Crafty fair is one to savour

The convenor of Geraldton’s biggest craft fair, Kaye Street, was more than a little bit crafty when she came up with an idea to go one better than her counterparts in The Big Smoke more than two decades ago.

“My friend Josie Hopkinson and I used to go and sell our things at craft fairs in Perth,” Mrs Street said.

“We would do all that travelling and one day coming home we thought, ‘Why can’t we do this in Geraldton except we could do it better’?

“Down there they didn’t give you a cuppa, they took 33 per cent of your takings and you had to pay to get into the show.”

The philosophy of caring for stallholders which was applied to the first Anniversary Craft Fair 25 years ago still survives today.

Known as Geraldton Patchwork and Craft Fair, the annual celebration of quilting, craft and creativity is hosted by Geraldton Patchwork Club.

With about 45 stall holders, it is expected to fill the Judy Millward Netball Centre in Wonthella this Sunday.

Mrs Street said the stallholders’ fee included morning and afternoon tea. Visitors were often surprised to discover they weren’t required to pay an entry fee.

Instead the club raffles two quilts handmade by members to raise money for its clubrooms at the Geraldton Residency.

Craft fair committee member Julie Burnett said club members had worked hard to organise the fair and paid tribute to Mrs Street for her commitment to patchwork and craft in Geraldton over many years.

She said she was a very talented patch worker who, along with other club members, had made many quilts for hospital patients.

This year, club members made more than 150 quilts for hospitals and charities.

The Geraldton Patchwork and Craft Fair will take place from 9.30am to 3.30pm.