By Mikayla van Loon
At 100 years of age, Peggy Rourke isn’t showing many signs of slowing down and is a loved member of the Mount Evelyn Quilting Group.
So much so, to celebrate the birthday milestone, the group of 40 odd members decided to put together their own jointly made patchwork quilt to mark the occasion.
Group member Viv Hammat said the idea of the quilt came about a few months ago with the design wanting to commemorate 100 years and what better way than with 100 candles.
“Her favourite colour is blue, so the theme was basically blue on white…It’s a unifying colour,” she said.
“We started in June and then we gave everybody until August to finish their blocks. There was a bit of a scramble at the end, but there always is. Everybody got something in so it was good and everybody agreed that they wanted to, even people who didn’t know her terribly well.
“The quilt looks absolutely beautiful. It’s quite nice. And it’s a knee quilt so she should be able to put it over her knees and wrap herself up in it when she’s sitting watching TV.”
At the group’s monthly quilting day on Saturday 5 November, Ms Rourke was presented with her quilt and Ms Hammat said the celebrations continued with afternoon tea, cake and birthday wishes.
“It’s a big milestone for her and she’s had a bit of a tough time during Covid because she was on her own but she’s made of pretty tough stuff.”
Born 25 October 1922, Ms Rourke was the youngest of three children. She married station master Jim Rourke and when he returned from the war, where he served in Papua New Guinea, they moved from place to place.
Not long after his return they welcomed two sons into the world, one who would go on to become a business partner when Mr and Ms Rourke bought a pub in St Arnaud.
Ms Rourke has been with the quilting group for eight years now and has become a valued member, bringing humour, excellent stories and quilting expertise.
“I think for her coming to the quilting group, like everybody else, you come along, do your quilting and there’s people to chat to,” Ms Hammat said.
“She’s a very interesting person to talk to. She’s pretty independent and she’s got a bit of a wicked sense of humour.
“We have a lot of members who submit to the Lilydale Show and Peggy has won awards at the Show over the last few years [for being] the most senior quilter.”
Mount Evelyn Quilting Group has been running for over 30 years and is “one of the only quilting groups in the eastern suburbs that allows quilters to bring their sewing machines.”
Ms Hammat said with the group now using Hardy House, the membership has had to be capped even though there are many on the waiting list.
People in their 20s all the way up to Ms Rourke celebrating her 100th birthday are part of the group and travel from as far away as Coburg to attend, something Ms Hammat puts down to the “relaxed friendship atmosphere.”
