A Facebook post about wool called Gallipoli has spurred Dellwyn Moylan of Ashburton to create a scarf making project for Canterbury veterans.
It started while Moylan knitted scarves for a friend in the New Zealand Defence Force and their spouse with wool called Military Uniform, Battle Field and Home Front; she was thinking about significant events this year and how she could acknowledge them.
Events included 80 years since end of World War 2, 75 years since the start of Korean War, 65 years since the end of the Malay Emergency and 50 years since end of the Vietnam War.
‘‘I wanted to organise a project to honour those still living who has served in these wars to let them know their service is appreciated and their sacrifice hasn’t been forgotten,” Moylan said.
“During World War 2 my dad, Des and my uncles who served, would have appreciated the knitted goods they received from New Zealand.
‘‘My mum, Ruby, talked about walking to school knitting goods for the troops overseas during that war,’’ she said, of her late parents.
Moylan’s mum was among the hundred’s of New Zealand women who knitted for the troops something that also happened in World War 1. They spun wool and knitted socks, scarves and jumpers.
By May 1945 more than 1,168,000 items had been knitted in New Zealand.
“I took the idea of those who had gone before us, and launched “Operation Wrapped in Remembrance” to honour those who have served our country,” Moylan said.
Veterans from across Canterbury who served in World War 2, Korea, Malay and Vietnam wars will receive a scarf distributed by Returned and Services’ Associations (RSA).
Ashburton resident Shirley Wilson has already heeded the call and knitted a scarf using the official pattern used to make scarves for troops during World War 2.
‘‘When I was asked by the activity ladies here at Radius Millstream if I would knit a scarf, I thought ‘why not I enjoy knitting so its something I can do’,’’ Shirley said.
While unable to knit any longer fellow Millstream resident Noeline Amos remembered knitting for the World War 2 troops.
‘‘The only colours I knitted in were khaki for the army and blue for the air force. I preferred making the balaclavas as the scarves were long and took forever to make,’’ Noeline said.
The Canterbury District RSA, who Moylan was working with, believed there were less than 200 veterans from these campaigns in the district.
District president Michelle Brown said the RSA was 100 per cent behind the scarf project because it supported veterans.
‘‘The RSA is there for veterans and whatever form that support might take. I think it’s great to be able to connect with our veterans particularly our more contemporary veterans. It’s a great way for members of the public to get involved,’’ Brown said.
While the project officially launches tomorrow – the day New Zealand announced Victory in Europe Day – Moylan has already received some beautiful scarves from friends, Radius Millstream and Geraldine Cafe Knitters. The project runs until Armistice Day, on November 11.
Moylan who only took up knitting on discovering the Gallipoli wool said scarves can be any ply, any pattern and any colours, knitted, crotched or weaved.
The Gallipoli wool is a collaboration between New Zealand and Turkey, this Anzacinspired yarn is an ode to wartime knitting. A portion of the money from the sales of the yarn is donated to the RSA.
– Anyone wanting to know more about the project can contact Dellwyn Moylan via email at dellwyn.moylan@gmail.com. Completed scarves can be dropped to Hinds or Mt Somers Springburn schools, Methven i-SITE, Cafe Mayfield, Rakaia Mobil or the Ashburton RSA in Cox St.
