weave wool and listen to tales from their childhood. 

As Tolarna Hurle wrapped her knitting needles in bright red wool, she reminisced about when she started to learn the art many years ago.

“I began knitting with four inch nails,” she said.

Mrs Hurle was just one of the women participating in Guardian Pharmacy’s 10th annual Guardian Angel Knitting Program.

Alongside her was Ruth Corbett, who has knit clothing for children in need since the event began in Wodonga.

Mrs Corbett has been knitting for 75 years and said there was nothing more relaxing.

“You just sit down and do it while you have a cuppa,” she said.

Mrs Corbett said knitting hadn’t changed over the decades but said it was important to instil young people with the skills so it doesn’t become a dying art. 

“Young people are not knitting now like we used to,” she said.

“There are too many distractions now.”

Mrs Hurle said technology was taking away handcraft and there were too many machines to do all the work. 

Both Mrs Corbett and Mrs Hurle agree knitting is never boring. 

“It passes the time and you can make so many different things,” Mrs Corbett said. 

“I say if you’re bored go and read a book or learn to knit – but children don’t do much of either unfortunately.”

Wodonga Primary School students Alizah Rollings,11, and Isobel Bond,11, however were embracing the activity.

“It’s definitely better than technology and definitely better for your health,” Isobel said. 

Alizah said knitting was always something she wanted to learn.

“It’s pretty cool,” she said.

“I want to know how to do it for when I get older because then I can teach others.”

The students took the opportunity to learn knitting from some of Wodonga’s experts and said they wanted to create garments for the knitting program.

“I think it is a really nice thing for us to do for other kids,” Isobel said. 

The Guardian Angel Knitting Program also coincided with Wodonga Guardian Pharmacy’s 10^th celebration.

Manager Debbie Grimmett said despite the program running until the end of September, they already had 30 boxes of garments, about 600 items, donated to the Kids with Cancer Foundation. 

Guardian Pharmacy also has free knitting books.