WARM HEARTS: Margaret Howard and Wrap With Love co-ordinator, Mary Luttgens, saw off 129 wraps bound for the indigenous community of Santa Teresa.
Locals give wraps to Northern Territory
Written by JACQUIE SCHWIND.
BELOW zero nights in the Northern Territory will become more bearable for the indigenous community of Santa Teresa, following a Wangaratta donation.
Wangaratta Wrap With Love organised 129 cosy wraps for the community and the 12 box-fulls began their journey to Alice Springs on Monday afternoon.
Voluntary organisation, Wrap With Love, was founded in 1992 by Sonia Gidley-King who passed away on July 17.
The wraps are knitted, crocheted or made using recycled electric blankets to create warm rugs to help reduce the large number of people in the world who die from hypothermia, caused by cold and trauma.
Since 1992, the organisation has sent more than 37,000 wraps to areas in Australia and overseas.
The Wangaratta branch, formed in 1997, has contributed some 3000 wraps to date.
Local branch co-ordinator, Mary Luttgens, said the Santa Teresa request came via Wangaratta couple, Kevin and Margaret Howard, whose son Michael and wife Rosslyn teach at the Santa Teresa community, 80km from Alice Springs.
The community population of 800 to 900 people includes about 50 non-indigenous teachers, medical workers, religious brothers and nuns.
The community includes housing, a school to year 10, health clinic, church, women’s refuge, shop, football oval and airstrip.
Mary said Wangaratta Wrap With Love, aided by Rutherglen, Myrtleford, Corowa and Benalla branches and Margaret Howard and Kat Livingstone, was able to fulfil the wrap need in a short period of time.
"The thing which delights is the terrific response of volunteer assistance," Mary said.
"This effort has been special because of excellent co-operation.
"Francis Bros, which always transports our goods to Sydney gratis, couldn’t this time as it was out of their boundary.
"Toll IPEC very readily came to our aid, also gratis."
Residents of St Catherine’s, St John’s and Rangeview are among the dedicated wrap makers while donations of electric blankets, which are then dewired, laundered, sewn and covered, are supported by local charities and groups.
Mary said recent donations by Wangaratta Wrap With Love had been made to the bushfire appeal, St Vincent De Paul’s winter appeal and Wangaratta Lacluta Group, while other wraps were on their way to Mongolia.
"Our next effort is to supply 10 to 15 to Typo Station and then to contribute to the RSL/Salvation Army appeal.
People interested in becoming part of Wangaratta Wrap With Love can contact Mary on 57214925.
Donations of wraps can be left at 11 Ovens Street.
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