Fingal Haven Craft Group members have been hard at work creating and collecting items for its annual craft fair, which this year will fall during the Easter long weekend.
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The craft fair is an important event in the group's calendar, as proceeds raised go towards helping residents living in the Bill King Aged Care Facility.
"The group funds the acquisition of many diverse items for the aged care facility," Fingal Haven Craft Group president Molly Carter said.
"Over the years we have purchased large items such as outdoor furniture, barbecue with tools and an extra gas bottle and blood pressure machines to more everyday things such as linen and dried flowers to brighten the dining room"
"The group, in recent years, has supported the purchase of items of a more comforting and recreational nature for the residents such as Paro the robotic seal - a therapy tool developed specifically for people suffering with dementia."
In the past year the group has also purchased a brain training computer for the Fingal Bay-based aged care facility.
The BrainTrainerPlus, which looks like a large tablet and features memory games, costs about $4000. Developed by British neuroscientists, the computer has been found to improve the memory of patients in the early stages of dementia.
Rosemary Kelly, the activities officer at Bill King, said the computer was a "brilliant tool" that was used to stimulate resident's memories and provide entertainment.
"We had one on loan for a week and I was so impressed. The residents really loved it," she said. "It's a great tool to use with them. It gives us another aid to engage with residents."
Seeing the success of the first BrainTrainerPlus, members of the craft group are now working towards buying a second one, which is why the success of the craft fair, the group's main fundraiser, is vital.
There will be a number of stalls set up for the fair this year, which will be held at Fingal Haven Village on Saturday, April 20 between 8am and 1pm.
Trash and treasure, cakes, plants and crafts including table runners, embroidered towels, children and babies knitted and crocheted clothes will be for sale. There will be a Devonshire morning tea, sausage sizzle and raffles available on the day as well.
As the fair falls on Easter Saturday, this year's fair will take on an Easter theme. There will be Easter eggs and other novelties available to buy at the cake stall.
The craft room, located in the building next to Bill King, is open on Tuesdays between 10am and 3pm.
Anyone outside of the Fingal residential village is welcome to visit the room and purchase handcrafted goods on this day.
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Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
