Trauma teddies are well known little friends at Nambour’s Children’s Ward and this Easter, cuddle bunnies will be distributed for young patients spending the Easter holidays in hospital thanks to a team of elderly knitters.

Winifred Boyd, 85, and Ursula Lawson, 91, from aged care residence Arcare Maroochydore have knitted more than 400 trauma teddies for sick kids on the Sunshine Coast in the past year, and have spent the last few months perfecting their knitting skills creating cuddle bunnies for Easter.

“It gives me such great pleasure to hear of the enjoyment the knitted teddies give to local children and I hope that the bunnies will offer some support to little ones having to spend their Easter at the hospital,” Winifred said.

Nursing Unit Manager of the Children’s Ward Anne-Maree Holmes said the knitted toys offer a welcome distraction to sick kids.

“We are so grateful to the wonderful knitters across the Sunshine Coast who are rallied through Wishlist every year to provide these trauma teddies, and now the cuddle bunnies,” she said.

“They’re lovely new friends for our young patients, and I think it will be a real treat for these elderly ladies Winifred and Ursula to actually hand deliver some of the bunnies ahead of Easter.”

Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said the knitting efforts of Winifred and Ursula and hundreds more like them helped to form wonderful bonds between the community and the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.

“This initiative has grown exponentially in recent years and it’s a wonderful way for Wishlist to create awareness about the Foundation within the community, and in return our community feels part of our efforts to make our local hospital service the best it can be,” she said.

Arcare Maroochydore Lifestyle Coordinator Debbie Orman said the knitting project proved hugely satisfying for many elderly residents who enjoyed feeling they could still offer something to their local community.

“While the demand is there these wonderful women will continue to knit, and for Winifred and Ursula in particular, it brings them a lot of joy to see their efforts appreciated by the younger generation,” she said.