Allan St’s Flora and Fauna-themed yarn bombing decorations have become an eye-catching addition to the business district and this week the Kyabram Free Press celebrates the work of the organisation.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The yarn bombs have been created almost exclusively at the expense of the yarn bombing members, with some donations and the occasional cash contribution from a supportive associate of the group.
Trish Worsfold, among the co-ordinators of the yarn bombing Christmas display, said it was very much a combined effort, but there were some people who put a heck of a lot of work stitching things together.
“Annie Robertson, Kay Thompson and Judy Widdup spent a lot of time stitching a lot of the pieces together,” Mrs Worsfold said.
“There were almost 70 women involved in the process.
“Shirley Larsen, who is well into her 80s, along with Jeanette McGregor completed many of the backgrounds.”
Gwen Ward, another of the highly motivated members of the group, chimed in by saying “I think Marlene Drayton knitted from here to Shepparton and back”.
Heather Emonson also played a part in the all-important backgrounds, while Jan McMeekan was another of the most prolific producers of knitted Santa Claus decorations.
This year continues the diverse theme that arrived last year with the business-themed knits, which this year have been added to with the Main Street Butchery tribute and the Horsfalls Optometrist creation.
And plans for next year are already under way.
“We’ve received $500 from the shire for next year. The cost of the display this year was worn by the group, with some donations,” Mrs Worsfold said.
“Terry the Barber gave us $100 toward the yarn bombing effort this year.
“Jeff’s Shed in McCormack Rd donated cable ties to us in order to get them on the trees and photographer Beth Sanders spent the weekend capturing images of the yarn bombers re-wrapping the trees and poles of Allan St.
She was generous enough to provide those photographs to the Kyabram Free Press.
“We spent the weekend putting up the bulk of them up, but in the last few days we’ve done a few more,” she said.
Mrs Ward said Patty Lyle, an aged-care worker, loved this time of year when she took a wheelchair bound for a stroll along Allan St.
Meg Slade (who created a set of Santa, Mrs Claus, a Snowman, Elf and Gingerbread Man), Jan Harlen and Maureen Sheers all created free-standing crochet creations, which will be inside the coffee shops of Kyabram.
There is a blue-and-white police post next to the sign that points to the police station, along with a covering for the tree outside the station.
Jason Anderson, Duncan Worsfold, Ian Larsen, Geoff Norster and the team from Arctic Refrigeration (Shane, Justin and Matt Walley) assisted in erecting the yarn bombing creations.
There are also three trees outside the Kyabram Hospital, which were in place for the first time last year. Marilyn Salter and Liz McKenzie did it last year, while Meg Slade and Maureen Sheers also had representation.
1. Free Press python
The Free Press python is a brand-new display, last year there were thongs on the tree. Helen Warde and Tracey Hurst, who were original members of the yarn-bombing group, worked together to create the design. The good friends decided the python fitted neatly into the animal category.
2. Fauna Park tribute
Inside the window of Kyabram Motorcycles is a diorama of Australian wildlife — koalas, wombats, ring tailed possums, wombats, kangaroo, frill necked lizards, lady birds and a variety of other fauna and flora — in keeping with the theme, along with dragonflies and bees.
It was another of the combined efforts of the women, along with the Kyabram Men’s Shed, who made the base, stand and backdrop of the display.
They also ran the barbecue on the “hanging” weekend.
3. Park View ocean life
The ocean life crochet creation is the combined effort of Nola Findlay, Lorraine Morris and Betty Carling, who have always combined their talents to produce a yarn-bomb decoration.
The first year was Christmas, the second year was representing businesses outside which the pole or tree was located and this year is animals.
They have met monthly and, more recently, fortnightly for the entire year.
4. Auto pro birdlife
Yarn bombers of all levels of ability combine to create the Christmas experience, with some women preferring to do small pieces and others at more accomplished crocheters completing the intricate eyes, beaks and crests that feature on the Auto Pro location.
The Australian magpies and bottle brush flowers feature, with about 20 members involved in its completion.
5. Hurley’s harmony tree
Sheila Atley’s tree delivers a very festive message, with a musical element.
She completed all the work alone, an extreme amount of work, having contributed something to the group for the past three years.
She is responsible for babysitting on Thursdays and cannot attend the group meetings.
It was a real unveiling, because all her work is done at home. It is one of the few trees that requires you to read to completely take in the experience.
6. Kyabram Town Hall
Santa’s Cave is traditionally a popular part of the Kyabram Christmas experience, located right alongside the Kyabam Town Hall.
The decorations in the laneway were created by Kaye and Noel Thompson, with Barbara Harris, Meg Slade, Maureen Sheers and Trish Worsfold responsible for the second creation.
7. Hair Heart Red Hatters
The Red Hatters always work as a group, to provide a tree decoration for Christmas Red Hat Ladies is worldwide group, created by older people who believed when they became invisible as they aged, so turned to red hats and purple clothing to stand out.
Kyabram’s group is friendship organisation that meets regularly and travels a lot together, its members including several ex-nurses.
They are group that contributes annual to the Kyabram yarn-bombing display.
8. Union St Austaliana
Stuffed animals attached to the tree are a feature of the tree on the K-hub roundabout, which is far less complicated version of what is displayed inside the window a bit further down the street at Kyabram Motorcycles.
It remains very representative of the flora and fauna theme.
9 & 10. Albion Arcade display
The frames for the arcade displays were donated by the Norster and Leppard families, because of the expertise required to put them together.
One tree is the creation of Jane Peel and the pom pom tree was decorated with the assistance of Nola Williams and Wendy Lockwood — with a host of others preparing the pom poms.
11. Newsmakers in 2022
Not far from the Grills’ newsagency tribute is the Marocco Cafe.
Rocky and his staff provided the yarn bombers with free coffees while they hung the yarn bombs.
To keep in the Grills newsagency theme, a series of newsmaking events, including the queen’s death, the rise and eventual retirement of Ash Barty, along with the floods feature.
Veteran yarn bomber Meg Slade and 90-year-old Isobel Attwood also rated a mention.
It was put together by Gwen Ward and Marlene Drayton.
12. Craig’s Creations yarn
This was very much a team effort, the yarn bombers all contributing a different face and hairstyle to represent the long-serving Kyabram business.
It was part of last year’s display and only a few minor modifications were made for 2022.
13. Birds & Bees
Where would a flora and fauna-themed yarn bombing event be without a salute to the birds and bees.
The group works in tandem to create the tree wraps and then hundreds of smaller pieces, such as the bees and birds on this tree, are attached to the crocheted base of the display.
14. Ky Bakery Cupcakes
This is one of the yarn bombs that has stood the test of time, created last year to celebrate the tasty treats that are available inside the Napier family bakery outside which it is hanging.
Last year the yarn bombers created several designs, which connected their location to the business, which was in near proximity.
15. Horsfalls spectacles
Jane Peel, ironically one of the few crocheters who does not wear glasses, created the yarn bomb.
Some members challenge whether she sleeps, such was her extreme workload for the Christmas event.
She doesn’t tell the group what she is doing, but just arrives with it on their doorstep.
16. Main Street Butchery yarn
The eye-catching design is a new yarn bombing creation.
Trish Worsfold, who usually decorates the tree, came up with the idea.
It stands out more than usual, because four trees were removed at the crossing because of safety concerns of Campaspe Shire.
It is representative of the butcher’s shop, with sheep, cattle, chickens and pigs included in the display.
Heather McLennan, Nola Marke, Marlene Drayton, Sandra Norster and Jane Peel completed the work.
17. NAB historic display
The three trees that feature the traditional green, red and white of Christmas are among the original Christmas decorations that were created by the yarn-bombing group.
It is kind of a historic tribute to Christmas as the group diversifies into themed creations, such as this year’s Flora and Fauna.
18. Galahs & Sunflowers
Meg Slade and Marlene Drayton created the Allan St galahs that are featured on this tree.
They are among several native Australian birds, including cockatoos (outside three 620), magpies (near the Paramount theatre) and owls (outside the Bluebrick in Union St).
Contributor