A desire to give back to the community and help out a small community based preschool led a craft maker extraordinaire to Cobargo.
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“Traditionally you get into preschools and it’s glitter and straws,” Jodie James said.
“I like to show that craft doesn’t have to be expensive, it can come from the natural things around us.
“I don’t think creating something should be based on whether you have money or not, our system is terrible.”
Since June, the Bodalla resident has been volunteering her time at Cobargo Preschool to teach its children felting.
They have made many small pieces and are finishing off a larger wall hanging based on the four seasons of the year.
“I just wanted to give back as I got told this was a beautiful preschool,” she said at the preschool before her class started on Wednesday.
“I thought I’d just come in and do it, I have plenty of materials and I am happy to share them.”
Ms James said children loved felt, as it was so tactile.
“Once they touch it, they love it,” she said.
“They’re learning they can use natural resources, they’re getting exposed to different colour combinations – colour has a major effect on us.
“It’s really easy for them to produce something with minimal effort.”
When it came to making a large felt piece together, she said it brought the children closer and created equality between them.
“More and more children aren’t doing this sort of thing because they’re on screens,” she said.
“These are the dying arts, felting has been around since the Egyptians.
“It’s water resistant and fire retardant, you can make a house out of it.”
She volunteers because she wanted to pass on the old art of felting and because community was important to her.
“I just like seeing how happy it makes them [the children],” she said.
Ms James hoped that by giving up her time to volunteer with the preschool it would encourage other people around the community to share their knowledge in the same way.
She also hoped it may encourage others to make crafts and start a craft stall to sell them at in order to raise funds for the preschool.
Albert McKnight
Journalist at Bega District News.
Journalist at Bega District News.
