The Zonta Club of Mitchell is gearing up to ‘yarn bomb’ the region as part of its activism efforts against family violence.
Trees in Wallan, Broadford, Kilmore and Seymour will be wrapped in orange woollen blankets as a symbol of Zonta’s support for victims of gender-based and family violence.
Zonta members, their friends and community members have been knitting up an orange storm in preparation for the yarn bomb, each making woollen squares in their own time before stitching them together at meetings.
The yarn bomb is one of the many activities taking place throughout the region as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which calls to eliminate violence against women and girls.
The campaign commences on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and concludes on December 10, Human Rights Day.
Zonta Club of Mitchell president Robin Audehm said the Zonta network would wrap trees in each town on November 24 and 25, in line with the commencement of the campaign.
“The wool will represent a warm and supportive environment for people who have been victims of family violence,” she said.
“It raises awareness that family violence is all around us and people who are facing family violence [can access] support within the community in a number of different places.”
Zonta supports victims of family violence throughout the year with small service projects, including the distribution of ‘dignity bags’, which are filled with toiletries to give to those who left their residence quickly in search of refuge from violence.
The club will also host its Art Show and Craft Market at Broadford Gavan Hall on December 2 and 3 to fundraise for future projects.
The exhibit ‘Walk in My Shoes’ will feature once again at this year’s show and in libraries, sharing stories of women who have survived family violence.
Ms Audehm assured that Zonta had received permits for the Yarn Bomb activity and the material would not harm the trees.
The woollen blankets will be taken down at the end of the 16 Days campaign to be recycled on either December 11 or 12.
The trees set to be blanketed in orange include one at the median strip near Wilson Partners in Wallan; outside Kilmore library; at Goulburn Park in Seymour; at the pedestrian crossing on High Street in Broadford; and potentially near the historical society in Broadford. The Seymour yarn bomb will form part of Mitchell Shire Council’s annual Step Towards Change Walk on November 29.