Meet this year’s Every Generation Onkaparinga Award winners, including a close-knit Aberfoyle Park craft group.
Seeds Uniting Church Craft Group started life 35 years ago as a group of community members coming together to work on their individual craft projects.
Over the years the group’s main focus shifted to working together on projects that make a real difference to people in the community.
Members, many of whom are over 50 years of age, meet weekly at the Seeds Church Hall in Aberfoyle Park. Their ‘prayer quilts’ project has resulted in hundreds of beautifully hand-crafted patchwork quilts being donated to recipients who have experienced trauma or a serious illness.
The group provides an opportunity for members to form lasting friendships with each other and meaningful connections with the recipients of their crafted pieces. They gain a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment in making items that will enhance the lives of others.
The Seeds Uniting Church Craft Group are the Group Category Winner in the 2022 Every Generation Onkaparinga ‘Positive Ageing’ Awards, strongly demonstrating their contribution has had an obvious direct benefit to the City of Onkaparinga community.
By donating their beautiful hand-crafted pieces, this closely-knit group has provided comfort and support to people, both in the local community and further afield,
When asked what winning the award meant to them, the group responded with “For a bunch of no-frills ladies, we are thrilled with the recognition.”
Judy Styles from Flagstaff Hill nominated the Seeds Uniting Church Craft Group as an acknowledgement of the outstanding contribution they have made to the community over many years.
“They have used their skill and talents to benefit the lives of others by being involved in many community projects such as Operation Christmas Child, Wrapped with Love, cancer appeals and the Neo Natal Unit at Flinders Medical Centre, to name a few”, Judy said.
“In particular the group has made hundreds of beautiful patchwork quilts which are given to people and organisations who have a real need.
“By being involved in such projects they not only bless others but gain a sense of self- worth for themselves which is a vital part of positive ageing”.
Every Generation Onkaparinga (EGO) Awards aim to recognise the outstanding achievements and valuable contributions people of all ages, cultures and abilities make to ‘positive ageing’ in Onkaparinga communities.
Nominations are invited from any individual or group wishing to recognise people, community groups or clubs that demonstrate the positive ageing philosophy of ‘maintaining a positive attitude, feeling good about yourself, keeping fit and healthy, and engaging fully in life as you age’.
Winners of the 2022 Positive Ageing Awards were announced during a presentation dinner at St Francis Winery on Monday 24 October.
The Individual Category Award was presented to Bruce Harper from Coromandel Valley. At the age of 76, Bruce has been a highly motivated volunteer and office-bearer at the Coromandel Community Centre for over 50 years.
During those years Bruce has also played a major role in the development of the Weymouth Recreation Ground and has been an avid volunteer and secretary of the Coromandel National Trust branch.
Bruce’s life-time dedication to contributing to his local community has inspired hundreds of others in the area to become volunteers, all benefiting from his knowledge and support.
The Intergenerational Award went to Minton Farm Animal Rescue Centre based in Cherry Gardens. This not-for-profit native animal rescue facility started 30 years ago in the lounge room of Bev Langley and her husband Glenn.
The centre’s vital work has inspired members of the community spanning many age groups to donate their time and Minton Farm now has two teams of 10 regular volunteers.
Working at the centre allows this like-minded group of people to enjoy a sense of engaging fully in life, knowing that their age is irrelevant and that every generation equally contributes to the centre’s life-saving work.
For more information on the Every Generation Onkaparinga program email Justin.Ifould@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au or phone 8384 0120.
Pictured
Members of Seeds Uniting Church Craft Group