From Lake Cargelligo to Ethiopia with love - knitted rugs are finding their way to women in need.

Local Lake lady, Meredith Ervin, had long held an idea to get local knitters together as a way to socialise, chat, knit and possibly have a glass of wine or cup of tea.

"Unfortunately, it never really got off the ground, but in June this year, a group of us decided to get together for Knit in Public Day," Ms Ervin said.

Knit in Public Day is a world-wide event, aiming to bring knitters together for fun and friendship.

"We set up our knitting opposite Lake Cargelligo's post office," Ms Ervin said. "When we decided to knit squares for rugs and then put the call out on our local community Facebook page to support the Catherine Hamlin Foundation, we had an overwhelming response."

The Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia charity is globally renowned for their work with fistula patients. A fistula occurs during prolonged, obstructed childbirth, when a woman lacks access to emergency medical care. During this time, an internal injury called a fistula can form, consisting of a hole between the birth canal and the bladder and/or rectum.

It leaves women leaking urine or faeces, and sometimes both. These women are often shunned by community and only permitted to work in fields away from others. Although the condition is almost entirely preventable, it is still a huge public health issue. A pioneering surgical technique was developed by Australian, Dr Catherine Hamlin and is performed regularly at the local hospital. More than 60000 operations have been performed to date.

In the short time since Knit in Public Day, the group of around five knitters have sent four large 42 square rugs to Africa, with another five smaller rugs ready to go. Their knitting display at the recent Lake Cargelligo Show helped raise money to help with postage costs to Ethiopia.

Once there, the colourful blankets become part of a comfort package that has been traditionally given to each patient upon arrival at a Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia hospital.

Hamlin blankets and Comfort Packages are an important part of the Hamlin model of care. They are symbolic of the love and respect with which each fistula patient is embraced once they reach a Hamlin hospital. Every blanket is made by volunteers, now including the ladies from Lake Cargelligo.

"The rug sizes are quite specific," Ms Ervin said. "Often women use them as garments rather than rugs, so they are quite large."

Ms Ervin said that during Covid, the charity was unable to receive rugs so it is rewarding to help make up this gap in supply. However, traditional knitting material is not allowed.

"Unfortunately, we aren't permitted to use actual wool and must use acrylic yarn," she said. "The washing facilities are not necessarily that great in a third world country like Ethiopia."

The Lake Cargelligo knitters have moved from the street and into the day room at a local aged care service.

"It's nice to be able to spread out on the tables," Ms Ervin said. "And it's fantastic we now have a real purpose for our knitting."

The Lake Cargelligo knitters will continue with their get togethers, knowing that the friendship they share results in helping a charity on the other side of the world.