Tyler Redway
TWO Limestone Coast women are helping provide comfort to those who have lost loved ones to suicide by hand-knitting little teddy bears for people in need.
Joan Button and Karin Bright have helped to keep StandBy Support After Suicide’s (StandBy) 23-year tradition alive while continuing to provide comfort to those experiencing trauma through losing a loved one.
Now distributed nationally, the knitted bears have been made for the last eight years by Ms Button and Ms Bright to help the families of people who have died by suicide.
Ms Bright said she was first introduced to former StandBy Support After Suicide coordinator Tracey Wanganeen after she had begun searching for people to knit patterns for the organisation’s support bears.
“Tracey knew my hairdresser and she asked them if they knew any knitters,” Ms Bright said.
“She actually gave me the pattern I needed to knit, so I did it and then after I dropped them off, I thought I was done with the whole thing.
“They (StandBy) asked if I could do some more, so roughly 513 bears later we are still doing it.”
Ms Bright said StandBy’s cause helped to give back to the community, which she also wanted to contribute to through the bears.
She added there was no goal for the amount of bears they were trying to reach and was dependent on how long the pair was able to do it for.
“You can’t always go out and actively do things for the community, but at least this way when you’re just sitting at home, then you really can make a difference,” Ms Bright said.
“There is a satisfaction of knowing what you are doing has an impact out there.
“You don’t have to be recognised to be able to do it, you just need to work away in the background sometimes.
“We have never thought about reaching any goal, it’s more about actually doing it and the thoughtfulness of giving.”
Ms Button said she originally heard about StandBy through an old high school friend during her time with the Chat n Craft group based at the St Paul’s Hall.
Originally, Ms Button used her knitting skills to craft coat hanger covers, which she said were also made for some of her great granddaughters’ weddings.
Now, she said she hoped the small gesture of the support bears would provide some form of comfort to the people who had lost family members and close friends.
“I have five great granddaughters, so I decided to take up knitting the coat hanger covers for the ones who want to get married so they can hang their wedding dresses on them,” Ms Button said.
“I used to sneakily find out what the bridesmaids were wearing, so then I could knit the hangers in the same colour, but I haven’t done it for quite some time now.”
Over time, Ms Button joined Ms Bright in knitting and stuffing the support bears, which she said was very rewarding to see the positive impact it had on people in need.
Ms Wanganeen said the bears were originally used by Red Cross Australia to provide comfort for trauma victims.
“The story which always goes with them is that even though the people who knitted the bears may not know who you are, they are showing they care for you,” Ms Wanganeen said.
“Joan (Button) told me she hugs every bear before they are put into bags, so now we like to say there is a hug in every bear.
“StandBy has adopted this across the country and the amount of people I have seen say it’s a lovely thing is incredible.”
