By Abbey Cannan
Starting with the simple intention to clean out her cupboard filled with crowded material, Cooroy resident Yvonne Pattinson founded an incredible charity helping those in need.
A sewer all her life, Yvonne had a life-time collection of “bits and pieces” and anxious not to waste any, decided to make them into clothing for young children.
A friend then asked could she take the clothing to an orphanage she supported in Asia.
In stepped Yvonne’s daughter, Debbie Platz, then a Queensland Police officer.
She pointed out there were many children in Australia who could use clothing and why not use the police uniforms her colleagues and she had to discard.
The idea to repurpose uniforms, saving them from being shredded and ending up as landfill was met with great support and Uniforms 4 Kids (U4Kids) was born.
Eight years later, the Cooroy group of U4kids have made over 2000 items of clothing just this year, reaching destinations around the world including the outer provinces of the Solomon Islands.
Yvonne said the Cooroy group had been very busy sewing clothes made from used Queensland Police, Federal Police and Border Force uniforms.
“We have people in quite a number of places sewing now, but the Cooroy ladies are probably the most prolific,” she said.
“Our main aim was not only to clothe children and save landfill but to bridge the gap between the police and the community and this is working well.
“Border Force give them out to a lot of refugees and the islands and the Federal Police are worldwide so they take them anywhere.”
Yvonne said it was heart-warming receiving feedback from the different locations receiving the clothes.
“We don’t have anything to do with the distribution, so it’s nice to get feedback from people that have had them,” she said.
“Somebody sewing for us said to me a little while ago that it gives you a feeling of purpose.
“I think people as they get on, they stop sewing for their children and grandchildren, and there they are with no sewing to do and it’s nice for them to make something pretty that a young girl or boy will want to wear.
“We made a lot that we sent to Kangaroo Island during the floods and we’ve just sent a load over to Vietnam that are going to all these little remote villages.”
The Solomon Islands Police Development Program (SIPDP) said they were grateful for the continued support received from the wonderful Uniform 4 Kids volunteers.
“Recently we received a large assortment of handmade clothing and pencils cases in Honiara,” a SIPDP spokesperson said.
“The pencil cases were made as a special request and arrived with the added bonus of pencils inside each case.
“These pencil cases were given as graduation gifts to a class of kindergarten students who will be commencing Grade One soon.
“They were all very excited to have their very own case to keep their belongings in.”
On a recent trip to Isabel Province as part of the 16 Day of Activism, a campaign to raise awareness on eliminating violence against women and children, SIPDP Advisors took time to gift items of clothing to children at the Buala Markets. Not only did the donations provide a practice gift for those children but it was an opportunity for Advisors and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to interact with the community and help deliver important messaging around working with police to end violence against women and children.
A number of items were also donated to the Christian Care Centre (CCC), an emergency women’s shelter located at the eastern end of Guadalcanal.
Anyone interested in assisting with sewing, cutting out, or unpicking, can contact Yvonne 0413133791 or look at their website Uniforms4kids.com.au.
