The Port Elliot Patchworkers (PEP) held its annual Biggest Morning Tea fundraising event in aid of the Fleurieu Cancer Support Foundation on Tuesday, May 28.
The Biggest Morning Tea was supported by over 90 attendees from Fleurieu quilting groups, SA Quilters members, PEP members, friends and family who attended the event on a lovely, warm 23-degree day at the Port Elliot Institute.
The dining tables were groaning with a delicious selection of sweet and savoury delights and PennyLane Patchwork provided a pop-up shop with a huge range of beautiful items for sale.
This year’s guest speaker was Michele Hill.
Surrounded by some of her stunningly beautiful and intricately crafted quilts, Michele briefly touched on her own recent breast cancer journey.
Having spent many years as a registered nurse working in various SA hospitals, she said she couldn’t just sit in a chair with other cancer patients receiving treatment – the caring and nurturing nurse in her took over and she manipulated her own medical equipment so she could move around to chat and do things for the other patients.
That same devotion she showed to her patients has also been given to her love of applique and all things William Morris.
The room was decorated with many of Michele’s quilts showing her Morris-inspired designs.
She told us how her quilting journey started in the 80s and, after 35 years of nursing, took up a ‘new career’ – to keep the “genius of Morris alive”.
Michele gave a brief history of Morris and an insight into why South Australia has one of the biggest collections of Morris furnishings outside of the UK.
Her new career led to Michele becoming a published author, designer, having her own fabric range, was a tour guide in the UK, and the development of ‘William Morris in Adelaide’ tours.
The morning concluded with the drawing of raffle prizes and lucky door prizes, and PEP president Katherine Middleton thanking the Fleurieu Cancer Support Foundation’s Ian McCallum for attending.
A total of $1000 was raised to assist the foundation in continuing its work of transporting patients to cancer treatment appointments locally and in Adelaide.
All who assisted and supported such a worthy cause were thanked, with a special mention of gift/food donations from Live ‘N’ Let Pie Bakery, Harbor Bakery, Retro Vibe Cafe, Chat and ‘Cino Cafe, BCF, Michele Hill, and PEP members who donated items.
