Right: Delia Smit, Nell McQuire, Anne Cooper, Heather Lee and Valda Hanna proudly “showing off” some of the knitted garments for World Vision and also for the Premature babies section of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital at a recent Church service. The whole church was decorated with garments - rugs draped over pews, the pulpit and communion rails whilst toys adorned the organ, beanies in the window sills and jumpers and scarves along the aisle, pews and kneeling pads.

Since 1990 when the first Christmas Tree Festival was held in Lobethal, to raise money for the Bible Society, a lot of money has been raised for this purpose.

Not only has the committee donated to the Bible Society but many local charities have benefited as well.

Ladies from as far away as Victor Harbour and Adelaide answered the recent call from the Gumeracha Uniting Church knitters to become “Guardian Angel” knitters for World Vision.

The 8 local knitters along with their 28 volunteers, were soon busily click-clacking their knitting needles and produced: 62 jumpers, 33 rugs, 50 pairs of bootees, 71 beanies, 15 pairs of mittens and 3 scarves for the children in Mongolia, the country that World Vision is helping in 2006.