A Mater employee has generously transformed almost 1,000 balls of yarn into heartfelt tributes celebrating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage of newborn babies.
Over the past two years, Mater at Home senior administration officer Theresa Fox has crafted beanies adorned with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags to gift to babies of Indigenous origin born at Mater Mothers' Hospitals.
The Burpengary resident said her knitting needles start flying shortly after 5am, when she boards the train for work, and resume again for the one-hour commute home.
It takes her around 90 minutes to knit each one.
"I couldn't imagine anything I'd rather be doing while sitting on a train," Ms Fox said.
"I love that the beanies bring joy to the parents of the babies and that they hold special meaning for them – a beautiful connection between their past and their future."
Mater's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Team distribute the beanies to new parents and their babies during their stay at Mater Mothers'.
Despite knitting more than 1,500 beanies over the past two years, Ms Fox hadn't seen her handiwork on a baby until this week – National Reconciliation Week - when she met babies Djalu Milligan and Ella Farrand.
"It was just so beautiful to see these tiny babies wearing my beanies – they fit perfectly!" she said.
"I have always enjoyed how I am helping others by knitting these beanies but being able to speak with the parents and hear about their baby, how they're settling in, and their love of the beanies, it just means the world to me."
Djalu's mother, Emily Mallie, said it was a touching connection to her son's culture, community and country.
"It's a very thoughtful gesture and beautifully made – a nice and simple way to acknowledge Djalu's heritage from the beginning," Ms Mallie said.
Mater at Home System Navigator Claire Dunglison praised Ms Fox's generosity.
"Theresa kindly knits these beanies in her own time and subsequently brings so much joy around the hospital," she said.
"She is also knitting beanies for the homeless patients Mater cares for through the Homefront program, which are very much needed and appreciated, especially now the weather is cooling."
Image: Mater at Home employee Theresa Fox with baby Djalu Milligan and his mother, Emily Mallie.
