A number of months ago, Taradale Club President Claire Connor, shared a teddy knitting pattern at a Rotary Club meeting, and since then a number of Rotarians, and the odd non- Rotary supporter, have been busy knitting teddies for Elizabeth Wright at Interplast.At last count, a total of 34 teddies have been knitted, stitched, stuffed and despatched and the ‘’Taradale Rotary Queen of Knitting’’ Kathy McQuade has completed around 25 teddies of those so far, and there are more in the making! The teddies are given to children at the time of receiving life-changing surgery, from Interplast.
Interplast is a charitable organisation started by Rotary in 1983 through a partnership with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.Pre Covid-19, Interplast sent fully qualified Australian and New Zealand volunteer plastic and reconstructive surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, and allied health professionals to the Asia Pacific region, to provide free surgical treatment for patients who would otherwise not be able to afford access to such services.
Treatment is aimed at providing function and mobility for conditions, such as, cleft lip and palate, tumours and burns scar contractures. Interplast also facilitated and now continues to do so, by virtual medical training and mentoring for in-country medical personnel through building capacity and supporting local health services in direct response to in-country requests.
In addition to donating teddies, the Rotary Club of Taradale has donated $1000 towards the good work being carried out by Interplast. The continuing financial support of Rotarians is crucial to enabling the life-changing work of the Interplast volunteer medical teams.
Together we can change lives.
For further information about Interplast contact; Elizabeth Wright, Te Awamutu, Email; eliz.j.wright@gmail.com
If you too would like to start knitting and for a copy of the pattern, Email; Claire.connor@xtra.co.nz