Great grandmother’s generous donation

Shelia Smith with granddaughter in-law Laura, and her handcrafted donation

As a great-grandmother to 36 grandchildren, Shelia Smith knows how important it is to keep little toes warm. As a keen knitter, she also knows how to turn a ball of yarn into the perfect gift for a growing family.

At the end of a holiday break with family, Shelia dropped by Redcliffe Hospital to donate a big box of knitted baby booties and handmade blankets to the hospital’s Auxiliary Gift Shop.

Shelia says it took her about two or three hours to knit each pair of booties, while the blankets took about four days each.

She says she began knitting when she had her first daughter and has been knitting bits and pieces on and off ever since.

“It keeps the hands and the mind working,” Shelia said.

Sheila was visiting Redcliffe from Melbourne for a holiday with her grandson and his family, including Redcliffe Hospital nurse, Laura.

Donations like Shelia’s are on sale each weekday at the Auxiliary Gift Shop in the Redcliffe Hospital foyer. Proceeds from the gift shop go toward projects that support patient care and comfort.