WHEN Melba Muller found out Boomerang Bags volunteers could not keep up with demand, she was first on the phone.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The East Albury woman, 89, who uses a walker, no longer drives and has little feeling in her fingers due to health issues, read about the call-out in The Border Mail two months ago.
Since then she has made 10 Boomerang Bags – reusable shopping bags to borrow and return to shops – a week from home every week.
“I sew any time, all the time; I just love it!” she said.
“I go to croquet at Walla on Mondays and Saturdays and indoor bowls twice a week, but in between I sew.”
Having grown up at Alma Park, Ms Muller used to sew on a treadle machine at school.
“We did our hand-stitching by kerosene lamp at home,” she recalled.
Ms Muller said her creative and sporting activities kept her young at heart.
She said she enjoyed sitting down in her sewing room to assemble the pre-cut bags and handles, which were dropped to her weekly.
“I make a few more mistakes now but that’s why I’ve got my quick unpicker!”
Boomerang Bags Albury Wodonga spokeswoman Andrea Palmer said the group had now made 3000 bags; 2000 of those since a call-out for help two months ago.
She said people sewing from home boosted output from two sewing bees a week.
“We’re taking 80 bags a week to East Albury IGA and they go in five days,” she said.
Lavington volunteer Yvonne Woods had made 437 bags at home up until Wednesday.
“I cut out and iron at night so I don’t wake my husband; then I sew during the day,” she said.
Bandiana volunteer Fay Venaskie has been making the bags for 18 months.
“I come in two days a week,” she said.
“I used to make all of my children’s clothes from the time they were tiddlers, everything except socks, undies and shoes.”
Gerogery woman Carmel Excell, who has been volunteering for 12 months, said it was a social outing too.
“It’s really just so much fun,” she said.
Boomerang Bags Albury Wodonga sewing bees are held at The Sustainable Activity Centre in Wodonga from 10am to 2pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
With more volunteers, other days are possible.
For details phone Andrea on 0409 205 230 or visit the Facebook page Boomerang Bags – Albury Wodonga & Surrounds.