Sewing materials, cotton, bobbins and needles all came out to fulfil a local charitable need for the hospitals and medical centres Australia-wide, to sew new capes to ‘protect’ the unwell youngsters, some who are about to undergo surgery.

“It is such a feelgood story for both our residents who love to flex their sewing muscles, while helping out to make a difference to the community for these young children in need of a pick-up,” said Calvary Head of Retirement Living Performance Mark Eagleston.

“The capes are a visual and powerful distraction for the youngsters as they enter the wards or the surgical theatres, and it allows the fantasy of being a caped crusader to take over from the harsher realities of life.

“When I heard about the sewing club and visited, I didn’t expect to see a dozen Janome sewing machines out in the Bowls Club recreation room, hammering out capes,” he said.

“It really inspired those in the community who wished to use their skills to make a difference for these children.

Mrs Robin Walker, a member of the sewing group known as the ‘Fishbowlers’, said the group were friends who loved to sew.

“Now that our children and grandchildren have grown up, we needed a purpose for our sewing so we have joined up as a group to fill that need,” Mrs Walker said.

Mr Eagleston was so impressed by the Fishbowlers’ efforts he asked Calvary Health Care to donate $2,000 towards the sewing materials. The cheque was handed over on Wednesday 18 March at a morning tea for Calvary Cosgrove Cottages residents.

“It brings great joy to our residents, knowing they are contributing to the community and making a difference at a very human level.

“And you can never have too many caped crusaders doing good deeds and fighting for justice in a hospital!” he said.

The Fishbowlers sew for:

• Capes for kids, an Australia-wide program making hero capes for children who are receiving medical care.

• Days for Girls, a worldwide charity sewing sanitary kits for girls so that they can continue to go to school and be educated while they are menstruating.

• Hope in a Suitcase, a Tasmanian charity that helps supply items needed for foster children. Each child going into the foster system receives a suitcase of their own items.

• Operation Christmas Child, a church-based charity that gathers items that are suitable for children, distributed at Christmas in Australia and overseas.