Warragul Primary School students have visited West Gippsland Hospital to deliver armfuls of blankets lovingly crocheted by 46 children over three school terms. The blankets were distributed among haemodialysis patients and residents of aged care facility, Cooinda Lodge.

Warragul Primary School teacher Michelle Birthisel says the project stemmed from students showing a keen interest in giving back to the community. It attracted students across all year levels, who worked on the blankets throughout the year.

She says: “These students have been working exceptionally hard to learn how to crochet a granny square to make blankets for people at West Gippsland Hospital. They worked through many challenges to create blankets both big and small – many balls of wool were untangled. Many students celebrated their success at learning how to crochet and were then able to teach their friends and peers.”

Haemodialysis Nurse Unit Manager Suzanne Griffiths says: “All of our patients attend Dialysis every second day and it’s small comforts like these handmade blankets that uplift the time they have to spend here. It was lovely to have Warragul Primary School students visit to deliver their beautiful creations.”