MEMBERS of an Ipswich club have rallied to support a local charity and honour the memory of one of their own by finishing a special project she was unable to complete before succumbing to a brain tumour.
Helen Williams died aged 74 in December 2012.
Before her death, the long-standing Ipswich Mini Crafters member was working to complete a model dollhouse she bought two years earlier from a fellow member who themselves had terminal cancer.
Helen’s daughter Vanessa is a keen Ipswich Mini Crafters member and after her mother’s passing asked fellow members if they would help finish what her mum started.
“Ipswich Mini Crafters meant alot to mum. Mum and I joined the club around early 2000, she was an active member who produced many miniature items and room boxes over the years utilising her art skills with all of the various mediums we use,” she said.
“We went to club together, mum would drive in each week from Lowood to attend and then afterwards stay over at my house.
“I asked the members if they would like to help finish the dollhouse and they were very happy to do so.
“We worked on it at a member’s house and each of the members helped with different elements, such as furniture.”
The two-storey dollhouse is called the ‘Grange’, is 1/12th scale and fully furnished.
It was completed earlier this year with the crafters deciding to donate it to Ipswich Hospice Care, which offers community palliative care, to assist with the organisation’s fundraising efforts.
Vanessa said she was certain her mum would have approved.
“Mum was very community minded, particularly in Lowood, she was heavily involved in a folk art co-operative and spent more than 25 years with scouts,” she said.
“I think mum would be very happy with the outcome and that it’s being used to benefit the community.
“Mum spent her last few months at Ipswich Hospice where she received the best of care, as did all of her family,” she said.
“I also can’t recommend Hilda’s House, which the hospice also runs, enough. Their grief support after mum died was crucial.
“It was with that in mind that I approached the club with the idea of completing mum’s dollhouse and donating it to Ipswich Hospice.”
Ipswich Hospice Care is currently raffling the dollhouse as part of its holiday raffle.
Tickets are $5 each of five for $20 and are available at Ipswich Hospice Care at 37 Chermside Road, Eastern Heights. The raffle will be drawn December 20, 2017.
“I encourage people to support the hospice by purchasing a raffle ticket, but even if you are not interested in the dollhouse please make a donation – it’s a brilliant service,” Vanessa said.
Ipswich Mini Crafters meets at 7pm each Wednesday at the QCWA Hall in Cameron Park, Easton Street, Booval. For more information about the club visit www.facebook.com/IpswichMiniCrafters
What is Ipswich Hospice?
Ipswich Hospice is a seven-bed private healthcare facility, providing quality end of life palliative care to terminally ill people, and support for their families in a caring home-like environment.
Hilda’s House is a Queenslander house located next to the main hospice building. From Hilda’s House Ipswich Hospice provides a number of bereavement support services including one-to-one support, adult and children’s groups and community education.
Ipswich Hospice Care is a registered charitable organisation and proudly community owned and managed. Services are provided within the Ipswich and West Moreton region.
Find out more here.
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