End of an era for Gerringong

Sunday April 23 will see the end of an era in Gerringong.

The Village Craft Shop, located in Fern Street at the back of the Gerringong Soldier’s Memorial Hall, will close after selling locally handmade craft and gifts with love since 1975.

With the closure of this shop, the community will be losing another important piece of its history and culture says Anita Grey, who along with her daughter Letitia, makes beautiful cards, bags and framed pictures for sale in the shop.

“We’ve seen generation after generation of people coming in, originally as kids with their grandparents and now grown up with their own children and grandchildren,” she says.

A percentage of all sales over 48 years has supported local causes such as the Gerringong Primary School, Gerringong RFS, Gerringong RSL and others.

Over 40 years ago, an RSL committee offered the space to the crafts people for a peppercorn rent.

However, a few months ago committee President Betty Richardson received news that the recently renovated craftworkers and the committee and it has definitely taken its toll on some of the older members that have been part of the Village Shop since the beginning. She sees it is another example of the community’s spirit of volunteerism.

“My daughter comes in to volunteer her time with me when I’m rostered on to work. We were hoping we could all pass the baton on to this younger generation one day.” those years.”

Merryl Gleeson, who makes the most delightful felted and feathered animals and birds, was one of the first members 48 years ago.

Other crafters, Gwenn Munz (crocheted handtowels, baby things and embroidery), Judith Redding (coathangers, teddies and facemasks), June Way (famous jams, pickles, children’s clothes and string bags) and Anne Gallagher (knits towels, scarves and hats) have all been members for between 9 and 20 years.

Anne’s husband Tom knits socks and blankets while Ava Hamilton, aged 10, makes beaded bracelets and necklaces with her mum Ros Richardson. “We buy the beads from the Beach Shack,” says Ros. “We look