Community & Business
13 February, 2025
Norma’s knitting makes a difference
Norma Stower recently delivered another batch of hand-knitted beanies to the Maternity Unit of St. Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba. This donation has brought her total to an enormous 2,250 beanies gifted for newborns, over the last 15 years.
“I’ve always loved to knit,” Norma said.
“I get a lot of joy out of doing it.”
She first learnt the art of knitting at age five under the watchful eye of her grandmother.
Now at age 83, she has spent a lifetime knitting clothes for family members, neighbours, friends and those in need.
“I’m so thrilled, I love doing it but to be recognised after all this time, it’s just nice,” she said.
A midwife friend from the Pittsworth community approached Norma back in 2010, looking for someone to provide beanies for newborns in the Maternity Unit.
Four ladies, including Norma, knitted 50 beanies for the midwife.
With 1000 babies born at the Maternity Unit every year, the midwife encouraged the ladies not to stop at 50!
Norma is the only one from the original group who is still able to continue to provide this service.
Her generosity extends beyond St. Vincent’s Hospital - she has also supplied beanies and blankets to Toowoomba Base Hospital and the Cancer Centre at
St. Andrew’s Hospital.
With family scattered across the globe, Norma’s knitting has gone as far as China, America and New Zealand.
